Whittaker Parsons

At Whittaker Parsons, we are committed to improving access to the architectural profession and giving back wherever possible. We are proud to be part of The London School of Architecture Practice Network, have provided a placement for an aspiring architect, and Matthew Whittaker, our director, is in his 7th year as a final-year design tutor. This brings us to an important question: If your child wanted to become an architect, could they afford it? For many, the answer would be no. The London School of Architecture is working hard to make architectural education more accessible and affordable, offering a practical pathway into the profession that avoids excessive debt. Through the integration of real-world experience with academic learning, students graduate with both the skills and the knowledge they need to succeed in the industry. In these uncertain times, it’s crucial to maintain focus on access and inclusivity. Below are a few images from yesterday’s design reviews—a day of inspiring energy, collaborative thinking, and thought-provoking discussions. #Architecture #InclusiveDesign #AccessToEducation #LSA #FutureArchitects #Mentorship #DesignReviews #ArchitectureEducation #GivingBack

We're hiring! We're seeking an experienced Part II or Part III Architect to join our team. Interested? Visit our website for the job description and learn more about our supportive studio culture.

Our hearts go out to those affected by Storm Bert.     As the clean-up begins, our thoughts turn to designing for a changing climate and mitigating flood damage – how to ensure the cleaning, drying, recovery, and reoccupation of properties are as quick and straightforward as possible. This is the problem we’ve been seeking to solve on our Norfolk Broads project, which includes the deep retrofit of an existing cottage and extension. Working with existing structures presents many challenges – such as working with fixed floor levels, which are highly susceptible to flooding. Our client has accepted the inevitability of the property flooding. So, we’re designing in flood resilience. The building materials and finishes specified are designed to retain their integrity, so the thermal and technical performance of the building should be unaffected when saturated. In partnership with Canham Consulting, the aim is to improve the overall permeability of the site to help reduce the risk of flooding and pollution from runoff. It was a pleasure to share this project with The Telegraph, who visited the site before construction starts in the new year. Check out anna white's fascinating article on the complexities of buying waterside properties in the UK and flood-resilient design. #floodresilience #designingforachangingclimate #architectdesigned

We love this shot of the London Borough of Hackney Members making themselves at home in Flitch Cottage on last week's Net Zero Carbon/Retrofit tour! Thank you, Ioana Andrada Calin, for organising the visit. It was a pleasure to discuss retrofit best practices, the use of healthy materials, and designing with balance - the importance of understanding and prioritising what is achievable within relativity tight domestic budgets. We also hosted an Open House last week. We were blown away by how many people visited and how they seemed not to want to leave—a sign of a comfortable, welcoming home. #retrofit #buildinghealth #healthyhomes #walthamforest #buildingwithbalance #planninghomes

A massive thank you to our generous client, Ian Turkington, for kindly opening his house for the Open House Festival this weekend and taking the time to talk to visitors along with Matthew Whittaker from our studio. Architecture and gardens are best experienced in person. Thanks to all those who visited—we were overwhelmed by how far some people had travelled to see the project. It was a packed house, with lots of talking and exchanging ideas! Thanks to all at Open City for organising such an inspiring programme! We can't wait to do it all again next year! #openhouse #dontmoveimprove #DMI24 #NLA #OpenCity #openhouse #homes #houseinterior #homeinterior #flitchcottage #whittakerparsonsstudio #whittakerparsons #londonterracehouse #houserenovation #reusereducerecycle

In today's Evening Standard, "Rooftop Extensions Take Off. But how easy is it to build up rather than down, and are they the key to unlocking the housing crisis? Anna White talks to those in the know" — our very own Matthew Whittaker. Head to the ES website to find out how we tailored our design to suit local concerns and delivered a beautifully tactile, quality scheme in a challenging economic climate. The project was Longlisted for the NLA's Don't Move Improve! 2024 and Dezeen Awards 2023 Sustainable Interior. Many thanks to the Evening Standard, Anna White, for the piece, and Juliet Murphy Photography Murphy for the portraits of Matt and Camilla (our clients are camera shy, so WP stepped in).  #raisingtheroof #rooftopdevelopment #densification #londondevelopment #addingvalue #whittakerparsons

Less is more: this was a complete retrofit of a Victorian former corner shop in the Globe Road Conservation Area, London. On reviewing the existing layout, which was inefficient and dark, we noted that the poor-quality lean-to extensions weren't doing much for the property, so we advised the client to take them down and rationalise the layout of the spaces within the building's original footprint. We flipped the staircase's orientation, remodelling the entrance space and creating a light-filled, crisp, contemporary central staircase. We also moved the main entrance, unlocking space to create a more usable, useful kitchen—with enough storage and social space, too! A new family bathroom was squeezed in upstairs while maintaining three good-sized bedrooms. We fully insulated, upgraded services and fenestration, reduced the building footprint, and provided meaningful outdoor space and a highly efficient layout.  Building less, designing better. MC @bcs_building_contractor_serv SE @simple__works Photos @clickclickjim

Planning Permission granted for our Forest Gate Infill Home! This new build two-bedroom family home in the Woodgrange Conservation Area has sailed through the planning process. The application received no objections and is fully supported by the LA due to its high design quality. We've worked hard to design a viable and neighbourly scheme that makes the most of its site. We're looking forward to sharing more later this year.... Model: built inhouse by @whittakerparsons using papercrete from the studio scrap paper pile #forestgatedevelopment #newham #newbuildhouse #passivhaus #urbaninfill #planningwin #papercrete #modelmaking #architecturalmodels #whittakerparsons #architecting #modelmaking #modelmakingskills

We're delighted WP's first new-build house seems well received, making it onto the shortlist for such prestigious awards as the RIBA London Awards, the Brick Awards, and winning an Architects' Journal Award 2023. We are also thrilled to see the house featured in Premier Construction Magazine before Friday's RIBA London Awards announcement. Fingers Crossed on that one! The Corner Fold House results from a very tight construction budget—£350k—a constrained plot and a specific client brief. The downsizing couple wanted to create a robust, low-maintenance home. Its street frontage needed security and privacy; at the rear, they wanted to take advantage of the far-reaching views.  We rose to the challenge, creating a 'brutal' brick facade that took cues from the surrounding Victorian terraces. We resisted installing skylights due to maintenance issues the client wanted to avoid and overheating concerns. We balanced solar gains by setting back its rear elevation, sheltering it from the afternoon sun. The south-facing elevation is overshadowed from the west by the adjacent building. This enabled us to design large south-facing glazing without worrying about overheating. It is a compact building, which surprises visitors—it feels much larger inside than out. We are considering organising a tour for industry professionals. Please get in touch if you'd like to visit; we'd love to show you around.

We're proud to announce Flitch Cottage has been Shortlisted by Don't Move, Improve! this year, @NLA's annual competition and programme celebrating the best homes being redesigned in London. Find out more here: dontmoveimprove.london #DMI2024 #ReimagineTheHome