HEM Architects

Full of praise for the partnership of Claire and Liam at HEM. A retro-fit to create a 2024 green home from a 1968 build is not an easy task. However over the course of a year Claire and Liam helped us redesign the house, both internally and externally, to suit our needs, to match our aesthetic preferences and help, in the only way we can, to save the planet. After an initial face to face visit on site, Zoom meetings were efficiently and professionally led by Claire whose knowledge of materials and construction options is outstanding. Liam followed up the decisions with the most detailed, accurate and many versions of drawings we have ever studied. Over the second year, as the house was gutted and rebuilt Claire continued to be promptly attentive to its development, both when on site with the builder, when resolving complications and also when answering our regular questions. We know that Liam feels rewarded seeing his 2D plans finally and beautifully constructed into a 3D dream home and we hope that Claire is as delighted as we are with the outcome when she visits later in the year. It has been a long journey shared with experts in their field.

We were really pleased that Alan could see what we were trying to achieve and we are delighted with the final result. Although we have only added a small extension, plus some internal remodelling, the imagination and expertise brought by the architects was invaluable. We experienced a few problems during the build but the rapid response from Alan helped us get everything sorted.

Great communication, listened carefully to all our needs and took them on board to come up with some creative and well thought out designs. A friendly and approachable team, really pleased with the work done for us :-)

I selected HEM as I was looking for a practice to take my PassivHaus project through detail design to realisation. I had prior knowledge of their work and was delighted to find that the team took every care to ensure that the design, the performance of the build and the delivery of the contract and the design were delivered smoothly and professionally. I am now settled into a beautiful home which performs to the highest of environmental standards. PassivHaus certification is a complex and lengthy process and HEM took this in their stride. I would be very happy to recommend their practice.

We have worked with HEM Architects for a number of years on a range of residential projects across the UK. The HEM team is passionate about what they do, bringing a thoughtful and considered approach to their clients' challenges. Their knowledge and experience in all things retrofit is a fantastic addition to the sustainable architectural solutions they bring to their projects.

We are very glad we used Paul Testa Architecture on our retrofit project. We chose them because sustainability is at the core of what they do. Paul understood – and shares - our aims: to reduce carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels, to make our house as energy-efficient as possible and ‘fit for 2050’. He walks the talk. Our confidence was justified! He promised us a warm and comfortable home with reduced energy bills, and that is what we now have! His calm, and his professional and personal experience of builds, was enormously reassuring at our lowest ebbs. He works collaboratively: it was never just ‘lowest tender gets the job’, so we always felt that whatever was agreed with the builders was fair to all of us.

Having lived in our house since it was built in 1997 we'd got to the point where we felt it needed reworking/reimagining to provide suitable spaces for our children when they return to their old home with their growing families. From Paul's initial visit to Liam and Mo's design work to Liam's contract administration PTA did a great job in helping us set our priorities, understand the costings, and guiding us through the contract terms and implications. They advised us on contractor selection and worked closely with our chosen contractor, Belvin Construction; we are delighted with the result. Despite the restrictions caused by the Covid pandemic the project was completed on budget and on time - a great achievement by all concerned. We still have work to do as we couldn't immediately afford everything on our wish list but the house has been given a new lease of life and we've had very positive comments from our neighbours. Our thanks to all involved at PTA.

Paul Testa Architecture did a great job in advising on and redesigning our new home. As always with building projects (I think!) then the few small issues we experienced were interfacing/communication between us, our architects and the builders. Very happy with the end result after big 18-month long project.

We bought a house that was the right size but had been extended haphazardly over the years. We laid out what problem we were trying to solve and what our budget was and the team gave us options and support to quickly turn the chosen solution to that problem into a wonderful space in which we plan to spend the rest of our days. Their focus on the budget and making sure that what they were proposing was something that was deliverable as well as their attention to detail was much appreciated. Through their support during the build process we were able to deliver the scheme quickly, to a high standard and within the budget which was set.

Paul Testa Architecture were there to help us throughout our project, from the very first draft of the plans right through to completion. Their bold vision for our ideas enabled us to see beyond the limits of the original site towards the end result, which is a beautifully rendered space for living in. Always helpful, reassuring and supportive Paul and his team were a key part of our renovation and if we ever undertake another project where we need an architect, they will be the first people we speak to.

When we relocated from London to the Sheffield area, our aim was a future-proofed sustainable retirement home – full of light, warm, economic and easy to live in. On the basis of PTA’s website and meeting Paul, we had no hesitation in engaging them to design and project manage the work on a bungalow with stunning views of the Peak District, but in need of refurbishment and remodelling. We are now in a house that more than meets our aims and exceeds our expectations, and we are very happy. Dug Wilder’s pictures speak for themselves. Throughout the work we had a close and very positive working relationship with PTA, which was genuinely two-way. We were also fortunate to have a good builder, Terry Huggett Developments, working closely with PTA as project manager. PTA’s knowledge and expertise were essential in delivering the final result. Maximising the light and views, use of space, making the building warm, healthy and a pleasure to live in. The spaces both inside and out are designed to both look good and make movement and access very easy now and in the future. Much of the good design is summed up in the living room main window and box seat – economically enlarging an existing window space, and transforming it into one of the centre pieces of the building, both visually and functionally. Young and old are drawn to it, they love it. PTA’s contribution was not just about the big issues of thermal efficiency, a well designed space, warm and healthy building that is also future-proofed. They were very helpful in navigating us through the different stages of the build – design, tender, contract, completion. They also dealt with the planning permission process for a building that was in a Conservation Zone, and a few hundred metres from the National Park boundary. They helped in the process of cutting some costs, without compromising any of the essentials, when the initial tenders came in over our budget. They suggested possible options and this including calculating the effect on thermal efficiency of each potential cut, which was invaluable in the decision process. During the works we were not physically close to the site but we remained in good contact throughout the different stages, in addition to the regular site meetings PTA organised. We always found them very approachable, helpful and responsive. PTA’s collaborative approach was not just with us or Terry Huggett Developments. They work with like-minded professionals in the S1 Design Collective, who provided our structural engineer and garden/landscape designer. A very good, additional service. We have already recommended PTA without qualification to other people looking for architects and designers, and will continue to do so. From our own experience, we can fully vouchsafe for the information on the PTA website about their values and approach, design ethos and their services – they are and do what they say. Most importantly, they have been essential in helping to deliver for us our new home, which more than speaks for itself and is the best possible recommendation.

Paul Testa took his time in ensuring the design for our extension fitted all our requirements. He produced amazing plans factoring in lots of storage without feeling like there was any loss in floor space. His knowledge is astounding and the plans allow for each room to have lots of light and make the most of the views. He liaised with planning to ensure there was no loss to our vision but ensuring all planning requirements in a difficult county (Cotswold) were met. Now to find the right builder. Five star