Intro
We are architects in London with a growing body of work in France. The connection is personal as much as professional. Our founder, Mark, lived above Morzine in the Portes du Soleil, and our co-director, Harry, spent his childhood summers in the Dordogne. Between the mountains and the south west, France has been part of this studio for a long time.
We design unique homes there, mostly new builds and substantial rebuilds, for people who want something original and want it to last. RIBA chartered and B Corp certified, we lead the project and the client relationship, collaborating with trusted French architects for the Permis de Construire where the law requires it, so the statutory side stays quiet and you never have to think about it. Our low-energy Re:Low approach matters more in the French climate, not less, and you can feel the difference in July and in January.
How we work in France
France protects the role of the architect in law. For most new builds over 150m², a French registered architect has to sign the Permis de Construire.
People often assume that rules out a British practice, but our experience shows it does not. We lead the project and the client liaison, and we collaborate on the design and delivery with French partners where required. French architects we trust collaborate with us on projects and can gain statutory sign-off and know the local planning system inside out. We have built those relationships across the Haute-Savoie and around Geneva, so this part stays quiet, and you never have to think about it.
FAQs
Are you a British architecture practice who works in France?
Yes. We are architects based in London, and a growing amount of our new work is in France. We are set up to design and deliver there, and we are doing more of it every year.
Has Brexit made it harder to build in France?
Harder on paper, but it has not dampened the appetite on either side. Our clients still want to spend time in France and build there, and we are set up to design and deliver for them when they do.
Do I need a French architect, or can a British practice do it? (the Permis de Construire)
France protects the role of the architect in law. For most new builds over 150m², a French-registered architect has to sign the Permis de Construire. People often assume that rules out a British practice, but our experience shows it does not.
We lead the project and the client liaison, and we collaborate on the design and delivery with French partners where required. French architects we trust work with us for statutory sign-off and know the local planning system inside out. We have built those relationships across the Haute-Savoie and around Geneva, so this part stays quiet, and you never have to think about it.
What do you bring to a French site?
The way we work does not change when we cross the Channel. We are RIBA chartered and B Corp certified, and we lead rather than follow the pack. We listen, crystallise the brief, then test it through research until the idea is right. That is the same wherever the site is.
Does your low-energy approach work in the French climate?
It tends to matter more in France, not less. Our low-energy approach, Re:Low, earns its keep when alpine winters and recent summers ask a lot of a building. Getting the orientation, the fabric and the materials right is important, and you can actually feel the difference, in July and in January. It is the kind of challenge we enjoy, and the kind of site that rewards deep thinking.
Where in France do you work?
We work across France, with particular experience in the Haute-Savoie and around Geneva, and long-standing family ties to the Dordogne. Between the mountains and the south west, we know the country well.
What kind of French projects do you take on?
New builds, substantial rebuilds, and land you have been wondering what to do with. We design unique homes, mostly for people who want something original and want it to last. If you have something in mind, we would love to hear about it.