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.

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.

Simran joined Jas Bhalla Works as a Part II Architectural Assistant in 2024 having recently completed her Masters in Architecture. Her thesis looked at designing an innovative and sustainable neighbourhood collective to address social and environmental challenges.

Previously, Simran was involved in both the design and build of the Malahlela Crèche Project in South Africa, which aimed to provide safe, positive learning environments for children. This commitment to meaningful design is further reflected in work showcased at exhibitions like the London Festival of Architecture, emphasising research-driven and thoughtful approaches to architecture.

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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.

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.

Fred joined Jas Bhalla Works as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant in 2024 after studying at the Liverpool School of Architecture. During his time at university, Fred took part in student ‘crits’ as a guest reviewer, participated in a leading study looking at the use of AI in architecture, and was presented with the ‘John Rankin’ award.

Fred’s ambition is to contribute to socially motivated, environmentally conscious and truly useful architecture.

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Kieran joined Jas Bhalla Works as a Part II Architectural Assistant in August 2024. He is an award-winning designer and researcher with a strong interest in community-led projects, genuinely affordable housing and designing for social justice. Previously at dRMM, he has worked on a number of large scale mixed-use developments and was part of the community engagement team for the Aylesham Centre redevelopment project. He also brings experience working in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and improving mental health in the workplace.

Prior to this, Kieran won multiple awards for his research and design project completed at the University of Cambridge exploring themes of migration, universal care ethics and resilient cities. Over two years, he investigated how decades of urban decline and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Calais could be tackled by strategically retrofitting dilapidated sites to provide vital new community infrastructure serving people stuck at the border and local residents alike. He continues to be involved in Calais and serves on the Advisory Committee of the Calais Food Collective.

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