Studio News - October 2026
October is shaping up to be a busy month at Richmond Bell Architects, with awards, completed projects and new ideas all in the mix. This month, we’re sharing news from the studio, taking a closer look at our recent project ‘Home for a Sculptor’ and looking at what changes to national planning policy could mean for future projects.
We’re delighted to see several recent projects receiving recognition this autumn. Anne’s Art Studio was a finalist for Custom & Self-Build Project of the Year at the 2026 Structural Timber Awards, celebrating excellence and innovation in timber construction.
Meanwhile, Home for a Sculptor, our sensitive transformation of a historic mill house in Salisbury, has been visited as part of the judging process for the Salisbury Civic Society Conservation Awards.
Harefield Farmhouse has also been selected for the Archello Awards 2026 Longlist in the House of the Year (Rural) – Large category. The project will now be considered by an international jury, with finalists announced in November.
Congratulations also to LPE Designs – shortlisted for Best UK Interior Design Scheme at the International Design & Architecture Awards for their interiors at our Park House project – a fantastic recognition of the project and the team behind it.
And finally, we’re thrilled to have been featured in the Enki Directory, showcasing our practice alongside other leading names in architecture and design.
On the banks of the River Bourne near Salisbury, Home for a Sculptor transforms a centuries-old mill that had fallen into significant disrepair into a family home, artist’s studio and creative sanctuary.
We preserved the character and history of the original building while introducing carefully considered contemporary elements. Original roof trusses and historic brickwork have been retained, while a new steel-and-glass extension creates a stronger connection between the house and its beautiful riverside setting.
Environmental considerations were integral throughout, with a wildflower green roof, flood-resilience measures, solar PV and battery storage, and an air-source heat pump all incorporated into the design.
Home for A Sculptor
Keeping abreast of changes to the planning system is an important part of our work, and the team recently welcomed Atlas Planning to the studio for a CPD session on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The evolving policy landscape could create possibilities for sites where previously development may have proved difficult. For us, it is an opportunity to look again at the potential of individual sites and understand what the changes could mean for clients considering a new home, extension or wider development. As ever, each site will need to be assessed on its individual circumstances.
If you own land or a property where planning constraints have previously made a project difficult, recent changes may make it worth taking another look. Equally, if you’re at the beginning of a project and would like to understand what might be possible, our team can help assess the opportunities and constraints of a site and guide you through the early design and planning process
We’re very happy to welcome Darienne back to the studio following a five-month sabbatical in Nicaragua, where she volunteered with a charity designing buildings. She has returned just in time for another important fixture in the Richmond Bell calendar: the start of the RBA Bake Off. Last year, Joe took the crown with an impressive architectural creation – an edible scale model of one of our contemporary new-build homes in Dorset. Keep an eye on our Instagram each week for photos of this year’s ‘movie-themed’ bakes!
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