Sean Hill

Small Homes, Big Futures: Designing with Purpose in the Countryside

by Sean Hill on May 21, 2025

Sustainable timber-clad countryside home with a green roof, large sliding openings, and wildflower meadow in the foreground—showcasing low-impact, eco-conscious rural design that harmonises with the natural landscape.

A quieter kind of ambition At RISE, we’re no strangers to bold visions. But sometimes, the most powerful architectural stories are the smallest ones. Stories where the scale shrinks, but the impact deepens. Stories where living becomes lighter, simpler, and more connected to the land. …

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Topics: Sustainable architecture country house countryside

How to Find the Right Architect in London → Without Losing Your Mind, Your Time, or the Soul of Your Project

by Sean Hill on May 21, 2025

choosing-an-architect-london-rise-design-studio-collaborative-design-process

Let’s begin with a simple truth: Every remarkable building starts long before a single brick is laid. It begins with a conversation—a sketch, a question, a feeling. And behind every great space is an architect who knows how to listen.

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Topics: Chartered architect Chartered Practice

London Heat: Why We Need to Think Twice Before Cranking Up the AC

by Sean Hill on May 21, 2025

Rear view of Douglas House at dusk, showing open-plan kitchen and dining area with large sliding glass doors, a timber-clad extension, and folding sliding timber shutters designed to reduce solar gain and help keep the home naturally cooler in summer.

London’s heatwaves are becoming more punishing — and yet, our homes still cling to warmth as if it’s always mid-January. With temperatures rising, it’s tempting to look for a quick fix: air conditioning. But before we all rush to install AC units on every street, it’s worth asking wha …

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Topics: Sustainable architecture Overheating

The 1.5 Million Homes Challenge

by Sean Hill on May 21, 2025

Modern brick housing development with pitched roofs and large windows, designed by a small architectural studio. The image showcases sustainable, community-oriented design with greenery, fencing, and public seating in a well-integrated urban setting.

Why small studios, local builders and agile thinkers hold the key to sustainable housing ☉ Let’s be honest. Building 1.5 million homes in the UK over the next few years sounds great on paper. But with today’s structures, policies and workforce? → It’s like trying to run a marathon in …

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Topics: Sustainable architecture New build

Why “Cheap” Architectural Services Might Be the Most Expensive Decision You’ll Ever Make

by Sean Hill on May 17, 2025

Open RISE Design Studio Stage 2 Feasibility Report displayed on a minimal white surface, featuring clean typography and a gold-toned cover that emphasizes thoughtful, strategic early-stage design decisions before construction begins.

We’ve all been tempted.

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Topics: Architecture Sustainable architecture

The Art of the Hidden Plot: 9 Unconventional Ways to Find Land for Development in the UK

by Sean Hill on May 17, 2025

Aerial view of a residential neighbourhood highlighting a potential backland development site outlined in red, with surrounding properties colour-coded for analysis. Example of infill land suitable for sustainable housing projects in urban UK settings.

At RISE Design Studio, we believe great architecture starts long before the first sketch. It begins with land - not just any land, but the kind of plot that speaks quietly of potential. A back corner of a garden. A forgotten brownfield site. A space between buildings waiting to tell a …

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Topics: backland

Building Back Biodiversity: What the 10% Net Gain Planning Rule Means for You

by Sean Hill on May 16, 2025

A biophilic courtyard by RISE Design Studio showcasing native planting, vertical greenery, and natural materials, illustrating on-site biodiversity enhancements and ecological integration within sustainable architectural design.

In every architectural project, we ask: can we leave a place better than we found it?

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Topics: Sustainable Design Biophilic Design

How to Choose a Builder (Without Losing Sleep or Money)

by Sean Hill on May 15, 2025

Builders operating piling rig on residential construction site during groundworks, with rubble and foundation materials visible around the area.

Hiring a builder is like choosing a climbing partner for a difficult ascent. It’s not just about who’s strongest or cheapest. It’s about who you trust to rope up with you and guide the project safely to the summit - your home, your business, your legacy.

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Topics: construction Contractor

Why We’re Designing with Swift Bricks: Architecture That Welcomes Nature Home

by Sean Hill on May 15, 2025

Built-in swift nest brick with removable cover, designed for seamless integration into external walls. Provides a safe, sustainable nesting site for swifts and other cavity-nesting birds as part of eco-conscious architectural design by RISE Design Studio.

Every summer, for just twelve fleeting weeks, the skies above our streets are sliced by a flash of black, a cry like laughter, and the unmistakable curve of a swift in flight. They’ve crossed continents to be here. And all they ask in return is a place to stay.

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Topics: Biodiversity Nature