When you hire an architect, you are not just paying for drawings. You are paying for judgement, coordination and the quiet work that protects your budget, comfort and long-term quality of life. This article explains the hidden decisions, research and problem-solving that sit behind every well-designed renovation, extension or retrofit, and why the real value of an architect often lies in the work you never see.

The Passivhaus standard is often described as the world’s most rigorous low-energy building standard. But what does it actually mean for homeowners, especially those retrofitting or upgrading an existing home? This guide explains the principles, benefits, limits, and real-world relevance of Passivhaus in plain English.

Retrofit is not about adding technology to a house. It is about understanding how an existing home works before changing it. This guide explains how a fabric-first retrofit strategy supports comfort, health, and long-term decision-making as part of a considered whole-house approach.

Interiors are not decoration or a final upgrade. They are the lived layer of a considered home, shaped by performance and spatial decisions, and designed to support daily life over time.

Many extensions add space but fail to improve comfort or day-to-day living. This article explains how we approach extensions as part of a considered whole-house strategy, using performance intelligence to inform better spatial decisions over time.

Most homes are improved in pieces. A considered whole-house approach helps homeowners make better decisions by coordinating performance, layout, and interiors over time.

If you are unsure whether internal or external wall insulation is right for your Victorian or Edwardian home, this guide will help you understand the benefits, challenges and planning considerations of each approach. You will find clear explanations written for London homeowners, with a focus on comfort, moisture safety and long-term performance.

Damp and mould often appear slowly in London period homes. Corners cool down, condensation gathers and a faint musty smell begins to show. This guide explains how insulation, ventilation and breathable materials work together to keep moisture moving in the right direction. A simple path to a home that feels brighter, warmer and easier to live in.

Loft conversion and loft extension are often used interchangeably, but they describe very different approaches. This guide explains the difference, when each makes sense, and why many London homes cannot be converted without extending the roof.

A simple guide to airtightness and ventilation for London period homes. Learn how to keep your retrofit warm, dry and comfortable with the right approach.

Thinking of supplying your own items to save money on a renovation? This article explains where client-supplied items can work, where they often create risk, and how responsibility quietly shifts when things go wrong.

Architects’ fees are often one of the first questions homeowners ask, and one of the least well understood. This guide explains what architects’ fees really represent, why they cannot be meaningfully compared in isolation, and how the right fee structure supports clarity, continuity, and a successful outcome for major home projects.

A Victorian terrace can be a wonderful home, but many lose heat quickly and suffer from cold rooms, condensation and rising energy costs. This practical guide explains how to insulate a Victorian terrace in London in a way that protects the original brick, manages moisture and creates a warmer, healthier home. You will learn where heat is lost, which materials work best and how to plan the upgrades in a sensible order.

A good brief starts with describing how you live and what inspires or frustrates you, helping your architect understand the atmosphere you want. Being honest about motivations, constraints and budget builds trust and leads to clearer guidance. Allowing your architect to explore options often produces smarter, more comfortable solutions. As the brief evolves, you make decisions with greater confidence. The result is a home that feels thoughtful, warm and truly suited to your life.

A government-backed insulation scheme meant to cut bills and carbon has left thousands of homes colder, damper, and in some cases uninhabitable. At the heart of the scandal is not insulation itself, but poor design, bad workmanship, and missing oversight. This blog explores why breathable materials, moisture-aware detailing and proper ventilation matter — and what homeowners can do to avoid the same mistakes.

Every successful home design balances three things: how it feels, how it performs, and how much it costs. At Studio CMA, we use three essential models — 3D design, energy modelling, and cost forecasting — to test ideas before they’re built. The result? Smarter decisions, fewer surprises, and homes that perform as beautifully as they look.

Architectural interiors are not decoration added at the end — they are part of the architecture itself. From kitchens and bathrooms to bespoke joinery, Studio CMA designs interiors as integrated, sustainable elements that create calm, coherent and timeless homes.

Extensions don’t have to be glass boxes. In her Good Housekeeping interview, Daniela Ciarcelluti explained how shapes drawn from context — angled walls, pitched roofs, courtyards and soft corners — can transform period homes. At Culverden Road, a triangular zinc-clad garden room replaced a dated conservatory, improving light, comfort and connection to the garden. The result shows how thoughtful design creates sustainable, timeless spaces that feel as though they have always belonged.

Victorian houses are beautiful, but they were not built for today’s hotter UK summers. Their solid walls and historic features often trap heat, making them uncomfortable during heatwaves. Retrofitting with modern insulation, ventilation, and sustainable cooling systems allows homeowners to stay comfortable while preserving their heritage and reducing energy use.

Have you ever wondered how you can enhance your home's energy efficiency without starting from scratch? What if there was a way to improve your living space while making it more sustainable?

Retrofitting is one of the smartest ways to improve the comfort, energy efficiency, and resilience of your home. In this guide, we explain what retrofit means, why it’s essential for the UK’s net-zero goals, and how sustainable architects can help you achieve a practical, future-proof upgrade — whether as part of an extension, a loft conversion, or a whole-house renovation.