Blog

How do I start my self-build project?

Thinking about starting a new project, but not sure where to start? If you are thinking of starting a self-build project, we understand that it can often feel daunting and you might not quite know where to begin. The team here at Studio BAD have over 50 years’ collective architectural experience designing self-build houses and extensions; we are perfectly placed to help you understand the process a little deeper to ensure you get your project started on the right foot. Here we sharing some of…
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How we secured planning for The Granary

Last month we finally secured planning for the plans to amend The Granary in the New Forest, we often find planning isn’t difficult to secure for our clients however this project was a little harder to achieve due to its setting within listed building curtilage (it is a heritage asset not listed building status itself). We felt it might be an interesting tale to share, to show the importance design, perseverance and communications can have on a project. From the onset we knew it might…
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Solent University Collaboration

We are really excited to have teamed up with Solent University and Mettricks, collaborating on a project for the second year graphics students at the University which looks at ways to help reposition the city. Background: Southampton is a city rich in culture from both the past and present. There is so much to love from the architecture to the music, to the food – there’s nowhere quite like it. Although not everyone thinks this way, and we want to show them Southampton is a…
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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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