London Architects
Forgeworks is a RIBA Chartered practice specialising in new houses, extensions, and retrofits. We work with homeowners and developers to create buildings that are innovative and modern with a distinct sense of character.
The studio was established in 2021 and is led by studio director Chris Hawkins from our offices in London and the South West. Chris has over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry spanning residential, cultural, workplace and community projects, including the Stirling Prize nominated Olympic Velodrome.
London Architects
5.0 Read Reviews
+44(0)1722 562 975
info@forgeworks.co.uk
Archway Studio 1, Fisherton Mill, 108 Fisherton Street, Wiltshire SP2 7QY
Press & Publications
Our experience in London
London Architects
We know that great design can unlock the potential of any building and have a huge impact on your enjoyment of your home. Inspired by both vernacular and contemporary architecture, Forgeworks’ projects combine expressive forms and spatial problem-solving with thoughtful use of materials and a unique crafted identity.
Forgeworks is experienced in sourcing and working with skilled tradespeople and consultants to deliver high quality design and value at any scale, and has a proven track record of success obtaining planning consent.
Naturally collaborative, we enjoy getting to know our clients and understanding what they want and need from their home. From initial conversations through to final delivery, we will involve and support you through the process - ensuring your design brief is translated into a beautiful building that works for you.
London Architects
London Architects
Featured Projects
A House of Wood Shingle dramatically transforms a 1950’s bungalow by wrapping the entire exterior in a natural cedar cladding and reconfiguring its interior spaces to create a highly insulated energy-efficient family home.
A House of Blue Lias connects a traditional Mendip farmhouse and its adjacent renovated barn through a contemporary ‘link’ building which reorientates the whole residence around its south-facing terrace and establishes a welcoming new main entrance.
A contemporary one-off house design realised using traditional materials, this four bedroom new build family home with views across the New forest national park, makes the most of its setting amidst fields and woodland.
Journal: 011
Morning Light on Georgian Squares
As dawn breaks over London, the honeyed façades of Georgian squares glow with a gentle warmth. Bath stone porticoes and stucco fronts catch the first pale rays, while slender cast-iron balconies frame the view of early risers walking their dogs on cobbled pavements. Beyond, the distant silhouette of glass towers reflects pink hues on misty mornings. In these moments, the dialogue between past and present becomes clear: London’s historic terraces provide a living stage for contemporary adaptation, where timber and glass combine to create new types of living at the heart of a centuries-old metropolis.
Georgian Terraces Reimagined
Across Mayfair, Bloomsbury and Kensington, rows of Georgian townhouses once occupied by nobles and scholars have been reinvented as modern apartments and live-work spaces. Within listed façades, internal planning has shifted from rigid floors of small rooms to open-plan layouts that suit twenty-first-century life. Original staircases remain in situ, their banisters restored to reveal the grain of aged oak. Behind these elements, slender steel supports carry new floor loads, allowing the removal of non-load-bearing partitions. Modern kitchens and bathrooms nestle within restored service wings at rear, their cabinetry designed to echo the profile of original skirting. Secondary glazing units sit snugly within shuttered sash frames, reducing noise from traffic outside while preserving the elegant proportions that define these façades. Under-floor heating coils lie beneath reclaimed oak floorboards imported from historic warehouses, providing gentle warmth through spaces once heated by fireplaces alone.
Victorian Warehouses to Creative Hubs
In districts such as Shoreditch and Hoxton, former warehouses and printing works have been reborn as creative hubs and loft apartments. Tall brick elevations with segmented arches now house expansive double-height spaces where daylight pours through large industrial windows. Exposed trusses made of steel or timber soar overhead, contrasting with glass mezzanine floors that appear to float amid these lofty chambers. Original brick piers remain in their positions, supporting new structural steel grids that permit glass walls to divide studio, office and residential spaces without compromising the building’s architectural rhythm. Service elements—air-handling units, electrical conduits and plumbing risers—are often hidden behind custom timber panelling or lined within narrow shafts to keep the industrial character intact. Shared courtyards at ground level showcase live-edge benches crafted from fallen oak trees, creating informal meeting points for artists, designers and start-up teams.
Interiors that Honour Heritage and Innovation
Inside both Georgian townhouses and converted warehouses, the interior design reflects a careful layering of heritage detail and contemporary touches. Walls of lime plaster in pale stone tones provide a backdrop for modern art installations. In former parlours, deep-set sash windows allow window seats to frame views of leafy squares, while track lighting hidden within cornices casts a soft glow on restored ceiling roses. Kitchens feature worktops of honed marble and soapstone, their thickness and weight recalling traditional craftsmanship even as the cabinetry conceals high-end appliances. In loft conversions, polished concrete floors rest atop under-floor heating, providing a cool modern surface that contrasts with the warmth of exposed timber beams. Bathroom suites are clad in custom-milled oak paneling that lines original niches and alcoves, creating a sense of continuity amid new sanitary fittings. In every case, furniture and fixtures are chosen for their material authenticity: handcrafted oak tables, leather-upholstered sofas in rich tones, woven textiles that reference English willow patterns.
Riverside Living in Historic Docklands
Along the Thames, historic docklands warehouses and granaries have become prized residential addresses. In Bermondsey and Rotherhithe, former grain silos and tobacco stores feature converted penthouses accessed via new stair towers. Apartments enjoy panoramic riverside views through floor-to-ceiling glazing that stands within restored brick shells. Steel balconies cantilever over restored dock walls, providing private outdoor space without altering the building silhouette. Internally, the remnants of loading bays serve as dramatic entry lobbies, where cast-iron columns meet plaques commemorating the building’s original use. Lift shafts clad in glass allow residents to watch the river pass by as they ascend to their apartments. Communal terraces on former roof decks offer 360-degree views of London’s skyline, with seating crafted from reclaimed Wharf timbers. In these adaptive-reuse projects, riverside living combines the romance of maritime history with the comfort of modern design.
Public Realm and Community Integration
Adaptive-reuse projects in London often extend beyond the building footprint to consider the public realm and community needs. In Mayfair, refurbished Georgian mews behind townhouses now accommodate ground-floor studios with new archways that open onto pedestrian lanes. Street trees and granite curbs reestablish historic paving patterns, creating intimate courtyards where neighbours pause for conversation. In Shoreditch, warehouse conversions feature ground-level art galleries and cafés that animate formerly derelict plots. Wide sidewalks of Cumbrian and Kilkenny limestone lead visitors to entrances flanked by restored metal grilles that once protected loading doors. Bicycle racks fashioned from steel girders salvaged on site encourage sustainable travel. Pocket parks planted with pollinator-friendly species appear in former service courts, providing green respite amid brick and concrete. In each neighbourhood, design interventions respect the grain of historic streets while inviting new activity and shared life.
Living the Adaptive-Reuse London
Residents of these adaptive-reuse homes inhabit a city of contrasts. Morning coffee might be enjoyed in a Georgian breakfast room overlooking a private garden square, or in a loft kitchen beside a restored brick pier. Workdays may begin in a home office beneath an original moulded cornice or in a mezzanine studio where daylight filters through high warehouse windows. Evenings often extend to communal terrace bars on former grain store roofs or to late exhibitions in repurposed art-deco lobbies. On weekends, families gather in neighbourhood squares restored to their nineteenth-century dimensions, their children playing atop flagstones once used for market stalls. Through each reinvention of timber, brick and glass, adaptive-reuse projects affirm London’s capacity to evolve without losing touch with its deep-rooted history, crafting homes that honour both heritage and innovation.
London Architects
Contact Forgeworks
London Architects
If you’re ready to bring your vision to life, we’d love to hear from you.
Whether you’re in the early stages of planning or ready to start designing your custom home, Forgeworks Architects are here to guide you through every step of the process.
Reach out today to schedule a consultation, and let’s explore how we can create a space that is as unique and inspiring as you are. Your dream home starts with a conversation… let’s begin.
Journal: 017
London Architects
New Skylines and Urban Interventions in London
At dawn the Thames skyline emerges from a belt of mist, its glass towers and spires catching the first golden rays. Walkie Talkie and Gherkin gleam like prisms, while older landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge stand sentinel along the river. In neighbourhoods such as Canary Wharf, new buildings rise with terraces and roof gardens, offering fresh vantage points for river views. At ground level, the riverbank transforms with café terraces and cycle lanes that snake between moored boats. In these spaces the city reveals itself as a layering of eras, Roman foundations and Saxon gateways beneath the footsteps of commuters rushing toward gleaming tubes and trams. The evolving skyline tells a story of ambition, innovation and resilience, each intervention adding to London’s rich architectural tapestry.
Sustainable Skyscrapers and Vertical Communities
Recent developments have introduced sustainable skyscrapers to London’s skyline, reimagining tall buildings as vertical neighbourhoods. At Nine Elms, new towers clad in undulating glass rise between Limehouse Reach and Vauxhall Cross. Their facades incorporate solar shading fins and ventilated glass panels that reduce overheating and deliver natural light deep into interiors. Within these structures, mixed-use floors combine residential units, co-working spaces and retail amenities. Sky gardens appear at various levels, each planted with native species that attract birds and bees. Rainwater harvesting systems capture roof runoff, supplying irrigation for sky-lawn terraces and cooling towers. Elevator banks include destination-control algorithms that cluster occupants by floor, reducing energy use and wait times. Apartments feature pre-fabricated timber frames sourced from sustainably managed European forests, providing structural strength with a lower carbon footprint. These mixed-use towers offer a glimpse of future vertical living where sustainability and community go hand in hand.
Regenerating Dockside and Wharf Precincts
Along the eastern docks a resurgence of creative enterprise and residential living has transformed once-forsaken wharves. In Wapping and Bermondsey the shift from industrial docks to mixed-use waterfront precincts has involved careful preservation of historic piers and warehouses. Granite quay walls stand alongside new timber boardwalks that trace the old wharf line. Glass pavilions arc between restored brick storehouses, hosting cafés, galleries and performance venues. At low tide, salt-tolerant planting in newly formed wetland areas filters river water, while floating pontoons provide mooring for leisure boats. Light timber bridges span narrow docks, reconnecting residential streets that once felt isolated. In these precincts, the wharf becomes a place to gather and celebrate maritime heritage, with new buildings reflecting the scale and materiality of adjacent structures. Public events bring together boat races, art installations and food markets, ensuring that riverside regeneration serves both local communities and visitors.
Techno-Industrial Lofts and Creative Clusters
In neighbourhoods such as Shoreditch, Tottenham and Hackney Wick the trend towards techno-industrial lofts has created vibrant creative clusters. Old factories and printworks have been retrofitted with curtain-wall glazing and insulation to create galleries, studios and high-tech workshops. Floors once used for block-printing are now open-plan floors for digital design agencies, complete with modular furniture that can be rearranged for agile working sessions. Large wheeled cranes from the industrial era have been restored as public art pieces, their patina reminding passers-by of the area’s manufacturing past. At street level, repurposed loading bays house micro-breweries and craft bakeries, their signage hand-painted on reclaimed timber boards. In emerging innovation districts, public Wi-Fi is provided along alleyways where muralists once spray-painted walls at night. This blending of digital technology with industrial heritage fosters collaboration between artisans and technologists, creating a hybrid economy that thrives on experimentation and cross-pollination.
Public Realm Interventions and Active Travel
London’s public realm continues to evolve with an emphasis on active travel and placemaking. In the City of London new pedestrian plazas appear where roads once bisected historic squares. York stone setts replace asphalt, material continuity enhancing the sense of place. Shared surfaces use flush kerbs to signal priorities of pedestrians and cyclists over motor traffic. Bespoke wayfinding totems made from pressed copper point toward cultural landmarks and hidden gardens. Cycle superhighways have been extended along the Avon and Thames corridors, their routes lined with birch and alder trees planted in raised planters that also function as bollards. Public benches made from recycled oak offer rest stops along river promenades, their design inspired by historic barge architecture. Night-time lighting has shifted to LED strips recessed in paving that wash building façades in a soft glow, keeping energy use low while celebrating architectural details. Across boroughs, these interventions seek to create more breathable neighbourhoods that support healthier lifestyles and reinforce social connection.
Charts of Future Development
Looking ahead, London’s urban landscape is poised for further transformation guided by principles of resilience, inclusivity and technological integration. Pilot net-zero retrofit programmes in post-war estates are testing prefabricated wall panels that improve insulation without altering external appearance. Community land trusts are forming to secure affordable housing in fast-gentrifying areas, ensuring that long-term residents remain part of the mix. Digital heritage mapping tools allow planners to overlay proposed massing studies on three-dimensional scans of existing streets, speeding up approvals while preserving sightlines to landmarks. In docklands, floating markets and seasonal hospitality barges are being trialled, offering flexible venues that rise with the river. Environmental sensors embedded in park furniture and bus shelters collect data on air quality and noise, informing responsive drainage and planting strategies. Each of these futures charts a path where technological innovation, ecological stewardship and social equity converge to shape a London that honours its past while embracing an ever-evolving tomorrow.