Astrain Scheldt are a team of RIBA Architects and Interior Designers based in London, founded by husband and wife architects Irene Astrain and Peter Scheldt. We are committed to creating joyful and elegant homes that tell each client’s story and are inspired by their local context and heritage.
The Astrain Scheldt Story
The Astrain Scheldt approach combines a thirst for joyful bespoke design and high-quality, innovative solutions, with a passion for heritage buildings and thoughtful responses to context. Our team focus on creating unique atmospheres which surpass design trends and allow clients to emotionally connect to the spaces we create. As a result, our architecture and interiors feel characterful, warm and fresh – and can adapt to the passing of time.
Astrain Scheldt are committed to contributing positively to the built environment and to approaching each project sustainably. London’s cutting edge architecture art and design is a constant source of inspiration. We are forever influenced by the warmth and elegance of British homes and gardens, as well as the honest materials and joyful colours of the Mediterranean.
Our Values
Our shared story is one that draws on different cultures, design interests and family influences. At Astrain Scheldt, we celebrate beautifully crafted solutions and telling stories through our designs and process.
Whilst Peter spent his childhood marvelling at the intricacies of classic Italian sports cars at his father’s restoration workshop in London, Irene was growing up in San Sebastian, Spain – alongside her family’s business, famous for the craft of jewellery design, which spanned four generations. From a young age, both developed an appreciation of how intricate craftsmanship and carefully considered details play an integral role in the success of a design.
The pair met whilst working at Patel Taylor Architects in Islington. Their first home renovation together was in Forest Gate, where they not only tested their rigorous design process together but also executed a lot of the work themselves. After Irene originally conceived the practice as Astrain Studio in 2016, Peter joined as co-director prior to the arrival of their first child in 2021 - Bringing together over 20 years of combined experience and expertise. The practice was founded with a commitment to creating personal, joyful and elegant homes for private clients across London and beyond.
The pair and their team have since built an impressive portfolio of bespoke, high-quality residential projects. Whilst remaining fascinated by the stories that people and buildings carry, Astrain Scheldt continues to evolve - learning and adapting to the ever-changing tailored needs of their clients, and delivering projects that can adapt and inspire.
The Astrain Scheldt Team
Irene Astrain
As one of our founding directors and project design leads, Irene ensures our design approach, ethos and thorough process are carried through every project from the architecture into interiors. Alongside this, she is responsible for the strategic direction of our practice. Irene moved from Spain to study at the Architectural Association and Bartlett School of Architecture. After working at several award-winning practices such as Patel Taylor Architects and Piercy&Company, Irene conceived the practice as Astrain Studio. Alongside her work in practice, she has also taught and critiqued at Greenwich University, Cardiff University and the Bartlett.
Director + Architect
Peter Scheldt
Prior to founding Astrain Scheldt with Irene, Peter gained ten years of experience at some of the most renowned practices in London, including Hawkins\Brown and Stirling Prize-winning practice Stanton Williams - where he played a key role on the new Museum of London. Peter oversees all projects in our office and works alongside the team to ensure successful delivery from start to finish, ensuring consistency between the early and later design stages. Peter has a particular passion for how our architecture engages with external spaces, and works with the team to ensure that these connections are well-considered within our projects.
Director + Architect
Joe Coulter
After beginning his career in the South West, Joe furthered his studies in Edinburgh before qualifying as an architect in London shortly after joining Astrain Scheldt. He is passionate about design-led problem solving and plays a key role in co-ordinating how our projects come to life with clients. Through his extensive residential experience, he has developed a keen eye for detail and has a particular interest in how thoughtful, well-executed design can profoundly enhance our daily lives and overall wellbeing.
Project Architect
Anna Le Bas
Anna graduated from Falmouth University in Cornwall and moved to London to follow her passion for design. She has a particular interest in the relationship between architecture and interiors, and how both aspects are critical to the success of the bespoke spaces that we create. Anna plays a key design role within the team, from unlocking initial concept layouts right the way through to specifying furnishings and fittings with clients.
Architectural Designer
Client Testimonials