Following on from our last journal post, we wanted to look at the design of the Edwardian and post-war home. The progression in building can be seen in new forms of spaces as different environmental pressures arose - the family dynamic also changed, and in the post-war housing, this was reflected in the house building.

There are no hard and fast rules about how old a property has to be before it is described as period. In general terms however the term "period property" refers to buildings that pre-date the First World War. Of course there are a number of distinctive architectural styles dating from after this such as Art Deco but for the most part it is buildings from earlier times that we refer to as period.

We have used Courtyards in a number of our projects as we believe that they are a strong solution to both design and environmental challenges across all types of projects. A priority in all of our work is a sustainable approach to building. This promotes the environmental quality of an internal space, by reducing negative impact on the building and the natural environment. All building design should be climatically responsive - and presently we are faced with an ever changing climate.

We often think about what makes spaces feel like a home? What quality of space should a home possess? What do these spaces mean to us? Do they mean anything or is it simply the lives that spaces support?

Architects are generally known for their commitment to grey and white - but looking into this - I'm unclear of why? It could be said that greys and white give the perfect blank canvas for us to shape and build purer spaces - however, it is known that whites and greys do not exactly boost productivity or morale. The well-known Architect Louis Kahn gave an interview, saying: 'I have no colour applied on the walls of my home. I wouldn't want to disturb the beauty of natural light.'

We design spaces that create the right environment for people to thrive. Particularly with the current climate, many people suffer from anxiety and stress related illnesses. Our homes can play a vital part in either alleviating these feelings or compounding them.

Well goodness me! As I celebrated the arrival of 2020 on a boozy evening three months ago I would NEVER have guessed we would all be working from home! Well nearly all of us….. A major change to our daily lives and one that mixes up what we know to be our home and what we know to be our place of work.

Sustainability is, with very good reason, at the forefront of most peoples brief requirements when they approach us to work with them. It feels like the topic of sustainability is a factor of almost every brief that comes into the studio now, but more and more it is becoming a prerequisite to all of our project work for Clients. Over the past decade, this is showing that the understanding of 'green building' has transferred from commercial projects to home owners and how this applied to their own homes.

What are prelims and OHP? When we send a project budget to our clients, we are sometimes asked to explain exactly what prelims (preliminaries) and OHP (Overheads and Profits) are. We often find that some contractors don't charge for either of these items.

The types of buildings that we have worked on the past decade has varied substantially. Every site and brief is unique, particularly when working in London which is filled with such a diverse built environment.

What are prelims and OHP? When we send a project budget to our clients, we are sometimes asked to explain exactly what prelims (preliminaries) and OHP (Overheads and Profits) are. We often find that some contractors don't charge for either of these items.

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