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Journal

Reinventing Timber: A New Chapter in Sustainable Building

A detailed view of three stacked Superwood planks in varying warm tones, showcasing the fine grain and engineered density of this sustainable, high-performance timber alternative developed for low-carbon architectural applications.

At RISE, we believe in material honesty. In designing buildings that respect the earth they rise from, and the future they help shape. So when a material like Superwood enters the conversation—a bio-based innovation that challenges concrete and steel—it catches our attention.

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Beyond Repair, Built for Tomorrow: Crafting a Contemporary Rural Home near Faversham

Visualisation of a modern barn-style replacement dwelling near Faversham, Kent, designed by RISE Design Studio. The sustainable home features natural timber cladding, a pitched metal roof, open-plan living spaces and large openings connecting to the rural landscape.

Hidden behind a screen of wild grasses and hedgerow just outside Faversham sits a plot that tells a story many know but few want to face: a house that once served its time, now left to the elements, a shell clinging to life it no longer has. When we first stepped onto this patch of Ke …

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How to Find the Right Architect for Your London Home

Sean Ronnie Hill and Imran Jahn of RISE Design Studio discussing a sustainable residential project with their team in the studio, with a computer screen showing a 3D design for an energy-efficient London home, reflecting collaboration and low-energy architecture

Sean Ronnie Hill and Imran Jahn from RISE Design Studio collaborating with their team on a sustainable residential design for a low-energy London home. Designing or renovating a home in London is more than just a project - it’s a chance to shape how you live and how lightly you tread …

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Do I Need Planning Permission for a Shed or Garden Office? A Guide to Building Sustainable Outbuildings

A modern garden office studio designed by RISE Design Studio, built with sustainable timber, natural light and a green roof, sitting quietly in a London back garden — showing how a permitted outbuilding can add purposeful, low-impact space to your home.

At some point, many of us outgrow our homes — not in spirit, but in space. A quiet garden office, a sturdy shed, a timber studio for work, play or simply to sit still. These aren’t just buildings — they’re small revolutions in how we choose to live, lightly and purposefully.

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Why an Architectural Feasibility Study Matters

Section drawing of Douglas House in Kensal Rise showing sustainable features such as external blinds, green roof, lowered floor, winter sunlight path, cross ventilation and dual aspect layout, used to support early-stage feasibility studies and passive design strategies.

Every project begins long before a spade touches soil. It starts in that hazy, hopeful place where ideas spark and dreams form — and where the wise pause to ask: Is this really possible?

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Mews Houses: Breathing New Life into London’s Best-Kept Secrets

Interior of a renovated London mews house designed by RISE Design Studio, featuring a minimalist staircase in warm timber, marble kitchen surfaces, and brass fixtures—blending sustainable materials with elegant, modern detailing in a compact, efficient layout.

London holds many stories. Some are loud and proud—shouted from rooftops and mansion façades. Others whisper. Hidden behind elegant squares and leafy crescents, the mews house belongs to the latter. These back-lane buildings were never designed to impress, and yet today, they quietly …

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A New Standard for Living: Why Passivhaus Matters

Exterior view of a sustainable low energy London home designed by RISE Design Studio, featuring high-performance insulation, triple-glazed windows, and a contemporary aesthetic aligned with Passivhaus principles.

At RISE, we believe that architecture has the power to restore balance—between people and planet, cost and comfort, purpose and performance. The buildings we design must rise to meet more than just today’s needs. They must lead. They must inspire. They must work.

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Padel Court Under the Westway: Reclaiming Urban Space for Sport and Community

View of a vibrant blue padel court beneath a timber-clad roof, enclosed by glass and metal mesh walls, designed by RISE Design Studio to revitalise urban space under the Westway in West London.

Reclaiming space under the Westway for sport, community, and connection

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Planning a Renovation or New Build in Barcelona? Here’s What to Know About Architect Fees

Sustainable Mediterranean-style home designed by English-speaking architects in Barcelona. Features natural materials, passive cooling, and biophilic elements set in a forested landscape.

If you’ve just moved to Barcelona or are planning your dream home or renovation here, one of your first questions will likely be:

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Designing for Summer: Why Retrofit Is More Than a Winter Strategy

Exposed ceiling during retrofit by RISE Design Studio showing installed insulation and ventilation ductwork, designed to reduce overheating and improve indoor air quality as part of a sustainable, climate-resilient home upgrade.

☉ At RISE Design Studio, we believe good architecture doesn’t just shelter us - it sustains us. That means thinking beyond cold snaps and insulation R-values. As our summers get longer, hotter, and more unpredictable, the conversation around retrofit must evolve. It’s no longer just a …

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