More Than a Clubhouse: A Place to Belong, Built for the Next 50 Years
by Imran Jahn on May 31, 2025
At RISE, we don’t just design buildings. We design catalysts. Spaces that unlock potential. Places that bring people together—across generations, backgrounds, and abilities. Our work with Sutton Churches Tennis Club is about more than bricks and timber. It’s about creating a legacy. A …
How a Small Shed at Chelsea Is Inspiring Big Ideas at RISE
by Sean Hill on May 29, 2025
Nature’s Quiet Genius This year at the Chelsea Flower Show, we were captivated by the Intelligent Garden pavilion designed by Studio Weave, with landscape designer Tom Massey and furniture maker Sebastian Cox. Their careful craft and material curiosity sparked ideas that continue to s …
A Thousand-Year Responsibility: Lessons from Japanese Carpentry
by Sean Hill on May 26, 2025
During the bank holiday weekend, I visited Japan House in London and stepped into a world shaped by hand, heart, and humility.
A New Age of Timber: Why the Future is (Lab-Grown) Wood
by Sean Hill on May 22, 2025
In a quiet lab in Kyoto, a group of scientists are shaping the future – and they're doing it with wood.
Breathing New Life into Old Walls: Sustainable Refurbishment of Listed Buildings
by Sean Hill on May 21, 2025
There’s something deeply grounding about working on a listed building. You’re not just altering a structure - you’re continuing a story. A story etched in hand-forged nails, lime-washed walls, and timber beams that have withstood centuries. But let’s be honest - these buildings were n …
Small Sites, Big Thinking: How Small-Scale Developments Can Transform Our Cities
by Sean Hill on May 21, 2025
☉ The Untapped Power of the Forgotten Plot
Small Homes, Big Futures: Designing with Purpose in the Countryside
by Sean Hill on May 21, 2025
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. …
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
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.
London Heat: Why We Need to Think Twice Before Cranking Up the AC
by Sean Hill on May 21, 2025
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 …
The 1.5 Million Homes Challenge
by Sean Hill on May 21, 2025
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 …
