Sustainable Architects in London | RISE Design Studio

Building a Greener Future, One Project at a Time

London is a city of heritage and ambition. A place where Georgian terraces, industrial warehouses, and post-war housing estates sit side by side with new towers and cultural landmarks. But in the face of the climate emergency, one question cuts through the noise:

How do we design buildings that not only belong to London’s history — but lead its sustainable future?

At RISE Design Studio, this question defines our work. We are sustainable architects in London, committed to designing homes, workplaces, and community spaces that radically reduce energy use, cut carbon, and enrich the lives of the people who inhabit them.

Sustainable retrofit of a London terrace house by RISE Design Studio

Why Choose a Sustainable Architect in London?

Sustainability in architecture isn’t a style or a trend. It is a responsibility.

A truly sustainable building considers:

• Operational energy — how much heating, cooling, and power it consumes each year.

• Embodied carbon — the footprint of the materials, structure, and construction process.

• Health & comfort — air quality, natural light, thermal balance, and wellbeing.

• Legacy — whether the building will stand the test of time and adapt for future generations.

Choosing a sustainable architect in London means investing in a design process that looks far beyond planning permission and finishes. It means committing to a project that answers both to nature and to imagination.

Our Expertise: Passivhaus, Retrofits & Low-Energy New Homes

At RISE, sustainability is woven into every project. We are led by Co-Directors Sean Ronnie Hill, a RIBA/ARB-registered architect and certified Passivhaus Designer with two decades of experience designing low-energy, low-carbon buildings across London, and Imran Jahn, an architect with a strong track record of delivering innovative, sustainable projects at a range of scales.

• Passivhaus & EnerPHit → rigorous energy standards that slash heating demand by up to 90%, delivering homes that are warm in winter, cool in summer, and exceptionally comfortable.

• Deep retrofits → giving London’s existing building stock a second life, upgrading Victorian terraces, 1930s semis, and mid-century homes with low-carbon technologies.

• Low-energy new builds → contemporary houses and extensions that blend modern living with radically reduced energy bills.

Every project is modelled in 3D to create a digital twin. This allows us to simulate energy performance, daylight, and comfort before construction begins — minimising mistakes, delays, and carbon.

London Projects That Lead Change

Our work demonstrates how sustainable architecture in London can be both ambitious and grounded:

• Herbert Paradise House → a residential EnerPHit retrofit achieving 75% energy reduction while celebrating raw materials like timber and stone.

• The Lexi Cinema Hub → a community project powered by social purpose, where adaptive reuse and local collaboration turned a cultural landmark into a beacon of low-energy design.

• Elmwood Lawn Tennis Club Pavilion → a new sustainable pavilion designed with community at its heart, using Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and natural ventilation strategies.

Each project is proof that sustainability does not compromise beauty. It enhances it.

How Sustainable Design Saves Money

Many homeowners assume sustainability is expensive. The truth is different:

• Lower bills — energy savings of 60–90% compared to standard homes.

• Fewer repairs — durable, breathable materials that last longer.

• Future value — sustainable homes command higher resale prices in London’s competitive property market.

• Grants & incentives — retrofits and renewable technologies are increasingly supported by government schemes.

The real cost is not asking “how much does it cost to build?” but “how much does it cost to run, repair, and maintain for decades?”

Designing With Technologies That Matter

We integrate cutting-edge systems that future-proof homes and workplaces:

• Solar panels & battery storage

• Air source heat pumps (ASHP)

• Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR)

• Rainwater harvesting & sustainable drainage

• Low-embodied-carbon materials (CLT, recycled steel, lime plasters, timber cladding)

But technology alone isn’t the answer. It’s how these systems are woven into architectural thinking — ensuring that beauty, function, and performance work together.

Our Approach to Sustainable Architecture

1. Listen → every project begins with your story, ambitions, and lifestyle needs.

2. Model → we create interactive 3D models and VR walk-throughs so you can see and feel your design.

3. Optimise → we test daylight, thermal performance, and ventilation digitally before construction.

4. Deliver → we work closely with builders, engineers, and suppliers to ensure sustainable intent is realised on site.

This process is what allows us to consistently deliver buildings that are low-energy, low-carbon, and high-comfort.

What Sets RISE Apart

London has many talented sustainable architects. What sets RISE apart is:

• Passivhaus expertise across retrofits, extensions, and new builds.

• Adaptive reuse as a principle — we repurpose before we replace.

• Client-centred design — engaging you in every step through interactive tools.

• Legacy thinking — we design not just for today, but for the next 50 years.

Working With RIBA-Chartered Sustainable Architects

As an RIBA-chartered practice, RISE operates to the highest professional and ethical standards. Our work is grounded in London, but informed by a global perspective — from Barcelona to Colombo.

We collaborate with clients who want more than a project. Clients who want a building that tells a story, reduces its footprint, and creates a healthier way of living.

Building for the Future

At RISE Design Studio, we believe that sustainable architecture is not a niche. It is the future of how London must build, retrofit, and grow.

Sustainable architects in London are not simply designers. We are custodians of heritage, innovators of technology, and storytellers of the city’s next chapter.

If you are planning a home, extension, retrofit, or community project — let’s make it part of that future.

Contact RISE Design Studio

→ Email: architects@risedesignstudio.co.uk
→ Call: +44 (0)20 3947 5886

RISE Design Studio Architects
The Society Building, 55 Whitfield Street, London, W1T 4AH