Honouring the Past, Designing for the Future
Transforming Period Properties with Sensitivity and Vision
At Living Space Architects, we believe that period properties are more than beautiful structures—they are custodians of architectural heritage and personal memory. Whether you own a listed building or an older home with character, our role is to help you adapt it—sensitively and sustainably—for contemporary life.
We work with homeowners throughout the South West to breathe new life into buildings of historic value, combining conservation expertise with discreet environmental upgrades and bespoke design solutions.
Reimagining Period Living
Period properties offer charm, craftsmanship, and a tangible connection to the past. But they can also present challenges: inefficient layouts, outdated heating systems, or difficulty navigating planning consents and heritage guidance. Our team is experienced in addressing these issues with considered, context-specific design.
We help you retain what you love, enhance what needs support, and gently integrate the elements that make daily life more comfortable and efficient.
A Balanced Approach to Sustainability
Refurbishing older homes for improved environmental performance requires a careful balance. We design energy upgrades that respect historic construction—breathable insulation, reversible interventions, and heritage-appropriate materials and detailing.
Where appropriate, we incorporate low-impact technologies such as air source heat pumps, secondary glazing, and solar energy systems, all tailored to each building’s context and fabric.
Selected Projects
• The Thatched Cottage, Devon
A Grade II listed cob-and-thatch home, transformed with a sensitively detailed oak-framed garden room and targeted sustainability upgrades. Lime plaster, original beams and traditional materials were retained, maintaining a strong dialogue with the building’s rural setting.
A comprehensive upgrade to a Georgian rectory, including breathable insulation, underfloor heating via a renewable energy system, and joinery restoration. The result: a home that supports modern family life while honouring its heritage.
A disused historic outbuilding reimagined as a calm, low-energy dwelling. Interventions included reclaimed materials, a green roof, and carefully restored stonework—retaining its character while increasing performance and livability.
