The Art of Lighting in Sustainable Architecture: Insights from Craig Turner of Orluna
by Sean Hill on Mar 18, 2025
Interviewer: Sean Ronnie Hill, Director of RISE Design Studio Sean Ronnie Hill: Craig, thank you for joining me. At RISE Design Studio, we place a strong emphasis on sustainable, human-centred design, and lighting plays a crucial role in shaping how spaces are experienced. Orluna’s ap …
RIBA 2020 Plan of Work: A Roadmap for Purposeful Architecture
by Sean Hill on Mar 14, 2025
ome buildings are just that - buildings. They meet regulations, tick boxes, stand where they need to stand. But great architecture? That’s different. Great architecture serves a purpose beyond function. It works harder, lasts longer, and adapts over time. It’s thoughtful in its design …
Smart Homes and Sustainable Design: A Conversation with Louis Christie of LC-AV
by Sean Hill on Mar 13, 2025
Sean Ronnie Hill: Louis, thanks for joining me today. At RISE Design Studio, we’re always looking to integrate smart home technology in a way that enhances sustainable, low-energy design rather than adding unnecessary complexity. Your work at LC-AV aligns with our philosophy of creati …
Breathing New Life into Midcentury Modern Homes
by Sean Hill on Mar 5, 2025
A guide to restoring, upgrading, and honouring a unique era of British architecture
How to Make Space for Life: Rethinking the 3-Meter Extension
by Sean Hill on Mar 4, 2025
At RISE Design Studio, we’ve always believed that architecture should do more than add square metres. It should add meaning. A 3-meter rear extension isn’t just about stretching your footprint - it’s about unlocking new ways to live, breathe, gather, cook, and grow. Done well, this mo …
From Boardrooms to Bedrooms: Rethinking Offices as Hotels
by Sean Hill on Mar 4, 2025
A new kind of conversion story When the world changed in 2020, so did our buildings. Habits shifted, city centres emptied, and office spaces - once the engine rooms of urban life - found themselves hollowed out, underused, and, in some cases, entirely abandoned.
Beyond the Bin: What Architecture Can Learn from Silo
by Sean Hill on Feb 28, 2025
We went to an event last night at Solus Tiles. A gathering of architects, designers, engineers, and thinkers. People who make things. People who should be asking: How do we make things better?
Start Smart: Why Feasibility is the First Steps That Matters
by Sean Hill on Feb 27, 2025
If you don’t know where you're going, how will you know when you’ve arrived?
Why Does External Wall Insulation (EWI) Spark Such Strong Reactions?
by Sean Hill on Feb 25, 2025
Every once in a while, a comment lands in our inbox that is more than just feedback - it is a full-on rant. The latest one (see screengrab below) was not just critical of External Wall Insulation (EWI); it was angry, rude, and frustrated.
What’s the Cost of Extending Your Home in London in 2025?
by Sean Hill on Feb 21, 2025
A bigger house, or a better one? London isn’t cheap. Space is tight. And moving? It’s stressful, expensive, and rarely as simple as it seems. So you start thinking - what if you could make the home you already love work harder for you?
