Jas is a qualified architect, town planner and urban designer with over 17 years of experience in regenerative masterplanning, strategic urbanism, and housing design at all scales. Given his dual training, Jas specialises in negotiating the complexities of the planning system to deliver well crafted, thoughtful, and enduring architecture and urbanism. Jas has led projects across a range of scales, from proposals for new settlements to intimate residential developments. Jas provides oversight across the practice’s broad portfolio, and is currently leading a range of housing and masterplanning projects for both public and private sector organisations.

Uniquely, Jas studied at the Bartlett School of Planning before completing his architectural education at Yale University as the recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship. He has been recognised as one of the Architect Journal’s “40 under 40”, House & Gardens “Rising Stars” and is a Mayor’s Design Advocate as well as a member of numerous design review panels including Essex, Epping Forest, Hounslow, Redbridge, and North Hertfordshire.

Prior to establishing the practice Jas held positions at Kohn Pederson Fox, Adjaye Associates, and Allies and Morrison. He is a founding trustee of the London Neighbourhood Scholarship charity which seeks to provide financial aid to assist underprivileged young Londoners to study architecture.

Vicky’s skills combine technical knowledge of planning and urban design with a creative background in art and illustration. She has experience of large scale masterplanning, town centre strategies, multi-authority spatial planning, urban research and design policy development. Vicky joined Jas Bhalla Works to support the continued development of their masterplanning and urban design work and is currently leading the preparation of a masterplan for a 5000 home Garden Community in Huntingdonshire.

Vicky spent 8 years working at the Manchester based urban design co-operative URBED. There she helped develop the National Model Design Code; co-authored a book on UK High Streets; developed spatial strategies for Greater Manchester and the Constellation Partnership; created town centre strategies for Radcliffe and Barnsley; and helped prepare masterplans for an 8000-home garden village in Staffordshire, an innovative university settlement in Keele, and a new settlement around Worcestershire Parkway.

She is the current chair of the RTPI’s Urban Design Network, was one of The Planners “Women of Influence” in 2022 and is passionate advocate for planning as a discipline. She has written for The Planner and Urban Design Quarterly, appeared as regular guest on the 50 Shades of Planning podcast and spoken at events including the Festival of Place.

A qualified architect, Passivhaus designer, and retrofit coordinator, Emer leads the practice’s work on smaller projects including works to existing buildings and infill homes. She is currently designing a new mixed-use addition to Peckham’s high street as part of the Aylesham Masterplan on behalf of Berkeley homes, and is leading several domestic refurbishment projects, including a retrofit townhouse in Crystal Palace and a composer’s writing room in Hither Green.

Emer brings a passion for low energy design and a desire to create enduring buildings tailored to the needs of users.

Prior to joining Jas Bhalla Works, Emer worked for 8 years at PDP London, as well as Spark Architects, Seven Architecture and WTArchitecture, delivering a variety of building projects, typologies and scales in London, Yorkshire, Edinburgh, and Beijing. In her previous role at PDP London she led projects from design concept through to delivery, including a Grade II listed office building on the Strand and a later living housing scheme in Bromley. Her last project prior to joining Jas Bhalla Works was a Net Zero retrofit design, converting existing offices into eight apartments in Mayfair.

Karolina brings experience on a range of projects and scales, including strategic masterplans, urban research, new homes, as well as extensions and retrofit projects. She has been leading the research on walkable neighbourhoods and compact development prepared on behalf of Essex County Council, the design of a new settlement in Huntingdonshire, as well as infill housing for the London Borough of Camden designed to meet Passivhaus standards. Experienced in all RIBA stages, Karolina is currently working on site to deliver a complex music studio on a backland site.

Karolina completed her Master of Architecture Degree at Manchester School of Architecture and her Part III studies at the Bartlett, UCL. Her thesis focused on sustainable brownfield regeneration, were she developed an inclusive design strategy for a community energy plant to engage residents in a democratic energy transition. She is passionate about community engagement and participation in the design process.

Kate joined Jas Bhalla Works as Studio Coordinator in 2023. With over 18 years' experience within architectural practices Kate is skilled in studio management, project management, marketing, and finance administration. She has worked extensively within busy practices, ranging in size from four to 400 staff, and understands the challenges facing architects and the need for a strong network of support staff.

Kathryn is an experienced architectural designer who brings a range of skills across project scales and RIBA Stages. She brings particular expertise in housing, having secured planning consent for several infill houses. She is currently working on several housing led-masterplan projects, developing bespoke typologies that seek to embed Passivhaus principles at scale. Kathryn also plays a pivotal role on the practice’s smaller scale domestic projects, preparing planning submissions, liaising with clients and issuing instructors to contractors.

Kathryn studied at The London School of Architecture and The University of Nottingham. Her master’s thesis focused on safeguarding the uses of public space, were she developed a new typology of civic architecture to help preserve land in public ownership and the communities that use it. She is passionate about community engagement and participation in the design process.

Prior to joining Jas Bhalla Works, Kathryn worked in practices in both London and Copenhagen where she gained experience in the residential sector at different stages of the design process as well as working on several urban design projects.

Nadine studied architecture and landscape at the University of Sheffield, where she developed interdisciplinary design skills and developed an interest in urban planning. Her university projects are rooted in promoting social wellbeing and encouraging community engagement. After graduating, she worked as an in-house landscape designer in Bahrain and an architectural assistant in Lebanon, where she gained experience in the residential sector.

She recently joined Jas Bhalla Works and has been working on urban analysis and research, residential developments, as well as the initial stages of complex masterplans.

Nick joined Jas Bhalla Works as a Part II Assistant in 2023. Currently, he is working on a range of housing and masterplan projects both in and around Greater London. He is passionate about the relationship between planning policy and its impact on social justice and equality. Nick brings experience of a variety of typologies, primarily in private residential, urban public realm, and masterplan projects.

His experience spans across design studios at DSDHA, Studio Weave, and Architecture 00. Prior to joining the studio, he completed a masterplan guide and design guide for a 500-acre industrial site in West London, emphasizing sustainable construction and placemaking at its core. They're passionate about creating spaces and proposals that seamlessly blend high-quality design with community-focused development.

Nick studied at the London School of Architecture and the Glasgow School of Art. There, his thesis focused on combating the effects of loneliness in the City.

Rachel recently joined Jas Bhalla Works as an Architect to work on the development of a masterplan for a new 5000 home garden community. She is driven to deliver exemplar design to make tangible impacts on the communities we work with and ensure that the spaces we design are equitable and inclusive for all.

Having previously worked at Grounded Practice, Rachel brings experience of masterplanning, estate regeneration and retrofit, and the character analysis and engagement for a new settlement. Rachel completed her masters at the University of Nottingham where her thesis focused on the ‘golden age’ of social housing production in the UK.

Varun joined Jas Bhalla Works as a Senior Architect, continuing his work in multi-unit housing development and masterplanning. Varun is currently working on a suburban masterplan for approximately 100 homes in Epping Forest and a community research document which informs the design of a large regeneration site in Hounslow Town Centre. He has played a leading role in the practice’s work on the Aylesham masterplan where he has been able to leverage his considerable experience in complex multi-unit housing projects.

Having previously worked at Claridge Architects and Karakusevic Carson Architects, Varun gained experience on residential-led developments, leading architectural teams on projects ranging anywhere from 5 - 750 homes.

Over 10 years of working within the residential sector Varun has developed a passion for housing design that is derived from an understanding of local community needs and culture, whilst aiming to use innovative design strategies to achieve a high quality, affordable product. His previous projects include a 700-home masterplan in suburban Birmingham as well as 5 courtyard houses on a back-land site in Lewisham, London.