Herbert Paradise: A Home That Leads with Purpose

At RISE Design Studio, we believe homes should be more than shelter. They should inspire. They should nurture. And they should quietly - but powerfully - lead the way to a better future.

Herbert Paradise, a mid-terrace 1930s house in London NW10, is one such home.

It doesn’t shout for attention. It doesn’t need to. With an EPC A rating, it stands as a subtle yet significant example of what’s possible when design, intention, and innovation meet in harmony.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Rating A for our Herbert Paradise project in Kensal Rise, NW London

A New Benchmark for London Homes

In a country where the average home carries a D rating, Herbert Paradise sets a new benchmark - not just in performance, but in possibility. Through a complete internal renovation, it proves that low-energy living can be achieved in a typical 1930s home, without compromise. That sustainable architecture doesn’t need to be flashy or futuristic - it can be quietly elegant, thoughtful, and rooted in everyday life.

With these measures in place, the home’s total energy use results in just 1,996.5 kg CO₂e per year - that’s only 11.5 kg CO₂e per square metre. That’s more than four times lower than the average UK home, which emits around 4,000–5,000 kg CO₂e per year.

Flooded with natural light and designed for comfort, this beautifully retrofitted home now runs on just 9,500 kWh of energy a year - cutting carbon emissions to only 11.5 kg CO₂e per m². A space that’s as sustainable as it is serene. 

Design That’s Deeply Rooted

When we retrofit or extend a home, we don’t just ask what we can add.  We ask what’s worth keeping? How do we enhance the soul of the building while breathing new life into its bones?

Herbert Paradise retains its solid brick structure, but now benefits from thoughtfully layered insulation - internally and in the roof. The original windows have given way to high-performance glazing. Underfoot, the floors are solid and insulated. Above, solar panels quietly harvest clean energy from the sun, while an air source heat pump provides highly efficient electric heating.

Every decision was deliberate. Every detail, designed to reduce heat loss, reduce energy bills, and reduce carbon emissions - while enhancing the way the family lives within the space.

A deep green palette, polished concrete floors, and a sculptural dining table bring sophistication to the heart of the home — all while maintaining the low-energy ethos that defines this 1930s retrofit.

The Power of Quiet Innovation

There’s nothing radical here. No futuristic tech buzzwords. Just smart systems working in sync:

• Air source heat pump paired with zone controls for efficiency.

• Low-energy lighting throughout, supporting daylight when it’s needed.

• Solar PV helping offset electricity demand from the grid.

All of these decisions - none loud, none showy - work together to reduce the home’s environmental impact and create a place of true comfort.

This is what we mean when we talk about designing for impact.

Living Lightly, Living Well

We often say that the most sustainable building is one that’s loved. Herbert Paradise shows how an older home can be transformed into a future-facing sanctuary. One that protects the planet without losing its place in the neighbourhood. One that brings bills down while lifting spirits.

We see projects like this not as exceptions, but as prototypes for what’s to come. They prove that families can enjoy comfort, beauty, and sustainability - all under one roof.

And for us, this is more than a single project. It's part of our larger mission: to design spaces that enable people to live more purposefully, more connected to their environment, and more mindful of their legacy.

A calm, layered interior where form follows function. The lowered kitchen, part of the home’s complete internal transformation, adds flow and intimacy - echoing the project's quiet, efficient energy ethos.

What's Your Paradise?

If you're thinking about how your home could tread more lightly, or how your next project could push the boundary of what's possible, get in touch.

Let’s create something that doesn’t just meet today’s standards, but sets tomorrow’s.

If you would like to talk through your project with the team, please do get in touch at architects@risedesignstudio.co.uk or give us a call on 020 3947 5886

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