Why employ an architect?
by RISE Design Studio on Jun 13, 2019
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has produced a guide for engaging an architect. It includes some important topics, such as: appointing an architect, developing a brief, project leadership, fee options and legislation. In the next few posts on our blog, we summarise th …
Rammed earth walls: natural and sustainable living
by RISE Design Studio on Apr 15, 2019
‘Rammed earth’ is a technique for constructing foundations, floors and walls from natural raw materials such as earth, chalk, lime or gravel. With the lowest enviromental impact of all building techniques currently used in the commercial construction industry, rammed earth is receivin …
What is Building Information Modelling (BIM)?
by RISE Design Studio on Jan 8, 2019
Building Information Modelling (or ‘BIM’) is a way to create and mange information about a construction project throughtout the project’s lifecycle. The main output is the ‘Building Information Model’, a digital depiction of all aspects of the project. Not only is BIM innovative in th …
History of plywood and its present day use
by RISE Design Studio on Jan 3, 2019
We have recently completed several projects that have used plywood as a feature material. Plywood is made by gluing together thin sheets of wood (‘veneers’), with the grain of each sheet running in a different direction. The result is a material that is stronger and more flexible than …
Build your own home
by RISE Design Studio on Oct 17, 2018
Tens of thousands of people in the UK have built their own home. It can cost a lot of money, take a lot of time to plan and manage, and require a lot more attention to detail than when buying an existing property, but many find that it is worth it to ensure they live in a home that su …
What does it cost to extend your home?
by RISE Design Studio on Sep 12, 2018
We’re often asked how much a house extension costs in London. Extending the home is a popular option among clients who perhaps need another bedroom, an office space, or a living area, without the hassle (and stress) involved with moving house. Although home extensions in London genera …
How much does it cost to build a house?
by RISE Design Studio on Aug 16, 2018
We’re often asked how much it costs to build a house. This is a difficult question to answer: every new build has its own requirements and new build costs depend on a range of factors. In reality, it is possible to have an accurate estimate of the price when all of the drawings and wo …
Spotlight on Jean Prouvé
by RISE Design Studio on Aug 7, 2018
French architect and designer, Jean Prouvé (1902-1984), has been described as one of the most influential designers of the early modern design movement. Once quoted as saying “never design anything that cannot be made”, he combined engineering and design to produce a wide range of fur …
Parallels: boat building and architecture
by RISE Design Studio on Jul 17, 2018
Several well-known architects (Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid, John Pawson, Frank Gehry, to name a few) have turned their hand to designing and building boats, and it is now common to find boat building technology and materials (such as custom composites) in modern building structures. Flo …
History of a building: foundations
by RISE Design Studio on Mar 29, 2018
Constructing foundations is one of the oldest of human activities. Foundations provide support for structures by transferring their load to layers of soil or rock beneath them. Over 12,000 years ago, neolithic inhabitants of Switzerland built houses on long, wooden piles that were dri …
