Design Quirks & Sustainability
At the heart of the design is a commitment to spatial quality and material integrity. Carefully calibrated proportions and a restrained palette establish a considered dialogue between historic fabric and contemporary intervention, allowing old and new to coexist with clarity and purpose.
Moments of subtle playfulness — expressed through bespoke detailing and unexpected spatial relationships — lend the building its quiet character, while never detracting from its architectural discipline.
Environmental performance was integral to the brief. The building’s orientation and internal organisation optimise natural daylight and ventilation, reducing reliance on artificial systems. Fabric-first principles, thoughtful insulation upgrades and the sensitive integration of modern services ensure that the building performs efficiently while respecting its listed status.
The result is a studio that feels both enduring and responsible — rooted in heritage, yet designed for the demands of contemporary practice.
Client and Architect
Working in the unusual position of being both client and architect, we approached the design and planning journey with particular clarity and care. This dual role demanded rigour, restraint and an honest interrogation of every decision — a process that ultimately strengthened the outcome.
The result is more than a collection of rooms; it is a carefully tailored workplace that supports daily rituals, creative exchange and moments of quiet reflection. The studio has been shaped not only around function, but around the values that underpin our practice — craft, proportion and longevity.
Feedback from the builder reflects a collaborative and rewarding process, reinforcing our belief that thoughtful problem-solving and mutual respect are as fundamental to good architecture as the finished form itself.
The Old Post Office
The Old Post Office is an elegantly realised architectural project that responds sensitively to its unique setting and Grade II listed heritage. Once home to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the building carries a rich cultural legacy that demanded both respect and careful stewardship.
Reimagined as a purpose-built design studio for ABL3 Architects, the project balances conservation with contemporary intervention. Historic fabric has been preserved and celebrated, while new elements are expressed with clarity and restraint, ensuring a legible dialogue between past and present.
Rooted in a deep understanding of place and craft, the studio now provides an inspiring working environment — one that reflects our ethos and demonstrates our ability to create spaces that feel both exceptional and wholly inhabitable.
Community & Context:
The response from the local community was overwhelmingly positive — a generous embrace from those who know Church Street best.
The project has been credited with breathing new life into the street, contributing renewed confidence to this historic setting. Particular praise has centred on the new shopfront, described locally as a triumph in conservation architecture — contemporary in its execution, yet entirely at ease within its heritage context.
From the outset, our approach was grounded in a deep respect for the public realm. Through careful attention to proportion, material integrity and craftsmanship, the design strengthens rather than competes with its surroundings.
It has been especially rewarding to hear clients, neighbours and friends express their appreciation for the building’s sympathetic integration — reaffirming our belief that successful conservation architecture should feel both natural and inevitable, as though it has always belonged.
We welcome visitors to the studio and are always happy to discuss upcoming projects, answer questions or simply share a coffee and a tour of the space. Please do feel free to pop in and see us.
