RVI Architectural Design

Renovating and remodelling existing buildings with sensitivity to create sustainable and beautiful homes is the focus of this firm.

Founder Matthew Goldschmied specialises in architectural restoration and building conservation, and helping clients remodel their homes is what he enjoys most, through a balance of high-end design while retaining a property’s character.

For over 20 years Matthew has worked in commercial and residential property design, giving him a wealth of experience in a range of disciplines from planning and development to renewables. Retrofitting homes with low carbon schemes, especially in conservation areas involving listed buildings, is another specialism and Matthew puts the emphasis on practical designs that will improve the occupant’s health and the environment.

Good design creates sustainable and attractive homes

We love this example of one of RVI Architectural Design’s stunning conversion projects. A new single-storey wraparound structure was designed for this house which occupies a remote site in an Area of Outstanding Beauty within the New Forest National Park.

The finished house boasts exceptional energy performance, geothermal heating, solar power and step-free ground floor access throughout, connecting the front and rear gardens. In addition to ecological and arboricultural constraints, the scheme presented planning and technical obstacles.

Matthew explained his approach:

Sometimes a building presents its owner with an overwhelming challenge – impossible to solve. Exasperation at the cost of running the ageing oil boiler and a dilapidated old coach house annexed to the main house was causing sleepless nights. Now that her family had grown and dispersed, the owner wanted to transform the dilapidated coach house into a manageable and fully accessible home allowing her to decamp from the larger main house.

Small extensions and additions in the 1960s and 1970s were beyond salvage, but the 1930s coach house structure was saved. Interior structures were judiciously reused forming a new practical arrangement of spaces to create a solution that was less resource intensive and lower cost than ‘scorched-earth’ demolition. We created calming spaces maximising natural light that capture views over the gardens to the sea beyond. The ‘studio’ space upstairs has been revived as an adaptable space that celebrates the fine architectural character of the original building.

RVI Architectural Design covers the southeast, Greater London and further afield and can provide:

• House extension work, remodelling and renovation.
• Conservation, retrofit and renewable energy.
• Conceptual drawings.
• Architectural drawings.
• CGI visualisation.
• Applications for planning permission.
• Contractor appointments.
• Project management.

What we like about this architect’s practice

RVI’s work demonstrates great sensitivity to the history of the buildings it works on, and its desire to retain as much character as possible creates amazing results.

By Gill Broad

Gill is our Senior Editor, with a background that combines journalism with land and estate management. Gill is a farmer’s daughter, an associate member of the RICS and has an interest in all things to do with agriculture and the countryside. Her free time is spent on the tennis court, walking and improving her cooking skills.