Notes

Every building project follows the same eight stages – but knowing what they are and what to expect at each one makes the whole process feel far less daunting. This post walks through the RIBA Plan of Work from a client’s perspective, using a real Kent extension as a thread throughout.

Your first home project with an architect? Here’s what the journey looks and feels like.

The first call to an architect is often the hardest step. Here’s why the initial consultation exists – to tease out ideas and explore what’s possible before any commitment.

New downloadable guide for the architectural process released, explaining the RIBA work stages, timelines, costs, and Mountain Fold’s services.

Beeches, an extension to a 1960s bungalow in Hampshire, has won planning approval for a back-up scheme to the original proposal, with materials matching the existing home and a pitched roof.

How much will your extension actually cost in 2026? Here are the honest numbers for East Sussex projects, from standard specification to high-performance construction that reduces energy bills by 75-90%.

UK homes lose heat three times faster than those in Germany and Norway. But winter comfort isn’t about bigger boilers – it’s about building fabric that works with your heating, not against it.

Every treehouse is an exercise in constraint, forcing architects to negotiate with living structures and embrace lightness. Designing among the branches teaches humility, sustainability, and playfulness – lessons that elevate all architecture.

Beeches, a timber-clad extension to a 1960s bungalow in Hampshire has won planning approval after an appeals process!

What if the chalk excavated from your South Downs building site wasn’t waste, but the structure itself? Rammed chalk construction proves ancient materials can meet modern performance standards while dramatically reducing embodied carbon.