Ridding the industry of cowboy builders

Absolutely. You’re very welcome to work with us just for the architectural design or drawings  and we’re always glad to collaborate in a way that works best for you. While we also offer a full design-and-build service, we don’t believe in unfairly locking anyone in.

That said, we do approach architecture with the build in mind from day one. 

A good design should always consider how it will be built practically, economically and sustainably, so even when we’re not involved in construction, we’re still thinking ahead to make sure the project runs smoothly down the line. If you later decide not to use our full Design and Build route, we’ll still go the extra mile to help you find the right people. We can provide a shortlist of trustworthy, accredited builders to approach, so your project is in safe hands.

If you are unsure about building just yet, there’s also no pressure to decide straight away. Our process gives you space you won’t need to commit to our build services until around the planning stage. At that point, if you’re interested, we can offer our Design to Budget Process- a unique approach that gives you a realistic view of build costs well before the technical design stage. It’s a powerful tool that helps you stay on budget and avoid surprises, whether you build with us or not.

Yes, in certain cases we can take on a build where we haven’t done the architectural design  although we’re very selective about taking on build-only projects, and a few important conditions would need to be in place.

Our design-and-build process is carefully integrated, which means we add the most value when we’ve been involved from the early design stages. It’s how we ensure the build is smooth and stable, well-managed, and aligned with both your budget and vision.  

That said, we do sometimes build projects designed by others as long as the design is well-developed, realistically costed, and the setup aligns with how we deliver. We don’t tender competitively or work under contract arrangements where we’re not leading procurement and project management, as that often leads to under-estimated risks, costs and compromise.

So while it is possible, we’ll always review the project first to make sure it’s a good fit for us, for you and for the end result.

Yes and this is something we’re genuinely passionate about. We care deeply about retrofit, sustainability, and designing homes that perform well over the long term  not just on paper, but in real life.

While architects are not by default trained ‘energy consultants’, we can still make a meaningful difference. We use tried-and-tested retrofit strategies  especially in older homes  that help reduce energy use, improve comfort, and lower running costs, without relying on expensive consultancy at every stage.

Our approach explores two guiding philosophies, to find the best match for you, your property, and your life:

1. A Fabric First Approach
   This means improving the thermal performance and moisture management of your building before investing in operational and high-tech systems. This approach prioritises insulation, airtightness, ventilation, and moisture control  so any heating system you do install will be working efficiently, not fighting heat loss. If you want to read a little more about the Fabric First Approach see our blog here… 
2. An Electrification First Approach
   Switching to an all-electric system (like an air source heat pump, electric boiler, and possibly supported by solar panels) can reduce your home’s reliance on fossil fuels, even before you’ve upgraded all the insulation. It’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all approach, but for some people, it’s a smart, lower-carbon path  especially as the UK grid becomes greener.

Every home is different, especially the older ones we often work with so we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. We’ll help you weigh up the trade-offs, explain the jargon, and sketch out a plan that suits your priorities.

We don’t carry out detailed energy modelling or bill forecasting in-house, though we do collaborate with great energy and sustainability specialists who can produce this information for an additional fee if you decide it’s important.