Collaborating closely with the team at Oliver Leech Architects, we developed a comprehensive marketing strategy for the practice as a whole, before managing a notable press campaign for their latest rural new build, Chalk River House.

Through careful planning and negotiation, we were able to secure simultaneous coverage across a mix of top-tier publications including est Living, Divisare, Livingetc, The Architect’s Journal, Leibal, Dezeen and Enki.

Filled with architectural merit, sophisticated interiors, and a compelling rural setting, Chalk River House—Oliver Leech Architect’s second completed rural new build—called for a high-level of brand awareness across a broad spectrum of prestige and popular titles. Yet in an editorial environment where exclusivity and embargoes are the norm, achieving this breadth required careful strategy, negotiation, and relationship management.

We began by developing the studio’s overall marketing and brand strategy, ensuring project press wasn’t approached in isolation. Every client we work with must first undertake a broad strategic process; a prerequisite that anchors each campaign to wider objectives and positioning.

Located within a renowned fishing village along one of the UK’s most famous rivers, Chalk River House is a thoughtfully designed, contemporary home with panoramic views of the river Test.  Organised around two internal courtyard gardens, the home employs a restrained palette of materials both internally and externally; timber, lime and clay renders, zinc and stone. The building itself was constructed entirely from timber panellised frames, and erected in just a few weeks.  

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With these details, the setting and our clients’ objectives in mind, we decided against pursuing a single publication for an exclusive feature, instead focusing on attracting a broad readership across a range of architectural, interiors and lifestyle publications. This included domestic architectural titles such as The Architect’s Journal and Dezeen, as well as international alternatives like Divisare and Leibal. Emphasising the home’s elegant and refined interiors, we pursued stories in est Living, as well as Enki magazine, allowing us to reach a complementary audience segment to the traditional architectural titles. This approach ensured each piece captured a different facet of the project, delivering a well-rounded collection of stories, as well as elevating awareness and recognition of the studio and their work.

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This strategy was developed through consideration of every potential title from a longlist of publications derived from our past work, experience, and ongoing research. To develop a shortlist, we engaged in detailed conversations with Oliver Leech Architects about each potential title; carefully considering whether each aligned to their broader marketing strategy. We then recommended the best path forward based on the client’s publication goals and our understanding of what each title would expect from us in terms of exclusivity, story relevance and lead times.

We worked alongside long-time collaborator Rebecca Gross to develop three distinct narrative approaches and project texts that would appeal to the key segments we were focused on; architecture, interior design, and lifestyle aspiration and property significance. We also engaged Aleesha Callahan, architectural editor and journalist, to help refine our narrative angles and image selections; resulting in a series of bespoke media kits crafted to align with the editorial voice and audience expectations of each publication.

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This strategic approach allowed us to differentiate the project and engage a range of premium outlets while maintaining the integrity and appeal of each pitch.

Our outreach strategy prioritised transparency and relationship nurturing. We engaged in detailed conversations with editors and journalists about exclusivity arrangements, finding creative solutions that satisfied editorial requirements while maximising coverage opportunities. Throughout the process, we acted as the single point of contact, managing all communications with respect, honesty and attentiveness to ensure Oliver Leech Architects’ reputation and existing relationships were well maintained.  

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With a deep understanding of the time constraints facing journalists, we ensured each pitch was comprehensive yet immediately clear and useable. Each publication received tailored press materials that matched their editorial and tone requirements and provided all necessary project details, permissions and specifications—streamlining the publication process and increasing appeal.

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The coordination and timing of publication releases required meticulous planning and ongoing negotiation, but ultimately allowed us to secure simultaneous coverage across a carefully selected mix of top-tier publications. To date, these have included est Living, Divisare, Livingetc, The Architect’s Journal, Leibal, Dezeen and Enki.

In the current competitive editorial landscape, exclusivity agreements and embargoes are standard practice, with prestigious publications typically competing for first rights to noteworthy projects. However, through meticulous preparation, a deeply crafted approach and strategic negotiation, we successfully secured coverage across a curated selection of high-profile titles; an achievement that required careful coordination to ensure each outlet felt they were receiving unique value among a shared story.

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By taking time to genuinely understand what each editor was looking for, and nurturing those relationships throughout the process, Chalk River House achieved widespread, sustained coverage across leading domestic and international titles; generating momentum for the project and significantly elevating Oliver Leech Architects’ visibility in the rural new build sector.