About Us

Nicholas has always been inspired by the desire to design buildings that provide equality of access and use to all. He has also continually improved his expertise in the field of sustainability throughout his career, including training in Passive House design, which can be applied to all projects.

Nicholas founded Langstaff Day Architects with Joanna Day in 2015. Prior to this he worked for ten years at Nicholas Hare Architects, a distinguished London practice.

Nicholas has led a number of award winning design projects across a range of scales in a variety of sectors. His portfolio includes commercial, residential, leisure and primary, secondary and tertiary education projects, masterplans and conservation schemes.

At Langstaff Day, Nicholas has specialised in developing clients’ briefs, and finding innovative design solutions to complex client requirements. He relishes realising the potential of difficult sites at all scales. Acting as the client for our own zero carbon home development in Hackney has given Nicholas valuable experience from the other side of the development fence.

He has a particular interest in socially and environmentally responsible design across the whole built environment and is a certified PassivHaus Designer. He has been a design tutor and visiting critic at the University of Nottingham and is a specialist in inclusive design and sustainable development.

In his spare time, Nicholas is a keen photographer and sportsman and finds himself increasingly trying to keep up with his young family.

Joanna has always had a particular interest in how people use and enjoy buildings, which is the starting point for her architectural designs. She focuses especially on how buildings relate to external spaces and places – especially public spaces.

Joanna founded Langstaff Day Architects with Nicholas Langstaff in 2015. Prior to this she worked for small practices in London and Manchester followed by ten years at Nicholas Hare Architects, a leading London practice. Joanna has led projects ranging from award-winning progressive new build schools to complex retrofit leisure projects, and from small scale residential extensions to phased playground renovations.

At Langstaff Day, Joanna has been instrumental in the development of clients’ briefs, the gaining of planning permission in difficult locations, and the delivery of high quality new build and refurbishment schemes. Joanna specialises in sustainable design in the residential, education and cultural sectors and loves working with clients to realise their dream projects.

Believing that practice and teaching are mutually beneficial activities, Joanna is a Studio Design Tutor at the Welsh School of Architecture in Cardiff and runs the Interactions Lab at the Loughborough School of Architecture, focusing on design for social connection. This follows several years teaching at Liverpool University, where she continues to be a regular external critic at student presentations. She is an Examiner for the Royal Institute of British Architects Part 3 Course, which leads to the final professional qualification in architecture.

Joanna is a member of the Design Review Panel at the London Borough of Lambeth. She also enjoys writing and has contributed to journals such as Building Design, the Architects’ Journal, and the London Society event reviews.

In her spare time, Joanna loves to draw and paint – and not always buildings!