Architect in Islington – Specialists in Sustainable Home Design & Period Retrofits

Creating Low-Energy Homes Across Islington

Looking for an architect in Islington who understands both the fabric of your home and how you want to live? We are Studio CMA, a husband-and-wife architecture practice designing low-energy homes for families across Canonbury, Barnsbury, Highbury, and the wider Islington area. Whether you are retrofitting a Victorian terrace or reworking a full townhouse, we help you balance heritage, comfort and performance. We create spaces that are warmer, quieter, and easier to live in for years to come.

Designing for Islington Homes

Islington has one of London’s richest collections of period homes. You will find everything from grand Georgian terraces in Barnsbury to narrow Victorian houses in Canonbury and early-20th-century homes in Highbury and Tollington. These homes are full of charm, but often uncomfortable, draughty, and hard to upgrade.

We specialise in fabric-first retrofits, low-energy upgrades, and reworking layouts for how people actually live today. Our approach stays sensitive to original character. We understand the local planning context and have experience working in Islington’s many conservation areas, including St Mary’s, Canonbury, and Barnsbury.

How We Work

Every project begins with a Pre-Design Appraisal. This is a structured, low-risk way to explore your project’s potential, constraints and costs before committing to full design fees. From there, our process is collaborative, transparent and grounded in both creativity and technical detail.

We combine vision with delivery. Whether you are early in your thinking or ready to brief a builder, we help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

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Specialists in Low-Energy Retrofits

As certified Passivhaus designers, we are specialists in retrofitting London’s existing homes to dramatically improve performance without unnecessary disruption. Our projects often achieve 3–10x reductions in energy use, using breathable natural materials, smart ventilation, and precision detailing.

We regularly work to the EnerPHit and AECB standards. These offer significant comfort and carbon benefits while remaining practical for older properties in boroughs like Islington.

Read about our sustainable ethos or learn more about the AECB or Passivhaus EnerPHit standard.

Projects Near Islington

We have worked on a range of retrofit, extension and whole-house refurbishment projects across North and East London. This includes multiple homes in and around Canonbury, Barnsbury, Highbury, and Clerkenwell.

Projects have involved reconfiguring layouts, opening up ground floors, adding compact lofts, or upgrading building fabric to improve comfort and resilience over the long term.

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Planning in Islington’s Conservation Areas

Much of Islington falls within designated conservation zones, which can restrict what changes are allowed externally. We have experience navigating planning requirements in areas such as Canonbury, Barnsbury, Arlington Square, Whistler Street and Highbury, where heritage and performance must be carefully balanced.

Our early-stage planning research helps avoid dead-ends and ensures your design vision is achievable before costs start to mount.

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FAQs

  • Yes. We have delivered projects in both areas and understand their planning sensitivities. We know how to design thoughtful upgrades that align with both your vision and council policy.

  • In many cases, yes. You may need planning permission, especially for changes to windows, roofs or front facades. We guide you through what is allowed and how to improve comfort within the rules.

  • That depends on the scope, size, and level of performance you want to achieve. We offer early-stage cost forecasting to help you plan and prioritise. Our Pre-Design Appraisal is the best way to start.

  • You gain local insight, planning familiarity, and someone who understands the borough’s unique building stock. We know what types of designs get approved and what is likely to get stuck.

Ready to Plan Your Home Renovation or Retrofit in Islington?

We offer a free 30-minute call to discuss your home, your ideas, and how we can help.

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