What areas does Studio Harrison work in?

Derbyshire and the Peak District predominantly, with regular projects across the wider East and West Midlands, and a number of clients in Jersey, Channel Islands.

Do I need planning permission for my extension or new build?

Most extensions and all new-build homes need either planning permission or, in some cases, a Lawful Development Certificate confirming permission isn't needed — which applies depends on scale, location, and whether the property is listed or in a conservation area.

Do you offer snagging inspections for new-build homes?

Yes — a technologist-led inspection of a newly built home before or shortly after legal completion, checking construction quality and finish against the specification and building regulations.

What's a fabric-first approach to sustainable design?

Treating the building's fabric — insulation, airtightness, glazing, thermal bridging — as the foundation of energy performance, before adding renewable technology on top, in line with Passivhaus and AECB principles.

How long does a typical residential project take?

Usually several months from initial consultation to a full set of construction drawings, plus a further 8 weeks for planning determination on a standard application.

How much does it cost to work with an architectural designer on a home project?

The investment is usually structured either as a percentage of the construction cost or as a fixed fee for each design stage, agreed upfront once the scope is clear.

Stone Rhythm

Stone Rhythm

Staffordshire, UK

Set within extensive landscaped grounds, the Stone Rhythm case study is a substantial country manor characterised by red brickwork, stone detailing and an established architectural language of tall, leaded windows framed by distinctive stone surrounds.

The existing house had evolved to include a former cottage alongside the principal building, separated by an external courtyard. The proposal sought to bring these elements together, infilling the space between them to create a generous new kitchen, breakfast, dining and entertaining space at the heart of the home.

Rather than replicating the historic architecture, Studio Harrison looked closely at the proportions and composition of the existing manor to establish a contemporary language for the new addition. A study of the existing fenestration identified a strong rhythm of repeated glazing, with individual windows framed and separated by stone mullions. This rhythm became the starting point for the extension.

Design Brief

The brief called for the existing manor house and former cottage to be better connected, creating a large, light-filled space for cooking, dining and entertaining while reorganising the surrounding rooms to better support family life.

The existing kitchen and dining spaces were remodelled to provide a generous study, laundry and boot room, and a separate, quieter family room. An existing snug was incorporated into the new entertaining space, allowing previously fragmented areas of the house to function as a more cohesive whole.

The garden-facing elevation interprets the architectural character of the manor in a deliberately contemporary way. Tall, minimal glazing is arranged between slender vertical stone fins, establishing a measured repetition derived from the proportions and rhythm of the existing windows. Glazed doors are incorporated as individual leaves within the same sequence, allowing them to remain visually recessive and preserving the consistency of the composition.

Above the glazing, a stone entablature interprets the diamond pattern of the existing leaded windows, translating a distinctive detail of the original house into a defining feature of the new architecture.

The generous glazing fills the new entertaining space with natural light and establishes a stronger connection with the landscaped gardens, while minimal flat roof lights bring daylight deeper into the plan. Stone, glass and repetition combine to create a contemporary orangery that feels distinctly new, but inherently connected to the architecture of the existing house.

Services Studio Harrison provided for this project:

Developing the Brief
Concept Design
3D Visualisation
Pre-Application Advice

A large brick house with a sloped roof, multiple chimneys, and arched windows, surrounded by a well-maintained garden with various flowers and trees, under a partly cloudy sky.

Large brick house with multiple chimneys, surrounded by well-maintained garden with flowering plants, small trees, and a glass conservatory extension, under a clear sky.

Photo of a house exterior showing a brick wall with a window, garden plants on the side, and a glass-enclosed patio with chairs and a table inside.

A garden with lush green trees, bushes, and white flowering plants in front of a modern building with a brick house in the background, all illuminated by warm sunlight.

A brick building with large windows, decorated with purple wisteria and green plants on the balcony.

A garden with lush greenery, flowering vines on a brick house, and a modern glass-walled extension with a dining area inside.

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