About us
JAR Studio is an architecture and design practice based in South Devon, founded by Jo and Rich to bring together creativity, technical expertise, and a hands-on approach to making. With backgrounds spanning architecture, engineering, and on-site construction, they create spaces that are imaginative, buildable, and beautifully crafted.
Their work is rooted in a rigorous design process, close attention to detail, and a shared passion for the sensory and material qualities of architecture — from the tactile nature of materials to the way light, sound, and texture shape an experience.
Whether designing at the human and domestic scale or working on larger, more complex schemes, JAR Studio brings together imaginative thinking, technical precision, and collaborative problem-solving to deliver architecture of enduring quality.
Meet the team
Joanna Barnes
FOUNDER | ARCHITECT | MA(Cantab) DipArch PGDip ARB
Jo is an Architect with over a decade of experience in London and across the UK. Her work spans all stages of a project, from concept to completion, including navigating planning processes and overseeing delivery on site of both new-build and renovation schemes. Her portfolio covers private homes, commercial offices, exhibitions, housing, community-led mixed-use schemes, landscape design, and urban strategies.
A perfectionist by nature, Jo is known for her acute attention to detail and rigorous design process, grounded in testing and interrogating ideas to ensure the best possible outcome for each project. She employs iterative methods such as physical modelling and prototyping to refine concepts, with a deep interest in the experiential potential of architecture, the tactile qualities of materials, and excellence in craftsmanship.
Jo studied architecture at the University of Cambridge and London Metropolitan University, and she brings both a strong intellectual foundation and a hands-on, collaborative approach to every commission.
Richard Cox
FOUNDER | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
Rich combines technical expertise, design skill, and hands-on building experience to bring a practical edge to JAR Studio’s work. With a lifelong fascination for all things mechanical and material, he began his career in Automotive Engineering at Oxford Brookes University before going on to study Architecture at the University of Plymouth.
He has a particular interest in the tectonics of architecture — how buildings are assembled and how materials meet — and a passion for the human and domestic scale of design, creating spaces that feel intuitive, comfortable, and finely tuned to the people who use them. His work is guided by an appreciation for the sensory qualities of spaces and materials, ensuring each project is not only well-built but also deeply engaging to experience.
With experience across engineering, architectural design, and on-site construction, Rich is a maker and problem-solver at heart. His pragmatic mindset, sharp eye for detail, and collaborative approach ensure that complex technical challenges are resolved seamlessly, resulting in architecture that is both beautiful and buildable.