FAQs

“A good architect actually pays for themselves, more than once. You will reap the reward and the building will be hugely better and deliver much better value for it.”
— Kevin McCloud

An architect turns ideas into buildings, and ensures every decision adds maximum long-term value.

At Studioshaw, we see architecture as both creative and practical, and we will translate your vision into a space that feels right, works beautifully, meets every technical standard and does as little damage to the planet as possible.

Architects are trained over many years to design buildings and spaces, both inside and out. They draw up detailed proposals, help with cost estimates, and coordinate other consultants and contractors. We act as your advocate throughout the process, guiding you through the design, planning, and phases construction so the end result can exceed your expectations.

Architects are essential when major architectural changes are needed, such as extensions, retrofits, demolitions, or significant renovations. On smaller projects, we also practice interior design, through detail, colour and texture and we have a sister company called Studioshaw Inside which focusses on this. 

The key tasks and responsibilities of an architect include; writing the brief, (when you don’t exactly know what you want), illustrating design options, developing the massing and plan form of the spaces, helping with construction estimates, securing consents and dealing with the tender process and project administration. We also act as Principle Designer and supervise the contractors involved in the design and ensuring the finished product meets the required standards.

Most Studioshaw projects reflect that full-spectrum involvement, from early concept sketches to the final day on site. The result is architecture that not only looks good, but works hard for you, delivering long-term value in use, quality, and experience.

Choosing an architect is about more than style, it’s about finding a partner who listens, questions and understands how the building’s users will exist and operate. At Studioshaw, every project begins with several important conversations. Whether you’re designing a home from scratch or a multi-unit or mixed use development, we focus on the brief, the budget, the context, light, and the project’s purpose.

Our projects, from The Rogue Room to Bridge House, show how intelligent design can transform space and enhance daily life.

We focus on increasing the long-term value of your building or spaces. Investing in good design pays back over time. Research by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) shows that architecture which resolves problems and responds carefully to people’s needs delivers long-term value, through better layouts, smarter decisions, and higher-quality spaces that perform well throughout a building’s life.

“Design that resolves problems and answers needs will pay for itself over a building’s lifetime. Good architecture has its price. But bad architecture, or no architecture at all, will cost you more.” — RIBA, Good Design: It All Adds Up.

Architects design spaces tailored to your organisation’s needs, culture and goals. The result supports how you work, feels authentic to your identity and improves user experience.

Architects bring deep expertise in planning, layout, light, materials and regulations. Studioshaw’s strategic thinking helps you avoid costly mistakes and unlocks the full potential of your site or project.

Thoughtful design leads to better energy performance, improved circulation, maximised storage and more functional layouts. Studioshaw create buildings and spaces that are easier and more economical to operate.

Architects manage the complex processes around construction projects, including planning applications, building control submissions and coordination with other consultants. This reduces risk, removes stress and keeps projects moving smoothly and on programme.

For workplaces, hospitality and retail projects, Studioshaw can help create environments that communicate your values and enhance the experience of customers and staff.

Architects design with longevity in mind, flexibility, durability and sustainability. This ensures your space can adapt over time and continue to deliver value.

Most building projects require some form of consent from the Local Authority, which is most often a full planning permission, or Listed Building Consent, but this doesn’t need to be stressful. We guide clients through every stage, preparing design statements, drawings, and submissions needed to clearly communicate the vision and unlock approvals.

We’ve achieved approvals across a wide range of complex sites, including Catching Sun House, a new build courtyard house on a tight infill site in northeast London, where design quality played a central role in securing consent.

Our experience with listed and heritage buildings is equally extensive. We’ve delivered thoughtful, sensitive interventions to Hornsey Town Hall in Haringey, Newburgh Street and Berwick Street in Soho, Kindred in Hammersmith, Eastleigh Court in Wiltshire, Mountfort Crescent in Islington, and Middleton Lodge in North Yorkshire. Each of these projects required a careful balance between respecting the historic fabric and creating spaces that feel relevant, functional and uplifting today. By understanding the significance of each building and its context, we’re able to bring new life to heritage sites while working closely with conservation officers to achieve successful Listed Building Consents.

Architectural fees depend on your project’s size and scope. In the UK, architects’ fees are usually charged in one of three ways.

• Lump Sum Fee

A lump sum fee is a fixed price agreed at the start, based on a clearly defined scope of work. It works well for straightforward projects like home extensions and renovations, where the brief won’t change. If the project grows or changes significantly, the fee is reviewed and updated.

• Percentage Fee

A percentage fee is based on the construction cost and adjusts if the scope changes. It gives a fair reflection of the work required and keeps things flexible as the design develops. Fees are usually divided into stages, following the RIBA Plan of Work, and work invoiced monthly.

Architects are bound by the Architects Registration Board Code of Conduct, which requires honesty and integrity — ensuring that client value always comes first.

• Time Charge

A time charge is used when the project scope isn’t yet defined. It’s a flexible, “pay as you go” approach, often used for early design or feasibility work. Architects usually estimate the total hours needed or agree a fee cap to keep costs clear.

At Studioshaw

We keep our fee structures simple and transparent, tailored to the project. For small projects, we often offer fixed fees for early design stages. For large projects, we use clear stage-based fees aligned with the RIBA Plan of Work. Our aim is transparency from the outset, so you understand where every hour and decision adds value.

A successful project starts with a clear understanding of our design process. Whilst the RIBA sets out a ‘Plan of Work’ framework, every architect has their own way of working, so it’s important to ask how they’ll manage your project, who will be involved, and when key decisions need to be made.

At Studioshaw, we follow the RIBA Plan of Work closely. Developed over many years by the Royal Institute of British Architects, It sets out each stage of a project, from the first conversation to the final handover.

The main stages are;

Stage 0 – Strategic Definition

We help clarify the brief — what the project needs to achieve, possible sites, budgets, and timescales.

Stage 1 – Preparation and Briefing

We develop the project objectives with you, explore options, and outline the initial brief that will guide the design.

Stage 2 – Concept Design

We establish the look, feel, and spatial arrangement of the building, supported by early input from cost and engineering consultants.

Stage 3 – Spatial Coordination

The design is refined and coordinated across all disciplines. Drawings and visuals define the project in enough detail for planning approvals and cost checks.

Stage 4 – Technical Design

We prepare detailed information, specifications and drawings that allow the project to be accurately priced and built.

Stage 5 – Construction

The design is realised on site. We monitor progress, respond to technical queries, and make sure the built work reflects the agreed drawings and quality standards.

Stage 6 – Handover

The completed building is handed over, with all documentation and certifications in place. We assist with any final inspections or adjustments.

Stage 7 – Use

We review how the building performs in use and gather feedback that can inform future projects.

Understanding how your architect will approach these stages helps ensure the process runs smoothly and reflects your needs, priorities, and cashflow. It’s also worth agreeing early on how often we will meet to review progress, from design discussions in the studio to site visits during construction, so that collaboration stays open and productive throughout.

At Studioshaw, we aim to keep the journey transparent, collaborative and enjoyable, throughout the process, translating ideas into built form with care and precision.

Every architectural project comes with its own opportunities and challenges. A successful outcome depends on how well your architect can navigate them, whether that’s a complex brief, tight urban site, a steep slope, close neighbours, or a limited budget.

At Studioshaw, we see constraints as catalysts for creativity. We’ve worked on complex London sites, conservation projects, and mixed-use buildings where careful planning, technical precision, and clear communication were key to success.

When choosing an architect, ask about their experience with projects like yours:

• Have they worked on a similar building type or site?
• How did they handle planning challenges, party wall issues, challenging neighbour relations or overshadowing concerns?
• What strategies do they use to make the most of the site’s potential?

An experienced London architect brings not only design skill but also the ability to problem-solve, balancing creativity with buildability, regulation, and value.

This is one of the most important questions to ask an architect during the concept design stage. It reveals how deeply they’ve understood your brief, your priorities, and the unique opportunities within your site.

At Studioshaw, we believe real value comes from thoughtful design, encapsulating a wide range of design variables, from the way light enters a room to how efficiently space is used. Our role is to see potential where others might see constraint, creating architecture that works beautifully and delivers more than expected.

A good architect should show clear understanding of your needs, budget, and aspirations. Value might come from innovative design thinking, cost-effective solutions, or sustainable strategies that lower long-term running costs. It’s not just about producing functional plans, it’s about creating a design that feels personal, purposeful, and enduring.

Every project we take on is tailored to the client and context, ensuring that architecture adds measurable and lasting value, not just in the way it looks, but in how it performs over time.

Sustainability is central to good architecture. Many clients want to reduce their environmental impact, improve energy efficiency, and create buildings that perform better for people and the planet.

At Studioshaw, we see sustainability not as a layer to add later, but as a mindset that shapes every decision from the start.

Our Re:Low framework, Re: cycle / Re: store / Re: purpose and Low: tech / Low: impact / Low: maintenance, guides our approach. It encourages circular design, low-carbon construction, and long-term adaptability.

As a B Corp certified studio, we are committed to responsible practice, balancing purpose and profit while designing spaces that contribute positively to people, place, and environment.

An architect’s experience with sustainable design is crucial and how they can integrate green building principles into your project. This could include;

• Well thought out space to maximise solar gain and reduce overheating
• Energy-efficient systems that reduce operational costs
• Sustainable materials with lower embodied carbon
• Building orientation to maximise daylight and minimise overheating
• Green technologies like solar gain management or air-source heat pumps
• Thermal efficiency and insulation, including Passive House strategies or water conservation systems.

Discussing sustainability early in the design process ensures these goals are embedded from the start. It allows the entire team, from engineers to contractors, to align around the same vision. The result is architecture that meets today’s standards and continues to perform well long into the future.

At Studioshaw, we collaborate with forward-thinking developers to deliver both multi-unit residential and mixed-use projects across London. Our work focuses on creating places that are intelligent, contextual, and commercially successful, balancing design quality with efficiency and buildability.

We recently completed a multi-residential scheme in Hackney Wick, commissioned by O’Shea, Southern Housing and  Gallilard Homes, which utilises simple materials and an all in-situ cast, structural concrete façade (not just a stick on layer). The source material was produced less than 3 miles from the site, ensuring no carbon footprint was wasted on transportation, and providing a fresh approach to building aesthetics, deliberately avoiding the ‘brick look’ and the so called ‘new London vernacular’. This adds to the vibrancy of the area, as stipulated by the Wickside Design Masterplan by Ash Sakula overseen by O’Shea and Galliard Homes. The project demonstrates our ability to navigate complex sites and deliver high-quality homes within tight parameters.

Our experience extends from feasibility studies and masterplans to planning applications and delivery for large-scale developments. We bring design ambition to every project, but always with a practical understanding of construction, cost, and community.

At Studioshaw, we’ve worked with some of London’s most dynamic developers and creative operators, including General Projects, Time + Space, and the Far East Consortium, to design and deliver co-working, media, and production spaces that inspire collaboration and creativity. Our work includes the fit-out of Twickenham Film Studios, a project that reimagines one of the UK’s most historic production facilities for a new generation of creators, and the revitalisation of Hornsey Town Hall, transforming a Grade II* listed building into a hub for culture, workspace, and hospitality.

We understand the evolving needs of creative industries, from flexible studio layouts to acoustic performance, daylight control, and technical infrastructure. Each project balances heritage and innovation, creating adaptable spaces that support both individual focus and community energy.

At Studioshaw, we design hospitality and event spaces that bring people together — combining strong architecture with an understanding of atmosphere, experience, and flow. We’ve worked with Bistrotheque on a new building that includes a theatre space, blending performance, dining, and social use within one adaptable and highly flexible structure. Studioshaw delivered Kindred, a new kind of members’ club, part workspace, part social, with a strong community focus. The project breathed new life into Bradmore House, transforming the historic building into a welcoming, flexible place for work, gathering, and culture.

We’re also working on the interior design concept for Astor Victoria, reimagining a much-loved but tired hostel in one of London’s most characterful neighbourhoods, balancing heritage with a contemporary, welcoming identity. Our hospitality work focuses on how people feel in a space: the light, sound, texture, and rhythm of movement. Whether for dining, performance, or social gathering, we create environments that are honest, adaptable, and memorable.

At Studioshaw, we bring a sensitive, contemporary approach to country houses and rural estates, balancing heritage and innovation to create places that feel timeless, grounded, and alive to their surroundings. We are currently leading the restoration and reimagining of Eastleigh Court, a Grade II listed estate in Wiltshire. The project transforms the historic property into a world class event venue with short-stay accommodation and a spa, while enhancing the wider landscape through extensive tree planting and the creation of a new lake to support biodiversity. It’s a thoughtful revival of the past, shaped for what comes next.

Our previous work at Middleton Quarry explored similar ideas of landscape, material, and craft, designing a series of new buildings that sit quietly within their natural setting, forming a modern rural retreat rooted in a re-landscaped former quarry. Across every project, our goal is to create architecture that respects heritage while embracing new possibilities, combining the warmth of traditional craftsmanship with the clarity of modern design.

At Studioshaw, we design public and healthcare buildings that put people and wellbeing at the centre; spaces that are uplifting, dignified, and carefully made.

Child House, a pioneering project for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. The building brings together multiple child support services under one roof, creating a calm and protective environment for children and families at moments of vulnerability.

Our design focuses on choice for the users, light, privacy, and comfort, using natural materials, clear wayfinding, and warm tones to reduce anxiety and create a sense of safety. Every detail, from layout to acoustics, is shaped by empathy and evidence-based design. This approach reflects our wider ethos: that architecture for care should be both functional and restorative, supporting the emotional as well as the physical needs of those who use it.

Studioshaw specialises in architecture, retrofit and interior design for residential, commercial, hospitality and cultural clients, delivering projects that are thoughtful, efficient and built to last. We secure planning consents across London’s most challenging boroughs, bringing experience in urban sites, conservation areas and listed buildings. Our approach balances cost, craft and carbon, with concept-driven design shaped by light, materiality and context. Our work ranges from one-off private houses to multi-unit developments, workspace transformations and heritage-sensitive refurbishments, each handled with studio-level attention to detail. With a director-led service from concept to completion, we ensure every project receives the creativity, clarity and care needed to achieve the best possible outcome.

Our work ranges from one-off private houses to multi-unit developments, workspace transformations and heritage-sensitive refurbishments. No matter the scale, we bring a studio-level attention to detail and a director-led service from concept to completion.

People choose Studioshaw for our combination of award-winning design and practical, human-centred delivery. Our work has been recognised by the RIBA London Awards, Civic Trust Awards, Architect’s Journal, the World Architecture Festival and many more, reflecting a commitment to design quality at multiple scales. We’re known for unlocking tricky sites and achieving planning approvals where others haven’t, using clarity, creativity and deep experience across London’s most demanding boroughs. Clients value our collaborative and transparent approach, we’re clear, responsive and make the process genuinely enjoyable. The buildings we create are beautifully resolved, crafted to feel effortless to live and work in, with a focus on light, materiality and long-term performance. Above all, our projects deliver proven value, from increasing resale potential to transforming underperforming assets into places with purpose and longevity.

“I’m blown away by this. It’s a study with a view like none I’ve seen in a built-up urban area. What was once a disused MOT garage has been transformed through the magic of the architectural mind. Architects like Mark can see potential where others see scraps — turning light, air, sun and rain into experiences that are genuinely priceless.”

— Kevin McCloud, House of the Year 2025, Channel 4 (Catching Sun House)

‘Mark and I have been working together again recently on a wonderful project to transform a large, neglected Grade II Listed Building and its estate into an important short-homestay destination and special events venue. The project will not only help preserve the estate’s heritage for long into the future but also introduce another much-needed, high-end tourist amenity to the beautiful county of Wiltshire.

Like previous projects, such as the multi-award-winning mental health learning centre and the child house proposal, working with Mark and colleagues is always a creative, collaborative and enjoyable experience.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Mark and Studioshaw to help with your project. Do feel free to make contact if you would like to know any more.’

— Ken Cowdery, Founder/Director – Articulate

‘We were really pleased that Studioshaw were selected as the architect for Bridge House from a list of competition entries which included some tried and tested practices. They were a relatively young practice but displayed some great ideas and an interesting design that brought something different.

The site was challenging, with a number of constraints but they displayed a thorough understanding of the challenges and proposed an innovative way to resolve and fulfill the brief. Studioshaw worked through several pre-application submissions and Quality Review Panels and we were all very impressed with their enthusiasm, collaborative approach and willingness to address comments raised.Through Covid they managed to hold onto the original design intent and saw the scheme through to a full planning consent.

Studioshaw have since been appointed by the developer to carry out stage 4 detailed design and planning condition sign off, which gives provides us with comfort that a high quality scheme will be delivered. We hope the completed building will be a real asset to the area. Studioshaw are great to work with and understood what the LLDC was looking for!’

— Sarah Dawes, Team Leader – LLDC Development Manager Planning Policy & Decisions Team (Bridge House, Hackney Wick).

‘In working with Studioshaw they have shown great enthusiasm and ideas and this has really helped to push the building development to a successful conclusion. If asked were they the right Architect for the project the answer would be a resounding yes’.

— Sean Harvey, Surveying Director – CJ O’Shea (Bridge House, Hackney Wick)

“Studioshaw have been wonderful to work with. From the very beginning they have understood our vision and have since worked tirelessly to bring it to life.”

— Anna Anderson, Co-founder – Kindred

“A huge amount of credit to Studioshaw, we gave them an almost impossible timeline and strict budget, but they delivered at every stage.”

— Sean Lever, Co-founder – Kindred 

“It is overwhelming how a simple, resourceful and economical idea/vision can turn a very uninspiring space into one of the coolest venues in London. A great environment for a world class contemporary art installation and related events!”

— Candida Gertler OBE, Director – Studiomakers Initiative

“We’ve loved working with Studioshaw, they really got the concept we were trying to deliver and ran with it. They took our brief further than we originally thought possible with some clever design and original thinking. We’re really looking forward to the next stage of the project to turn the ideas into a reality.”

— James Allison, Managing Director – Middleton Lodge

“The joy of using Mark and the team at Studioshaw is giving them a problem and then being presented with a range of solutions that just work so perfectly… or provoke a creative debate, that then produces such a imaginative and pleasing result, one that we could not come to on our own.”

— Nick Hiles, Asset Management Director – Stanhope PLC

“Mark is ‘one of the best young architects in London today’ and this is something I can say with confidence and direct knowledge. Mark and I worked on a landmark project a few years ago where I was the client. I was immediately impressed by Mark’s ideas and the ability to evolve them creatively and innovatively through discussions and feedback from users and stakeholders. We ended up with a multi-award winning building. 

Working with Studioshaw recently, I noted that Mark has not lost any of his creative flair and ability to continue to push for different ideas. The final study attracted praise from all concerned. With greater experience Mark is now even more versed in commercial realities without losing the ability to push for new and imaginative solutions.”

— Kumar Jacob MBE, Founder/Director – Articulate

We start with looking and listening: to you, the building, the brief, the budget and the people who will use the spaces every day.

We then shape a design that feels intuitive and uplifting, light-filled, robust, elegantly simple and supported by pragmatic delivery and our Re:Low principles.

We believe good architecture should make life joyful.

Whether you’re starting a business, planning a new home, rethinking an existing building, expanding your existing buildings or developing a site from scratch, Studioshaw brings clarity, creativity and rigour to every stage.

Tell us about your project. We’d love to help you.

Get in touch.

O’shea

One of Us

Little House Group

General Projects

Shaftesbury Capital PLC

Ashford Leisure Ltd

Kindred Living Project Ltd

Made Thought

Craig and Rose

NHS Trust

Britons

Purplebone

Middleton Lodge Estate

DB Investment

Hornsey Art Centre

London 

Wider United Kingdom

France

Education: (Jesse’s House) 

Wellness and Fitness: (Jesse’s House, The Rogue Room) 

Hospitality: (Astor, Jesse’s House, Bistroteque, Eastleigh Court, Kindred)

Housing: (Bridge House)

Workplace: (Berwick Street, TAB, Carnaby Street, Kindred, Twickenham Film Studios, Bloom Farrington)

Civic: Hornsey Town Hall Arts Centre

Private Residential: Moorgate Cottage, Catching Sun House