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Blog / Overheating

Designing for Summer: Why Retrofit Is More Than a Winter Strategy

Exposed ceiling during retrofit by RISE Design Studio showing installed insulation and ventilation ductwork, designed to reduce overheating and improve indoor air quality as part of a sustainable, climate-resilient home upgrade.

☉ At RISE Design Studio, we believe good architecture doesn’t just shelter us - it sustains us. That means thinking beyond cold snaps and insulation R-values. As our summers get longer, hotter, and more unpredictable, the conversation around retrofit must evolve. It’s no longer just a …

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A Stage Between Worlds

Decorative Gaudí-style balconies on a colourful mosaic façade in Barcelona, showing how balconies blend art, passive cooling, natural shading and urban character, illustrating the balance between architectural beauty, sustainability and community connection in Mediterranean design.

In Barcelona, balconies are so stitched into the daily rhythm that their presence slips by almost unseen. But pause on a quiet street, tilt your head upwards, and there they are: little theatres hanging above the city, each one a bridge between the hush of private rooms and the hum of …

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

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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