Specialising in innovative contemporary house extensions, XAMI Architecture and Design have designed beautiful schemes across London, all with minute attention to detail. Based in Islington, this young, vibrant practice delivers a one-stop service from initial concept to completion.
XAMI has undertaken a diverse portfolio of extensions and major re-modelling schemes involving townhouses and apartments, both in contemporary settings and conservation areas, with sensitivity to existing buildings and their context. Working closely with clients is central and their personal touch is a distinguishing feature: testimonials from clients emphasise the firm’s friendly and collaborative approach.
Master planning: a one-stop service
This architectural practice closely follows the RIBA Plan of Work stages. After a complimentary initial detailed consultation, over several sessions if required, a brief is prepared based on the client’s vision for their property. Then, using the latest rendering techniques, several versions of highly realistic 3D images and suggestions are prepared, offering different options to solve problems. Once the client decides on the direction they want to take, detailed architectural drawings are prepared for builders to work from. XAMI also considers interior design aspects and designs bespoke joinery. This one-stop service also ensures that all planning and party wall applications, appointing structural engineers, securing building regulations approval and tendering to responsible, experienced building firms are managed seamlessly and efficiently.
It typically takes a few months from initial project design to the stage of appointing builders, due to the time required to obtain planning permission. This firm has proved itself successful at achieving planning consent even in sensitive mews and conservation areas in London. During the building process, XAMI makes regular site visits to ensure that high standards are maintained in translating the building plans into the physical world. To make sure that clients are entirely satisfied with the results, construction cost is monitored, and staged disbursements are made to contractors throughout the build.
XAMI’s client base tends to include mostly professional couples upsizing their homes either by extending their current houses or moving to larger houses that require major renovation and remodelling. Upgrades to apartments in central London also feature among this architecture firms innovative projects. Sustainable architecture is also a major focus, along with modern aesthetics and fine detailing. The build costs of projects have ranged from £100K to £1M but large scale projects and new builds are on the horizon as the company grows and acquires a wider clientele.
Background to XAMI
XAMI was established by Bernard Zammit in 2018: he trained at the world-renowned Mackintosh School of Architecture and gained experience in various aspects of architecture working in the London offices of top architecture firms Foster & Partners, Hopkins Architects, and Softroom Architects before founding XAMI Ltd. During his career he was lead designer for the reimagining of the Eurostar first class lounges at London St Pancras and Paris Gare du Nord stations.
Here are two more of XAMI’s stunning designs:
Nestled in the heart of Notting Hill, this mews residence required a total renovation. XAMI remodelled every part of the building with an emphasis on sustainability. The architects also designed bespoke joinery, which contributes to the finish of this exceptionally comfortable residence that fits in perfectly within its mews setting. The brief included adding a basement under the whole house to accommodate a cinema and gym.
Managing director Bernard Zammit commented:
Basements present an exceptional architectural challenge when created under existing buildings. High-profile media coverage of major basement developments in high-end properties in London – and of very rare failures – have focused attention on these challenges. Insurers are taking a much tougher stance over coverage for builds involving basements.
However, in our experience, the thorough validation of designs by structural engineers during the architectural design and building regulation processes, coupled with the close and very frequent inspection of basement works by personnel from council building control departments during the works, ensure that the basement requirements of property owners are delivered with utmost safety and integrity to provide major expansion of recreational spaces within townhouses.
XAMI completed a substantial ground floor extension to this period property that sits mid-terrace in the highly sensitive Calabria Conservation area in Highbury, North London. The architecture practice was tasked with creating a modern rear kitchen extension with large, glazed openings to increase the amount of natural light whilst remaining sensitive to the house’s Queen Anne style of architecture and improving its sustainability.
What we love about this practice
XAMI stands out for its sensitive approach to each building and its location, along with the emphasis it places on fostering a close working relationship with clients, monitoring the entire process to achieve the best outcome for them.
