Business Details
17 Years
experience
Award-Winning Sustainable Architecture in London
Feilden Fowles is an award-winning London-based architecture studio founded in 2009 by Fergus Feilden and Edmund Fowles. Our practice combines academic rigor with hands-on craftsmanship, prioritizing sustainability through low-tech philosophies and passive design strategies. We specialize in creating buildings that harmonize with their historical and environmental contexts, using natural materials and vernacular techniques to ensure longevity. Our team engages deeply with clients and communities, delivering projects across education, culture, heritage, and residential sectors. Recognized for our commitment to social and environmental responsibility, we integrate innovative thinking with traditional methods to produce architecture of enduring quality.Our work spans the UK, with notable projects including the Urban Nature Project at the Natural History Museum and the Dining Hall at Homerton College. We maintain a collaborative studio culture, fostering continuous learning and interdisciplinary engagement to address complex architectural challenges. Our approach emphasizes transparency, ethical practice, and measurable impact on both local communities and the global environment. With a focus on tectonic expression and material honesty, we strive to create spaces that inspire and endure.
Services
Architectural Design
Sustainable Architecture
Heritage Restoration
Urban Regeneration
Community Engagement
Masterplanning
Cultural Projects
Educational Buildings
Low-Tech Solutions
Material Innovation
Details
- Year established: 2009
Highlights and features
- We have over 15 years of experience in sustainable architectural design
- Our directors lead projects from concept to completion with hands-on expertise
- We prioritize low-carbon materials and passive environmental strategies
- Our work integrates historic context with contemporary needs
- We maintain direct relationships with construction teams for quality control
Services
Architectural Design
Our architectural design service creates contextually responsive buildings that balance innovation with environmental responsibility. We develop legible design concepts informed by site-specific research, material experimentation, and constructional precision. Projects emphasize longevity through adaptable structures and low-maintenance materials while maintaining strong visual identities rooted in local traditions.
Sustainable Architecture
Sustainable architecture forms the core of our practice, integrating passive environmental strategies and low-carbon materials. We employ vernacular techniques adapted for modern needs, prioritizing thermal efficiency and natural resource management. Our approach combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary analysis to create buildings that minimize environmental impact while enhancing user wellbeing through natural connections.
Heritage Restoration
Heritage restoration projects focus on preserving architectural legacy while introducing sensitive modern interventions. We conduct thorough historical analysis to inform adaptive reuse strategies that maintain structural integrity. Our work balances preservation ethics with contemporary functionality, employing traditional materials and techniques to ensure authentic restoration that meets modern performance standards.
Community Engagement
Community engagement shapes our design process through early-stage stakeholder consultations. We facilitate collaborative workshops to incorporate local knowledge and user needs into architectural solutions. This participatory approach ensures projects address specific community requirements while fostering long-term stewardship through inclusive design decisions that reflect collective aspirations.
Material Innovation
Material innovation drives our architectural approach through experimentation with natural and traditional materials. We explore material properties beyond conventional applications, developing bespoke solutions that enhance performance and aesthetics. Our in-house prototyping allows detailed testing of material behaviors, resulting in refined tectonic expressions that combine craftsmanship with technical advancement for distinctive built outcomes.
People
Fergus Feilden
Director
Co-founder with extensive experience in complex architectural projects across cultural and educational sectors. Lectures widely and serves on RIBA awards panels. Advocates for sustainable design through low-tech principles and material innovation.
Edmund Fowles
Director
Co-founder leading major educational and cultural projects including Homerton College Dining Hall. External examiner at the Architectural Association. Promotes low-tech sustainability and has delivered award-winning schemes at Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Oxford University.
Eleanor Hedley
Associate
Project lead for Homerton College Dining Hall and Urban Nature Project. Former member of Turner Prize-winning collective Assemble. Combines institutional project expertise with community-focused design approaches and sustainable innovation.
Catija Christensson
Senior Architect
Oversees Mansfield College transformation project with experience in cultural heritage projects including Tate Britain reorganisation. Lectures at Kingston University and specializes in balancing sustainability with historic preservation requirements.
Ruggero Corinti
Senior Architect
Leads Black Robin Farm project with expertise in cultural projects within historic settings. Brings experience from Museum of London transformation and Victorian building retrofits. Focuses on sustainable regeneration of heritage structures through innovative technical solutions.
Questions
What architectural style does Feilden Fowles specialize in?
We focus on contextually responsive design that combines modern needs with historical sensitivity. Our approach emphasizes material honesty, passive sustainability, and tectonic clarity rather than specific stylistic labels.
How does the practice incorporate sustainability into projects?
Sustainability underpins our design through low-tech strategies, passive environmental systems, and low-carbon materials. We prioritize thermal efficiency, natural ventilation, and material reuse while integrating renewable technologies where appropriate.
What sectors does Feilden Fowles work in?
We work across cultural, educational, heritage, residential, and masterplanning sectors. Notable projects include university buildings, museum gardens, community spaces, and rural retreats that demonstrate our diverse expertise.
How does the studio approach heritage projects?
Heritage projects combine thorough historical analysis with sensitive modern interventions. We maintain structural integrity while introducing contemporary elements that enhance functionality, using traditional materials and techniques adapted for modern performance standards.
What is the practice's design process?
Our process begins with contextual research and material experimentation, followed by collaborative client workshops. We develop concepts through physical models and detailed prototyping, maintaining close construction oversight to ensure quality execution of design intent.
How can I join the Feilden Fowles team?
We advertise vacancies on our careers page. We seek candidates with strong design skills, contextual awareness, and commitment to sustainable principles. We value both formal qualifications and practical experience in architectural design and construction.
