Last month, the Rodić Davidson team spent the weekend exploring the vibrant streets and eclectic mixture of architecture in Tirana, Albania. The city has been shaped by Albania’s recent history, with a noticeable absence of a characteristic style running through it, resulting in a mosaic-like quality to the architecture that incorporates neoclassical, modernist and contemporary influences. The city is undergoing a transformation following the relatively recent end to Albania’s Communist regime. An influx of new developments designed by local and international architects is spreading across the city to provide new cultural centres, housing, retail units and office space. During our trip we visited some of Tirana’s most prominent new buildings, which included the ‘Resurrection Cathedral’ – a circular structure, which is considered the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the Balkans, and the ‘Pyramid of Tirana’ – a former museum that became a conference center after the end of…

At Rodić Davidson Architects, we wanted to showcase our curated collection of physical material samples, which are a valuable architectural tool used throughout the design process. Working in close collaboration with Rodić Davidson Interiors, we have collected and classified a broad range of internal and external materials to inform and develop design proposals with our clients. The tactile nature of these products speaks to the experiential quality of space, allowing us to consider and explore not only the physical proportions of the space, but also the feeling within. We enjoy sharing this process first hand with our clients during in-person office meetings at any stage of a project. Occupying its own dedicated space within our Bloomsbury studio, our library contains a broad inventory of the materials we frequently work with - from stone and timber, to paint and clay - allowing clients to immerse themselves in the wide range of possibilities…

Rodić Davidson Architects has secured planning permission for a roof extension and full refurbishment of a unique residential property within the Bloomsbury Conservation Area in Camden. In addition to the roof extension, alterations include full internal reconfiguration, new front door arrangement, the addition of windows to the side elevation, the installation of slimline double glazing and window boxes set within existing embrasures. The property has a unique character and interesting history. It is located on a quiet street, the character of which derives from the variety of materials, ages and architectural styles on show. Located between a four storey listed building and six storey contemporary building, the existing three storey property leant itself to an upward extension, providing valuable additional floor area for our clients. As part of the design process, Camden Planning Guidance was consulted closely and daylight/sunlight analysis was undertaken to define the envelope of the extension. Following a pre-application…

During the past few months, Rodic Davidson have visited Italy to review and inspect the stone due to be installed within The Couture House in the coming months. Rodic Davidson are appointed as Architects, Interior Designers and Project Managers allowing for collaboration and close control on all aspects of the project. Due to the unique nature of the stone, which has been selected to complement the other materiality within the project, the stone supplier has undergone an intricate production process to ensure it meets the exacting standards of the project. The stone is being used throughout the house where the delicate tonality and detail of the limestone can be viewed in differing lighting conditions. Campolonghi are renowned suppliers and have successfully completed projects globally, including the Oslo Opera House, which Rodic Davidson visited in 2019 during an office trip. They specialise in using their combined skills and local traditions with…

Last week, the RDA team visited the ‘Architects’ Houses’ exhibition at the John Soane Museum. The exhibit highlighted five London homes designed by the architects who lived in them, showcasing a celebration of design and living. The exhibition explores how architects and designers have created homes for themselves since Soane’s time. The five case studies are a testimony of how houses can be collaborative ventures, highlighting the collective nature of architectural creation and the concept of home as a shared space. Similar to the John Soane Museum, the dwellings incorporate studio spaces into the home, creating designated areas for the arts. The proximity of John Soane’s Museum to our office in Bloomsbury makes this house a great inspiration source for our team, and this exhibition was an opportunity to revisit styles and concepts in various architectural moments from Victorian design reform to 21st-century sustainability.

Recently, Rodić Davidson Architects held a Private View for their newest exhibition ‘Artefacts of Mimar Serhan’ by Serhan Ahmet Tekbas. Friends and colleagues gathered for the event to celebrate and discuss Ahmet’s work over light refreshments provided by London Review Cake Shop. ‘Artefacts of Mimar Serhan’ displays a collection of artefacts which venture into spaces and places lost in time, oscillating between the past, present, and future. Crafted from terracotta, the artefacts unfold as a physical novel, narrating architectures and landscapes lost in time, located somewhere in the Mediterranean and designed by the forgotten architect, Mimar Serhan. Each artwork is crafted from red terracotta, sourced from the red clay village of Boltas in Cyprus. Using both traditional and contemporary methods of sculpting, the making process includes 3D printing, CNC milling and hand carving. We were honoured to welcome such a creative and varied group at Rodic Davidson Architects. Many thanks…

Rodić Davidson Architects have recently obtained planning permission and listed building consent for extensive internal and external works to a Grade II listed townhouse located within the St John’s Wood Conservation Architecture Area, including a contemporary rear extension and a new basement level. The four-storey single-family dwelling, built circa 1840, was given Grade II listed status in 1970 for its contribution to the ‘group value’ of the terrace. The appearance of the front of the house has remained unchanged since its construction, however the rear elevation and interiors have been significantly altered over the years. The previous rear facade displayed a fragmented composition due to additions varying in height, style, and form.  Our proposal creates a more coherent rear elevation with a clear distinction between the historic fabric and new elements of the building. The consented rear extension is conceived as a light-weight addition with sympathetic connections to the main building, allowing…

In 2019 Rodic Davidson hosted a window exhibition of automata called a “A day at the Architects” by Paul Spooner. The exhibition was curated by Sarah Alexander of Cabaret Mechanical Theatre (CMT). CMT was started by Sarah’s mum, Sue Jackson in 1979 in Falmouth. Sue moved CMT to London in 1984 and set up home in the basement vaults of Covent Garden market where it stayed for glorious 15 years. CMT has operated nomadically since 2000 by curating touring exhibitions and inspiring people of all generations with workshop and events. In recent years Sarah, Lisa and Max have been looking for a permanent home for CMT and the exciting news is that they have found one! Their proposed new home is Rock House in Hastings Commons. Watch Sarah and Lisa’s You Tube video here CMT has a target of £20,000 to raise via Crowdfunder. You can donate here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/cmt-mechanical-making-space

With the sun shining on us this week we wanted to take a moment to celebrate our unique location in the heart of Bloomsbury. Pied Bull Yard, where Rodić Davidson Architects have been based since 2013, is a little-known courtyard a stone’s throw from the British Museum. Our Bloomsbury office was originally situated in 67 Great Russell Street, before expanding into the old ‘York Cameras’ shop in Pied Bull Yard. This light-filled space now forms the main part of our office, with the Grade II Listed Great Russell Street building used as a meeting room, events space, materials library, and area for design reviews. In the windows facing Bury Place, we host a rotating display of artist installations. The name ‘Pied Bull Yard’ first appears on Greenwood’s 1828 map of London; it was likely named after the Pied Bull coaching inn located on Museum Street, however in Little Russell Street,…

Last week, the Rodic Davidson Team hosted a Private View for our latest exhibition – Contrasts by Sarah King. The evening saw friends and family gather over refreshments to discuss and observe King’s work in our display windows along Bury Place. ‘Contrasts’ exhibits a collection of sculptural jewellery which incorporates precious and ‘non-precious’ materials into tactile contemporary wearable pieces of art. King balances the concept of a sculptural form and the relationship to the body, whilst also utilising innovative materials such as bioresin. The title Contrasts refers to many aspects of the work, primarily the pieces being made in series with the variations talking to one another.  There are also the elements within individual pieces with detail relating to form, of light and dark, translucency versus opacity, manmade versus natural materials, and in some cases, surface to interior space. The event also held details and physical elements of King’s design…

We are delighted to announce that Nikolas Ward has become an Associate at Rodic Davidson. Nik joined the practice in 2014 as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant. He returned to RDA after his Part 2 and completed his Part 3 where his dissertation project was the exacting refurbishment of a mews house in Belgravia. Alongside flourishing as an architect and designer, Nik has been increasingly involved in the wider aspects of practice management and his promotion to Associate recognises his valued contribution at the heart of the Practice.

The Rodić Davidson team went on a recent site visit to one of our projects in Knightsbridge, located near Harrods. The team visited the site during its strip-out stage a few months ago. Since then, most of the building has been demolished, retaining only the historical Gothic style Front Façade. By keeping the original part of the façade and re-building the non-original façade in a more historically accurate manner, the overall appearance of the building and its context has been preserved and enhanced, whilst new internal floor structures are being built to meet modern society's needs and regulations. The team had the opportunity to inspect the temporary works involved in the façade retention, which we found to be significant structures in their own right. The temporary works support the existing elements of the building whilst preventing excessive movement. Special attention was paid to the temporary propping of the adjoining party…

Last week, the Rodić Davidson team visited the Building Centre’s most recent exhibition ‘Homegrown: Building a Post-carbon Future’, created in collaboration with Material Cultures. The exhibition looks at a new approach regarding more environmentally conscious building materials. The display features a variety of innovative materials which all derive from natural resources, contrasting the carbon-heavy industry standards of which we are accustomed to. We found the array of alternative building materials incredibly interesting and informative, opening up a conversation within our practice regarding more naturally-driven construction materials.

Last Friday, the Rodić Davidson Team hosted a Private View for our latest exhibition – The Unfinished House by Blerta Kambo. Friends and family were invited to enjoy a glass of wine and some nibbles to discuss and observe Kambo’s work in our window displays. ‘The Unfinished House’ displays a series of images exploring the architectural phenomenon of Albania’s incomplete homes comprising of exposed bricks, reinforced concrete frames, and remnants of steel poking out. This form of anarchism and informality was a consequence of people’s hunger for private ownership following the fall of communism in the region in 1991. Although often a means of avoiding taxation, the photographs on display capture the poetic peculiarities of these homes – expressions of the self-made architects’ individuality after years of enforced collective rule. Many of these homes tend to leave an entire floor, or several, completely unfinished, with only the concrete frame on…

Last week, the RDA team visited the Architectural Drawing Prize exhibition at the John Soane Museum. The prize highlights the importance of drawing as a means of capturing architectural ideas. The annual competition highlights the work of artists and architects from around the world, demonstrating a breadth of styles and techniques including hand-drawn, hybrid and digital processes. The prize was established in 2017 as a collaboration between Sir John Soane's Museum and the World of Architecture Festival. The museum was famously the residence of the celebrated English architect, Sir John Soane (1753-1837) and is located in Holborn, moments away from our practice in Bloomsbury. The museum itself is an architectural marvel which houses Soane’s personal eclectic collection of paintings, artefacts, sculptures, architectural fragments, models, books, drawings, and furniture.

At Rodić Davidson Architects, a huge part of our ethos is the collaborative nature of our studio. All our work contributes towards the success of our projects. On International Women’s Day 2023, we want to celebrate the continual contributions of the women in our practice whose expertise covers a wide range of skill sets, and enables our office to thrive.  As a practice, we are continually working to maintaining a diverse and gender-balanced team, with half of our staff being female. Our first two images highlights a rural project that two of our architectural assistants, Alex, and Michelle have been working on. The site plan displays a masterplan of several dwellings in the landscape which is further explored through a material elevation study. Our second set of images highlights a site visit to a townhouse development in Knightsbridge where an elevation study was produced to ensure historic fabric was referenced.…

Currently, despite the inherent environmental impact, around 50,000 buildings in the UK are demolished per year. In an attempt to shift the approach towards prioritising the reuse of existing buildings over their demolition, recent discussions have emerged about whether a shift in policy introducing a new Grade III listing could force the built environment industries to have a rethink. The approach, as suggested by Will Arnold (structural engineer and writer) and supported by Kevin McCloud, states that the new Grade III listing would be introduced to all buildings and dictates that demolition would require special permission from the local planning authority. Demolition will only be deemed as acceptable if the building is structurally unsafe or if special dispensation is given, therefore forcing the construction industries approach to existing buildings to change. Our current listed building system protects buildings due to their special architectural or historic character. Introduced in 1882, the…

Following on from the Georgian and Late Georgian architectural periods, Victorian architecture is representative of the increased prosperity seen under the reign of Queen Victoria (1837 – 1901). A large portion of the houses built in London during this period were made to accommodate for the city's expanding middle class. Influenced by the revival of previous architectural eras such as Romanesque, Byzantine and Italian Renaissance; master builders and architects helped to define the appearance of Victorian residential buildings, utilizing the technology brought about during the Industrial Revolution. The arrival of railways provided large building companies with a national reach and allowed for the transportation of local goods to wider areas. For example, many houses began to use Welsh slates for roofing, replacing the local tiles used previously. The introduction of steam power also led to other technical developments such as the commercial availability of iron-framed construction, plate glass, terracotta, and…

Rodić Davidson Architects have worked extensively with listed buildings. It is common for our clients to seek to extend their properties in a way that provides valuable additional space while also wanting to navigate complex planning and heritage requirements. A successful example of where we have worked within these constraints, is in this contemporary rear in-fill extension to a Grade II listed terraced house in Kensington’s Thurloe and Smith’s Charity Conservation Architecture Area. The proposal was motivated by the client’s desire to upgrade the quality and functionality of internal accommodation while preserving and enhancing the character of the listed building. The scheme replaces an existing, unsympathetic extension and allows more daylight to enter the ground and lower ground floors. Other works to the property included a new basement beneath the rear garden, full interior refurbishment and the reinstatement of historic features throughout.

Rodić Davidson Architects recently received planning permission for 'Porch House,' a house in Great Gransden. The house is not listed but is located within the Great Gransden Conservation Area; however, the porch has been preserved throughout the property's remodeling. Before it was significantly remodeled in the early 1900s, the house was a butcher shop in the village, and the porch entrance was where meat was hung for display. The house is adjacent to a Grade II listed building that was once a blacksmith shop. Many of the properties in the area date from the 16th century, and are predominantly timber-framed, plastered cottages with thatched roofs. The variety of houses, all broadly arranged in a rectangular layout, depict various stages of development in the village, with ties to its strictly protected historic core. The property is a 4 bedroom 2-storey detached house with a garden, owned by a family with the…

Just before Christmas, the Rodić Davidson team celebrated the holidays with a mince-pied filled day and an only ever so slightly competitive game of curling before sitting down for a delicious Christmas meal.