Journal: Ideas & Insights for Sustainable Homes and Retrofits
Our Journal shares expert guidance, creative inspiration, and practical advice from eco-friendly, sustainable architects in London. Whether you’re planning a low-energy extension, a sensitive retrofit of a period property, or a future-ready new build, you’ll find insights here on Passivhaus principles, natural materials, and planning advice to help you create a brighter, warmer, healthier home that works beautifully today and tomorrow.
Daylight in Period Homes
Why do some rooms in period homes feel dark, even during the day? This article explores how daylight behaves in Victorian and terraced houses, and why it’s not just about adding more windows.
Architectural Interiors for London Homes
Many London homes feel disjointed not because of one big mistake, but because interiors are treated separately from the architecture. This article explains when a bespoke, coordinated interior approach adds real value.
How To Use Artificial Light In Your Home
Artificial light is not just about visibility. It shapes how your home feels in the evening and at night. This guide explains how to design lighting as part of a considered, whole-house approach, particularly in period homes.
The Case For Daylight
Have you ever wondered how natural light can transform a space, bringing warmth and vitality into your home? Conversely, have you thought about the potential challenges it can create? Striking the right balance between embracing daylight and managing its drawbacks is essential in residential design.
Daylight has advantages and disadvantages. An outstanding design should consider both.
This article outlines the aspects to consider, giving tips and creative design solutions for drawing daylight in to your new or refurbished home.
The Elements That Make A Healthy Home
In my last article, I discussed the relationship between the Passive House standard and the making of a healthy home. I spoke about how the Passive House standard, which can be considered a measure of peak fitness, can serve as a strong foundation for your healthy home, a home that will also embrace more holistic issues.
What Is A Healthy Home And What Does It Have To Do With Passivhaus?
When we tell people that we make healthy homes, they often look confused. And that is fair given the unhealthy state of the UK building stock which is the oldest and poorest performing in Europe. As architects, we have met successful people, middle to upper-class families, whose homes were so rotten they found slugs in their shower and insects in the children's cereal. If these experiments in indoor biodiversity were the spark for their refurbishment project, you don’t need statistics to say that we are accustomed to a low standard for our homes.