Architecture Awards 2020

53 2020 Architecture Awards BUILD Jul20050 Domestic Extensions Specialist of the Year 2020 – UK & Best Domestic Extension & Refurbishment Project (London): Richmond House Extension and Refurbishment Since being established, Ask My Architect has been resolutely focused on the refurbishment and extension of existing housing, transforming homes into stylish, innovative, and family-friendly spaces for the modern era. By simplifying the architectural process, the client is taken from the exhilarating design phase, right the way through to the delivery of a wonderful new living space and home. To find out more about the work of Ask My Architect, we profiled the firm. Ask My Architect was formed with a single mission: to help domestic clients navigate the daunting process of extending and renovating their homes by offering a hands-on approach to the entire process. Through a carefully curated series of four steps, Ask My Architect can help any client achieve the renovation and extension of their dreams. The first step involves the team visiting the client in their home for a brief chat about their project aspirations, before undertaking a live design session which typically takes between three to four hours. After understanding the spaces that exist and carrying out a measured survey, Ask My Architect then begins the exciting design process. During this time, the client and the team get to know each other in a relaxed environment, as well as allowing the designer a chance to get to grips with the space itself. The life design session develops the brief quickly and efficiently. Exploring the different opportunities and possibilities for the project is key to the process, client and Architect discuss how the space can be maximised and adapt to the specific lifestyle of the client. The Live Design Session is a wonderful and exciting part of the process, as the client is able to feed into the design process there and then, and see their ideas comes to life. Slowly but surely, the ideas discussed are translated into fully hand- sketched design options for the client to keep. As the team from Ask My Architect begin sketching, their drawing arm becomes an extension of the clients; the clients remain fully in control whilst the team design around their needs and lifestyle aspiration, and translate their feedback into the design immediately. Once the overall process is complete the results are stunning. Ask My Architect is currently helping a family make sense of a large stone cottage that was originally built in the 1700s, and has since been extended at several points over time. What the team have done so far is focus on stripping back the space and connecting it in a manner that will offer spaces the whole family can occupy and share, increasing the level of natural light and communication throughout the home. This is challenging due to the tightly cramped rooms and existing structure, but it is a challenge that the firm will relish and look forward to putting their own stamp on. Ask My Architect always starts with the lifestyle that the clients want to lead at the property, and build on integrating this into the A interventions that it makes at the homes it designs. Understanding the lifestyle that clients want to lead and adapting the property to serve their needs is how the firm always approaches the project from the outset. This coupled with understanding the budget and how to get the best out of the project in terms of materials used and interiors created. As with so many other industries at this time, the architecture and home design industries are undergoing changes as a result of the current pandemic. The fact that everyone has been going through lockdown at home has given clients an extra incentive to adapt and change their properties. Working from home environments are on the increase, and the connection to the outdoors is becoming more important for many people. As a result of COVID-19, Ask My Architect has doubled its leads for new projects, but there is also a great deal of apprehension around spending large amounts of money until the future becomes clearer. Ultimately, Ask My Architect believes that the future of domestic residential renovation and extension is stronger now than ever before. With such a wealth of services and an outstanding reputation for delivering projects that are timelessly beautiful and endlessly fulfilling for clients, Ask My Architect is amongst the finest that the industry has to offer, and is fully deserving of all its success, both now and in the future. Company: Ask My Architect Contact: Brian MacEntee Website: www.askmyarchitect.co.uk