No more VAT on green home improvements
by RISE Design Studio on Jul 31, 2022
In March this year, the UK Government removed the requirement for VAT on payments related to the installation of certain energy saving materials in residential property in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). This will be in place until the end of March 2027. Scrapping VAT on …
Virtual Reality in Architecture
by Sean Hill on Jul 10, 2022
The 21st Century has seen innovations in technology like never before. From self-driving cars to Bluetooth and 3D printing to fibre optics, these rapid advances are impacting people’s lives and workplaces in a way that was not thought possible only a decade ago.
What can be done about the global sand shortage?
by RISE Design Studio on Jun 26, 2022
It may come as a surprise to learn that sand is the most exploited resource after water. Globally, we extract around 50 billion tonnes of sand and gravel every year and the United Nations is calling for increased monitoring of extraction and supply chains. We use sand in a very wide r …
Spotlight on David Lea and low carbon design
by RISE Design Studio on May 31, 2022
“When we build we reveal our vision of the future.” These words embody David Lea’s approach to designing buildings that are in harmony with the natural world. Today, this has never been more important and here at RISE Design Studio we will continue to take inspiration from Lea’s work, …
What is the difference between Passivhaus and BREEAM?
by RISE Design Studio on Apr 30, 2022
At a time when energy prices are rising, it is helpful to know about options in the home for reducing energy consumption. From an architectural and design point of view, this equates to much more than having a shorter shower or reducing the time the heating is turned on. Today, there …
Francis Kéré, materiality and place
by RISE Design Studio on Mar 31, 2022
In 2022, Francis Kéré was awarded architecture’s highest international accolade, the Pritzker Prize. Kéré’s many projects show us the power of materiality rooted in place, which is something that we emphasise through the use of local materials in our architecture and design work.
Spotlight on Ricardo Bofill as we set up our new studio in Barcelona
by RISE Design Studio on Feb 28, 2022
Later this year, we will be opening a RISE Design Studio in Barcelona. We are excited about this, not least because we take a lot of inspiration from Spanish architecture in our work. Last month, we were very sad to hear the news that renowned Catalonian architect, Ricardo Bofill, had …
The Underrated Architecture Issue: Navigating Creaky Floors in Your London Home
by Sean Hill on Feb 21, 2022
At RISE Design Studio we’ve come to realise that the charm and character of a building are not solely about its exterior. The interior plays an equal part in shaping the overall alma, including aspects often overlooked, like the subtle yet intriguing issue of squeaky floors. I would l …
Passive House – a luxurious way to take climate action
by RISE Design Studio on Jan 31, 2022
At RISE Design Studio, we work hard to minimise the environmental impact and energy consumption of our projects. One way we do this is by working with the Passive House and EnerPHit standards. In October 2021, publisher and editor of Passive House Plus magazine, Jeff Colley, gave a TE …
Spotlight on Jan Kaplický
by RISE Design Studio on Nov 29, 2021
There are very few Londoners (and international cricket fans) who are not familiar with the Media Centre at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. Designed by avant-garde Czech architect, Jan Kaplický, this is one of his most renowned ‘spacecraft-like’ architecture projects. Completed in 1999, it …
