About us

Novak Hiles Architects is an award-winning practice established in 2017 by Carla Novak and Adam Hiles.

We are recognised as leading experts in unlocking sites to deliver outstanding housing and we have earned a reputation for maximising the potential of challenging sites for our clients.

We bring extensive professional expertise in conjunction with a rigorous and imaginative design process.

What sets us apart is our ability to understand the particular constraints and opportunities presented by awkward infill sites, working within these to achieve consent and deliver much-needed new homes. This often includes infill land, difficult backland environments, under-utilised edgeland locations as well as Grey Belt sites.

We see the potential in parcels of land that others may overlook, often transforming previously un-developable sites into highly successful housing projects. We understand how to add value - both financial and social - for our clients and the users of our buildings.

Novak Hiles Architects are currently working on a range of residential projects across London and the South. This includes delivering new housing on a variety of sites, ranging from a single new home to much larger multi dwelling proposals.

Close-up of a multi-story building made of red bricks with several windows and a gray door, featuring a small garden with plants and a gray utility box.

Awards & Accolades

2025 / Surface Design Award for Housing 2025 - Winner
2025 / British Homes Awards ‘Development of the Year’ - Shortlisted
2025 / London Construction Awards 2025 ‘Residential Project of the Year’ - Finalist
2024 / BD Young Architect of the Year 2024 - Finalist
2024 / AJ Retrofit & Reuse Awards 2024 - Shortlisted
2024 / Don't Move, Improve! Awards - Shortlisted
2023 / Brick Awards 2023 ‘Innovation’ category - Shortlisted
2023 / Brick Awards 2023 ‘Individual Housing Development’ category - Shortlisted
2022 / BD Young Architect of the Year Award - Finalist
2022 / RIBA Practice of the Month June
2022 / New London Architecture (NLA) Don’t Move, Improve! Awards - Featured
2022 / Archdaily Building of the Year Awards - Nominated
2021 / New London Architecture (NLA) Don’t Move, Improve! Awards - Featured
2020 / RIBA J Rising Stars - Shortlisted
2020 / Interior Design Magazine Best of the Year Awards, ‘Outdoor Space Category’ - Finalist
2020 / Architect’s Newspaper Best of Design Awards - Honourable Mention
2019 / New London Architecture (NLA) Design Award, ‘Homes Category’ - Shortlisted

As well as award success, the practice’s work has been published by the Architect’s Journal, Building Design, Ideal Home, Dwell Magazine, Dezeen, Grand Designs magazine, Elle Decoration, Living etc, Archdaily and Avivre magazine. The practice was also selected to be in the Architecture Foundation’s book ‘New Architects 4’ which featured the best architects practices of the decade.

Exterior view of a building with a beige door and a small window, framed by a brick wall with a mix of solid bricks and brick blocks with vent holes, against a blue sky with some white flowering plants at the top.

We undertake projects all across London and the south of the UK, in both urban and rural locations.

We have worked in nearly all of the 32 London boroughs, as well as Buckinghamshire, Epsom & Ewell, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Oxfordshire and Norfolk amongst others.

We are equally adept at working positively with both known and new local authorities, with an excellent planning success rate.

Get in touch


If you have a project in mind, please do get in touch with us.

Email:             info@novakhilesarchitects.com

Phone:            07742 793312 or 07716 003307

Instagram:           @NovakHilesArchitects

LinkedIn:          Novak Hiles Architects