“Limitation makes the creative mind inventive.”

— Walter Gropius, 1925

Square Peg Bureau is the architectural practice of Chartered Architect Tom Irwin. Founded in 2016, the practice was initially established to provide integrated design and planning services tailored to small and medium-sized developers, investors, and stakeholders.

Today we work across a wide range of project types, often in collaboration with specialist consultants. Over time, we have developed a pragmatic and informed approach—shaped by experience—that helps clients refine their brief and unlock maximum value through creative, context-aware design solutions.

Unlike many design-led practices, Square Peg Bureau is distinctly value-led. We work closely with clients to understand what “value” means for them—whether it’s profitability, affordability, quantity, or quality—and adapt the design process to reflect those goals. Each project is treated as unique, with solutions tailored to meet the specific objectives and constraints.

A key focus of the practice is reducing the gap between design intent and built reality. By investing time upfront to fully understand and visualise the client’s needs, SPB ensures that the design is not only of high quality but also aligned with budget and delivery expectations—whether or not the project is overseen through to completion.

SPB has also built a strong reputation for its strategic and cooperative approach to planning. Rather than working in opposition to local policy, we engage with planning parameters to shape proposals that are more likely to succeed—streamlining the process and delivering better outcomes for all stakeholders.

Since relocating the business in 2021, SPB has sought to build relationships with local innovators and makers. Each project is approached in isolation, combining appropriate methods and materials to suit the brief and context, while embracing collaboration and craft.

  • We guide you through every stage of your project. Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, some things are simply easier with an architect by your side.

  • At the outset of every project, we work hard to uncover all the opportunities and constraints. By building a clear picture of the what, where, and who, we help shape a brief that’s grounded and achievable.

  • Blending traditional craft with the latest in AI, we create drawings, visuals, and reports that clearly show how your brief can take shape.

  • Whatever your project goals - strategic or realised - we’re here to help you move forward with confidence.

Tom Irwin

Tom is a Chartered Architect with over two decades of experience, having studied at the University of Portsmouth, Edinburgh College of Art, and London South Bank University. He has worked across both large national practices and boutique studios, gaining a deep understanding of both the craft and business of architecture.

Early in his career, Tom was nominated for the RIBA and RIAS Silver Medals, and has contributed to as a tutor at the University of Nottingham and a mentor at Kent University and the London School of Architecture.

In 2016, Tom founded Square Peg Bureau as a vehicle for developing his own approach to problem-solving in the built environment. Initially focused on using design to generate value for investor portfolios, his work quickly expanded to encompass a wide range of building types and client needs. He has since delivered successful outcomes across the UK—securing planning approvals and supporting acquisitions, disposals, and the realisation of built projects.