Notes from the studio

Thoughts on design, planning, and building well.

Notes on affordable architecture, client-led design, and what it actually takes to get a London home extension or loft conversion from idea to completion.

New build timber house, Brockley

Practice · Design & performance

Why London extensions overheat — and how to prevent it.

Most home improvements have focused on keeping heat in. That’s created a generation of extensions that are stifling in summer. Here’s how to design for both seasons from the start.

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Pitched rear extension, Acton

Practice · Cost & process

Affordable, client-led architecture for your home.

Traditional architect fees are a percentage of build cost — a model built for commercial schemes, not a homeowner’s extension. Here’s how we keep things proportionate, and client-led.

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Warehouse apartments, Peckham

Practice · Budget & planning

Home renovation on a budget: a practical guide.

A budget-friendly renovation isn’t about doing less — it’s about being deliberate with where the money goes. Five things to get right, early.

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Two new build houses, Hackney

Practice · Planning & process

Planning permission vs. permitted development.

Do you need a full planning application, or does your project fall under permitted development? The two routes explained, plus what planning fees actually cover.

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