Blog

Can an architect save me money?

Darren Bray was asked by Homebuilding & Renovating magazine, to share his thoughts about how working with an Architect can save you money, published in the March 2025 edition - you can read the full article here. Can an architect save me money? In short yes, they can. With their year of training, and experience working on construction projects, architect have invaluable knowledge that they can pass on to you, to help streamline your project, minimize mistakes and ensure you get the most value for…
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Supporting Fare Share

We were pleased to support the Fare Share South West Christmas Pledge campaign, which raised over £100,000 to support their on-going work to redistribute food waste to those in need.   The mission of the charity is to join the dots between hunger and food waste, creating a solution for the broken food system to create positive social change. By being able to rescue quality surplus food, that would otherwise go to waste, they are able to share it with charities and schools across the…
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Build It ‘Extensions Ideas for Adding Value’ article

Build It magazine invited Darren to share his expert advice on how to add value to your property by introducing an extension. The full article looks at how with the right design, a well-designed extension can significantly enhance a property, adding value and improving functionality. Holly Cottage is featured as one of the showcase projects within the editorial, highlighting how including future proofing into a design can add long term benefits in terms of value.   Here we share the 'Expert Q&A' with Darren, to…
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Planning success

We are pleased to have secured planning for a new Girl Guides Hall for the Portswood area of Southampton, Hampshire. Our sensitive design will create a new hub for the local Guides Association, to enable them to promote outdoor based actives for young people in the city, on the site of a previously demolished hall. We now look forward to working with the client to secure funding and deliver this wonderful building in the heart of the City, you can read full details about the…
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RIBA MacEwen Award longlisted

We are so proud to have our St Lukes project included in this years longlist for the RIBA MacEwen Award, the annual awards that recognise architecture for the common good. The project has redevelopment the tired church hall to create The Host Café, a community cafe and multi-functional space which has become a vibrant local focal point, hosting events throughout the day and evening. In total 30 projects have been longlisted in the MacEwen Awards, you can see the full list here, the shortlist will…
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Celebrating Six Years

In celebration of our six years in business, and as a reflection of how the business has evolved, we have written and published a new practice profile which we launched last week at an evening with clients, collaborators and friends. We set up Studio BAD to deliver architecture without ego, to use our design skills as a vehicle of positive change. The idea of re-use has always been central to our ethos, in an era where climate change defines our lives it is important to…
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