About
Structure. Clarity. Delivery.
Kings House is an independent consultancy specialising in Architectural Design and Design Management for clients who value precision, reliability, and progress. Founded by Chris Thorne, the practice exists to bring clarity to complex design and build environments, ensuring decisions are timely, informed, and aligned with delivery.
Our Story
Kings House began as an architectural practice, focused on delivering thoughtful and practical design. Founded by Chris Thorne, the consultancy was rooted in a belief that good architecture should be both imaginative and achievable.
As Chris worked across a range of sectors and increasingly complex projects, the challenges became clearer. New regulatory demands, fragmented consultant teams, and on-site coordination issues were creating friction between design and construction. The disconnect between contracting and design teams was growing and with it, the risk to project outcomes.
Kings House evolved to meet these challenges. Through experience, observation, and problem solving, the practice expanded its capabilities to support better integration, clearer communication, and more confident decision making. Today, Kings House continues to build on its architectural foundations, offering consultancy that brings structure, clarity, and technical confidence to every stage of the design and build proces
The Vision Behind Kings House
Chris Thorne is an experienced Architectural Technologist and the founder of Kings House. His career began in the design of high-end bespoke homes, restaurants, and creative spaces, where attention to detail and buildability were paramount. From there, he progressed to designing for major housing developers and eventually managing and delivering internal development projects, gaining firsthand insight into the full lifecycle of design and construction.
As his career evolved, so did his perspective. Transitioning into project and construction management, and later into design management roles with Tier 1 contractors, Chris worked across a wide range of sectors and environments, including high-security projects with complex political and technical demands. His work has taken him across the UK, Europe, America, and Saudi Arabia, exposing him to the realities of large-scale delivery and the pressures faced by both design and construction teams.
These experiences revealed a consistent pattern: fragmented design input, regulatory complexity, and misaligned coordination were undermining project outcomes. Rather than accept these limitations, Chris began to shape Kings House into something more, a consultancy built not just to design, but to lead, integrate, and solve. Today, Kings House reflects that journey, combining architectural expertise with structured thinking and a commitment to clarity, confidence, and responsible delivery.
Who we work with
Developers and investors
Project managers and cost consultants
Main contractors and delivery teams
Private clients with bespoke or technically complex briefs
Institutions managing planning, compliance, or handover risk
The Client Experience
We’ve worked with KHCC across architectural, project management and design management roles. What stands out is their calm, pragmatic coordination style ensuring timely outputs that respect both the design vision and commercial reality. Creative when it counts. Efficient when it matters.
Joe
Associate Director, Morgan Civil & Structural
