About Thomas Studio Architects

Garry Thomas

Leading Practice Development and Major Projects –

After training at the prestigious Architectural Association in London under internationally renowned architects Alejandro Zaera-Polo and Farshid Moussavi of Foreign Office Architects, Garry established his reputation on high-profile projects across the capital. His innovative approach to complex building challenges included pioneering the refurbishment of a 1950s concrete office building for Overbury PLC adjacent to Oxford Street, major exhibition spaces for the Millennium Dome 2000 celebrations, and large-scale commercial developments for Lendlease at Dartford Crossing and Virgin in Greece.

Practice Director – Building Regional Excellence –

In 2002, Garry returned to Herefordshire as Practice Director of RRA Architects, where he led the practice’s transformation into one of the region’s most successful firms. Under his directorship, the practice delivered landmark projects including the Grade I listed Hereford Waterworks Museum, award-winning designs for Hereford’s Butter Market, and the acclaimed Canwood Gallery. His leadership of complex heritage and contemporary projects established RRA’s reputation for securing planning approvals on challenging sites.
Notable awards during this period included the Conservation Area Award for Watershed in Hereford, demonstrating heritage expertise in sensitive urban contexts, the Malvern Civic Society Award for The Chapel in Malvern, recognising excellence in heritage adaptation, and the Wood Award for Beechcroft in Herefordshire, celebrating innovative use of natural materials.
Garry’s directorship period saw particular success with countryside homes, including his Grand Designs project that placed him among the UK’s Top 25 Grand Designs Architects. This experience handling Paragraph 84(e) applications and complex rural planning established his expertise in what many consider the most challenging areas of architectural practice.

Thomas Studio Hereford – Independent Excellence –

In 2016, Garry founded Thomas Studio to focus his director-level expertise on the most complex architectural challenges facing Herefordshire and surrounding counties. Drawing on over 15 years of practice leadership, Thomas Studio has become the region’s specialist for projects others cannot deliver – from Paragraph 84(e) exceptional homes to complex barn conversions in sensitive locations.
The practice’s success rate with challenging planning applications reflects Garry’s deep understanding of local planning policy, combined with design skills honed on major projects. Thomas Studio Hereford continues this tradition of securing approvals where others have failed, offering clients the confidence that comes from proven expertise in complex planning scenarios.

THE TEAM:

But not limited to:

ARCHITECT RIBA – GARRY THOMAS
ARCHITECT RIBA – GOSIA SZCZESNIAK, MARC TUITT
CONSERVATION ARCHITECT AABC – MATTHEW HOLLINGSWORTH
QUANTITY SURVEYOR – JOHN CROOKS
ECOLOGIST – JOHN MORGAN, HAZEL MARSH, JAMES JOHNSON
LANDSCAPE CONSULTANT – ASPECT LANDSCAPE & PLANNING, JENNIFER CAWOOD, JACK JEWLL
ARBORICULTURE CONSULTANT – BARTON HYETT, JERRY ROSS
TRANSPORT PLANNING – BRENDAN QUINN
DRAINAGE HYDROLOGY – CHARLES TOWNSEND
PLANNING ADVICE – DAVID KEYTE, ANDREW CASE
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER – KEE LEUNG, JOHN TOPP, JEREMY DRINKWATER
MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEER – NATHAN WILLIAMS
LAND SURVEYOR – GRANTHAM COATES, LASER SURVEYS
PHOTOGRAPHER – CHRIS PREECE
VISUALISATION – TROY HODGSON, ABDALRHMAN SAIED, ARMAN SABERI

Process

At Thomas Studio you can hire THE TEAM to manage any, or all, parts of the design and construction process. THE TEAM help you to define your objectives for your project, interpret your ideas imaginatively and expertly. Work with you to develop a design that will bring you years of comfort and pleasure. Secure the approvals. Manage the construction phase, monitoring progress and standards, to successful completion.

You can COMMISSION any or all of the following services: