R2 Studio Architects

worked on several projects with R2, a pleasure to work with, very technical and accurate , great to work with

Frederik and his team were fantastic. Really brilliant design thinking, high standards, fantastic attention to detail and even when our first builders went bust they went beyond the call of duty to help ensure project build continuity and quality.

Choosing R2 Studio for our major extension and refurbishment project in Dulwich Village was the single best decision we made. Their innovative design proposals allowed us to completely improve and transform the space, while keeping the specific aspects of the house's original character that we had most appreciated - the house was completely gutted and refurbished but kept its "good vibes". R2 aced it in terms of fully incorporating our key design principles, which were: (1) make the house look as though it's always been that way (2) bring plenty of natural light into every space (3) give generous but not excessive proportions to every area of the house (4) create an excellent, highly energy-efficient building envelope. In addition to the above, R2 were very good at understanding "traffic flow" within a house and designing space in a way that would flow well. R2's understanding of priorities and principles at Southwark Council and The Dulwich Estate meant that our first draft plans received full approval. R2 also prepared the (very) detailed design specification that we used for going out to tender, and they identified, helped us to assess, and then worked efficiently and effectively with, an excellent Lead Contractor. The pre-existing building and the land did present a few surprises (unexpected structural features and excessive soil moisture in one area), to which R2 and the Lead Contractor quickly identified effective solutions with a very reasonable cost. Thanks to their effective collaboration and R2's supervision, our our 1-year project was only 1 month late and 2% over budget. The detail-orientation in the specification, combined with the perfectionism of the General Contractor, mean that the quality has met or exceeded our high expectations. There are very few things we would have done differently with the design, and they are all minor. We think that is an astonishingly good result for a large project that was designed and built during a period of time affected by the COVID pandemic, labour and supply shortages, and substantial cost increases for building materials as well as skilled and unskilled labour. If we ever consider another project, R2 will definitely be getting our first phone call. Their modular service offering also means that they can be hired just for the high level design phase, without having to commit upfront to doing the entire project with them.

Working with R2 Studio was an absolutely superb experience - I would (and already have many times) highly recommend them. Our project was a new basement and full ground floor remodelling in Herne Hill. From the start, before we had bought the property, Frederik was helpful and knowledgeable. They came up with some innovative ideas that have made the basement a great space, and everyone who comes to see it comments that it doesn't feel like a basement at all. We started working just before lockdown, but this didn't prevent R2 expertly navigating the planning process, both with Southwark Council and the Dulwich Estate - they clearly knew exactly what was required. We always felt a part of the design process, which is what we wanted, but Frederik also guided and advised where necessary. I would not hesitate to recommend R2!

We worked with Frederik and Emily at R2 Studio for an extension, remodelling and full refresh of our tired Victorian mid-terrace house. Our brief was to create a new heart to our home, with a larger kitchen and much more light; removing dead space; creating more work space, given 2 of us are working at home, and adding a guest room. Frederik kicked off the design process with innovative ideas that we found kept the character of house unique, which we loved about the space when we bought it 18 years ago. Emily then took over and her eye for design and colour and has given the refreshed house an interesting and cohesive look. The pair's vision and eye for the original and attention to detail has left us with a wonderful home with a wow factor. The project incorporated a void in what had been a small, rather dull rear reception room, which gave us a double height book case which opened the house up and created a sense of space. We also had a small extension (constrained by being in a conservation area), with an innovative, glass construction, which maximises light and brings connection to the garden. A utility room became a bright art studio; a corridor became a guest bathroom, and what had been a rather dark art studio, became a lovely guest bedroom/ laundry drying space when there are no guests. The colour palette is beautiful and the light and openness is truly remarkable. It's a space that works for the whole family and allows for the changes in how we live and work post lockdown. R2 studio managed the project for us with Anke from the practice also keeping us on track with all the decisions we needed to make and managing the detail of the choices we needed to make into the design and plans. R2 worked really well with the builders, RMC, who they helped find, through a tender process. We couldn't be happier. (photos by the talented Andy Stagg)

R2 Studios cannot be recommended highly enough by us. The vision that they had for our project/renovation was nothing short or enlightening and we have loved living in the newly created space they designed for us. We would use them again in a heartbeat. From stage 1 to stage 6 of the process the R2 team were a pleasure to deal with.

We engaged Frederik and his team in 2017 to remodel our home and design a two storey side extension. Frederik is a great architect: he has an eye for the little details and an ability to realise the true potential of volume and light in any space. But also, he is a really nice guy. He provided a fantastic design that worked on a number of levels, successfully navigated a tricky planning permission process for us and was there to provide valuable input throughout construction, when he worked very well with our builder. His colleagues Matt, Anke and Peter are a credit to the practice and were always on hand to provide assistance when we needed it most. In summary, Frederik brought great passion, energy, vision and commitment to our project, for which we are very grateful.

We worked with R2 Studio Architects for approximately 2 years on the complete overhaul of our house, including a kitchen and loft extension. This included the design of the project, obtaining planning permission and the execution of the work. R2 were fantastic through the whole project and we would not have been able to do it without them. They provided excellent design ideas but were also indispensable in managing the practical side of the build.

We engaged Frederik Rissom of R2 Studios to manage the planning process and to design and manage a full renovation and remodelling of our 1930s house (within a conservation area), to include a large rear extension and loft conversion. We really enjoyed working with Frederik: he listened to our ideas and brought his own, ultimately producing a design that exceeded our expectations and created a family home that we love. We would not hesitate to recommend Frederik and R2 Studios.

Frederik and team did a great job helping us plan and design our loft conversation. They brought creativity and lots of experience to the table and gave us the confidence to embark on the project.

We have worked with the team at R2 Studio Architects on a number of residential refurbishment projects as the main contractor. Frederik had fantastic problem resolution skills, which as the builder on site was a real asset. His quick thinking ensured that possible design issues did not cause costly delays and hold up the projects. His turnaround for solutions was fantastic, often carrying his sketchbook to site. His designs were also highly creative, making best possible use of the space available in unexpected ways. True to the client brief, he was also well liked by all our clients, which is not always the case! We have found them to be a pleasure to work with and would highly recommend them.

Creating our new home with Frederik was a truly wonderful experience. His creativity and deep technical knowledge combined to yield a result that was actually much better than I had imagined. He listened to my priorities, addressed my concerns, respected by budget and patiently serviced my endless requests for more detail. It felt like a true collaboration, the right result was as important to him as it was to me. Architects can sometimes have a reputation for being for being inflexible and imperious. Frederik isn't that sort of architect, he's one of the great ones.