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by Sean Hill on Jun 17, 2025
What does it mean to build better? To design not just for beauty, but for performance, comfort, and future generations?
That question is at the heart of the latest episode of Green Building Matters, where Charlie Cicchetti sat down with Sean Ronnie Hill - founder of RISE Design Studio - to talk about sustainability, craft, and why growing up in a freezing Belfast bungalow with newspaper-stuffed walls can shape a whole philosophy of design.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
Sean Ronnie Hill of RISE Design Studio (left) joins Charlie Cicchetti on the Green Building Matters podcast to explore the future of sustainable architecture, low-energy design, and the lessons learned from a lifetime of hands-on building.
From Cold Floors to Conscious Craft: An Origin Story
Sean grew up in Belfast during the 1980s and ’90s, in what he describes as a “very poorly built post-war bungalow.” With no insulation in the roof or walls, winters meant sleeping in sleeping bags under duvets just to keep warm. Heating the home became futile - and eventually, abandoned altogether.
“It was like a shelter rather than a home. I saw firsthand what happens when buildings are thrown together with no real care.”
He and his father would often be patching up the house - repairing walls stuffed with old newspapers, clearing blocked drains, fixing leaks. It was DIY out of necessity. But far from putting him off buildings forever, these experiences sparked curiosity. How could buildings be better?
The contrast came every summer, when Sean would spend time at his grandfather’s farm in County Antrim - a place defined by craftsmanship, problem-solving, and hands-on practicality. His grandfather, a World War II veteran and builder, taught him how to hang doors, build walls, wire electrics, and even create makeshift tools like a handmade cart they nicknamed the “boogie.”
“It was a totally different environment - problem solving, creativity, learning by doing. That time on the farm really shaped how I think about architecture to this day.”
Learning From the Greats (and the Grit)
Encouraged by his grandfather to take things a step further and study architecture, Sean eventually went on to train in Manchester. While sustainability wasn't yet a mainstream focus in UK architecture schools, one influential tutor planted a seed. It would take root years later, after Sean’s formal education.
Between his studies, he gained formative experience at practices like Techne Architecture in Melbourne, where director Nick Travers helped shape his thinking. Nick taught Sean to think of buildings as theatres for life - designed to support the choreography of human experience.
Back in the UK, Sean worked under designers like Joe Morgan and practices like John McAslan + Partners and ADP. From each mentor, he absorbed something new: rigour, fluidity, narrative, clarity.
“Some gave me boldness. Others taught me precision. Others still showed me how to test and explore ideas. I absorbed everything I could.”
Enter RISE: Building a Studio with Purpose
In 2010, Sean co-founded RISE Design Studio with a clear vision: to create architecture that’s thoughtful, sustainable, and deeply rooted in place. Over the last 14 years, RISE has quietly built a reputation for leading with both intention and innovation - designing low-energy buildings with soul.
“Our work is guided by sustainability, materiality, and beauty—but always grounded in practicality. We want our buildings to work, to last, and to uplift.”
Recent projects include:
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Lexi Cinema, a cultural retrofit and extension that became the first UK cinema to use MVHR and air source heat pumps in its auditoria.
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Herbert Paradise, a deep retrofit of a London terraced home designed to near EnerPHit standards.
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Elmwood Lawn Tennis Club Pavilion, a low-energy, timber-framed community space now progressing through planning.
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And a highly sustainable store in Poblenou, Barcelona for ethical fashion brand Indoi, featuring salvaged marble offcuts sourced with the help of Leleni Studio.
From passive homes to public spaces, every RISE project is a response to people, place, and climate.
Passive First, Always
Although not every RISE project carries Passivhaus certification, nearly all are designed following its core principles: airtightness, super-insulation, thermal bridge-free construction, MVHR systems, and energy-efficient glazing. Sean became a certified Passivhaus Designer to deepen this knowledge and advocate for it with clients.
“We were already working to Passivhaus standards in spirit - now we’ve made it official. The principles are just common sense once you understand them.”
But for Sean, the real win isn’t just in the numbers.
“People focus on the tech, but what really surprises clients is comfort. A passive home feels amazing - constant temperature, filtered fresh air, no cold spots. It’s transformative.”
Sustainability = Listening Closely
When asked what his greatest strength is, Sean doesn’t hesitate: listening.
Whether it's listening to clients, to buildings, or to place, this deep attentiveness has shaped his entire approach to design. And in a world of constant digital distraction, it’s more valuable than ever.
“You can’t design a good building if you don’t really understand what people need. Listening deeply is the starting point for sustainability.”
Building for What’s Next
As the industry evolves, Sean and his team are leaning further into embodied carbon and circular design. They’re now working with structural engineers developing tools to measure and reduce the carbon footprint of every beam, board, and brick.
RISE is also actively choosing natural materials - wood fibre insulation, limecrete, reclaimed finishes - and exploring partnerships with organisations that log and repurpose existing materials, particularly in the Barcelona market.
“Operational energy used to be the focus. But now, embodied carbon is the next frontier - and we’re all in.”
On the tech side, RISE uses Archicad and 3D scanning to create digital twins of every project, enabling precise, informed design. Each decision is guided by what will make the project not just efficient, but long-lasting and genuinely delightful to inhabit.
What’s on the Horizon?
Sean shared two key goals on his personal bucket list:
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Design and build his own off-grid home, incorporating everything he believes about regenerative architecture.
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Complete a full Ironman before turning 50 - a spiritual cousin to running an architecture practice, requiring endurance, resilience, and vision.
“Architecture and triathlon both demand full presence. That’s what I’m working towards.”
He also recommended The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand - while not aligned with all her philosophy, he says it sparked valuable reflection on integrity, vision, and staying true to your principles in a world full of noise.
Final Advice for Aspiring Designers
To anyone just entering the green building world, Sean offers this:
“Surround yourself with curious people who care. And don’t fall for the false choice between performance and beauty - they absolutely go hand in hand.”
🎧 Listen to the Full Episode Now
Spotify | Apple Podcasts
Whether you’re an architect, engineer, student, or client looking to build better, this conversation with Sean Ronnie Hill will leave you feeling informed, inspired, and quietly fired up to do things differently.
For more episodes from Green Building Matters, visit GBES.com/podcast.
And if it resonates, leave a review, share the episode, and pass it on to someone thinking about how we can design our way to a better future.
Designing a Sustainable Legacy
At RISE, we believe green buildings aren’t just about ticking boxes - they're about creating places that feel good, work hard, and last for generations. Every detail, from materials to energy use, is an opportunity to do better - for people and for the planet.
Inspired by what you heard on the podcast?
Let’s explore how your next project can be beautiful, regenerative, and built to endure.
→ Email us at architects@risedesignstudio.co.uk
→ Or call the studio on 020 3947 5886
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