When I set up Clare Nash Architecture, I didn’t consciously think, “I’m going to run a female-led practice.” I just wanted to do great work – design beautiful, sustainable homes, work with nice people, and have the freedom to live my life along the way.
Fast forward to today and our practice is something quite rare in the UK architecture world:
- A majority-female team – (most are parents)
- Remote and flexible working model – set up long before Covid
- Specialists in barn conversions, sustainable housing, and biodiversity-friendly gardens
- Friendly, approachable, non-patronising service
Clients often tell us they feel genuinely heard and supported throughout their projects. They like that we are low-key and collaborative – no intimidating jargon, no ego. Just great design and guidance.
“Architecture can be collaborative, friendly, and family-friendly – and that’s exactly what we strive for.”
Remote and Flexible Working – Before It Was Cool
We’ve been working remotely for more than eight years, so when the pandemic hit, it wasn’t a big change for us. Our team works from home most of the time, but we meet in real life once a week. These face-to-face meetings are invaluable for morale, idea-sharing, and simply getting everyone out of the house.
I set the practice up this way because I disliked commuting and wanted to hire excellent staff regardless of where they live. I also wanted to enjoy more freedom over my own time – to go for a swim mid-afternoon or run in daylight during those dark winter months.
Then I became a mother, and this way of working became more than a preference – it became a lifeline. Flexible and remote working made it possible for me to keep the business going while looking after my family. Without it, I simply wouldn’t have coped.
Challenges of Being a Working Parent
Let’s be honest – working from home with children isn’t the “holiday” some think it is. It’s a juggle of nappy changes, school runs, Zoom calls, and deadlines. It’s exhausting.
That’s why we’ve built flexibility into the DNA of our practice – not just for parents, but for everyone. Some of my team are early birds, others are night owls, and some have caring responsibilities for elderly relatives. We make space for all of it.
Flexible working helps us retain talented staff and makes them happier and more productive. And frankly, architecture needs this – our industry loses too many brilliant people (especially women) because part-time or flexible roles are so hard to find.
Motherhood expands your abilities and efficiency – you simply have no time for it to be any other way.
Why Trust Beats “Looking Busy”
One question I often get is: “But how do you know your team are working if you can’t see them?”
My answer is simple: why would I hire people I don’t trust?
Our team is results-driven. Whether it’s delivering a planning application or producing a beautiful set of drawings, I care about outcomes – not whether someone sat at their desk 9–5. Trust, autonomy, and partnership make for a happier, more motivated team.
I’ve worked in practices where I felt I had to “look busy.” And I’ve worked in ones that simply trusted me to deliver the work. The latter is always the better place to work – for mental health, for creativity, and for productivity.
Diversity and Representation
When I look at photos of architecture practices, I often notice how much everyone looks alike. I’ve tried to be inclusive in recruitment, but have still mostly attracted women like me. That’s not necessarily a bad thing – female-led practices are still rare – but it highlights how much work there is to do to encourage diversity across the profession, especially at senior levels.
When I wrote my book Design Your Life, it was surprisingly difficult to find female directors or people of colour leading practices and working differently to the norm. Thankfully, I now see more inspiring role models emerging – including the current RIBA president – which gives me hope for the future.
Representation matters. Clients love working with a majority-female team – but the profession still needs more diversity at the top.
Wellbeing, Boundaries, and Switching Off
Running your own practice can easily spill into every corner of your life. I’ve learned the importance of clear boundaries:
- My laptop lives in a cupboard after 5pm
- Slack notifications switch off automatically in the evening
- I write down tomorrow’s priorities before logging off so they don’t rattle around my brain
It’s easy to tell yourself “I’ll just finish this one last thing,” but if you let that become a habit, you end up working longer than you ever would in an office – and lose the benefits of remote working altogether.
I now schedule time for myself each week – gardening, running, or simply taking a walk – and treat it like any other appointment. These breaks are crucial for creativity and mental health.
“I’ve learnt the hard way that I’m not a robot. I need creativity breaks to function well as a human. I’m always more productive afterwards.”
Why This Approach Works
Our remote, flexible, female-led practice has allowed us to:
- Keep hold of brilliant, experienced team members who might otherwise have left the industry
- Deliver considered, energy-efficient, beautifully detailed projects
- Offer clients a friendly, low-key experience that feels collaborative, not intimidating
- Lead by example – showing that architecture can be run in a healthier, more human way
Running Clare Nash Architecture isn’t always easy – there’s still the constant juggle of deadlines, regulations, and client expectations – but it’s deeply rewarding.
Every time a client tells us they feel heard, or a builder thanks us for collaborating well, I know we’re changing how projects get built. And that’s the power of a female-led practice: creating spaces that are thoughtful, inclusive, and grounded in real life.