Architects London

GOAStudio London residential architecture

We are London architects with a very specific focus, skillset and expertise and we work on residential projects across London.

George Omalianakis is an expert London architect for residential extensions and renovations, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), and registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB).

We are committed to what we do and as architects in London we provide a friendly and professional service that responds to the needs and aspirations of our clients. This is reflected in how we approach our work and how we communicate our values and ideas.

London Architectural and Design Home Guides

To assist homeowners across London we have prepared a series of London Architectural and Design Home Guides for side extensions, rear extensions, renovations and building work to houses and flats across Greater London.

These Guides offer inspiration and ideas, highlight key things you need to consider, and highlight your options for your home project.

Each guide has been prepared with the homeowner in mind and it aims to kick-start the design process by posing key questions you need to consider even before you appoint an architect for your project.

Conservation areas – London architectural and design home guide

“What is the conservation area?”
“Where can I find conservation area design guidance for my project?”
“House extensions in conservation areas – Is it possible to extend my house in a conservation area?”

Contemporary extensions – London architectural and design home guide

“Should the kitchen area, the dining area, or the seating area be nearest to the rear garden? How does the sun moves from dawn to dusk around the rear of the property, and how can we have best access to natural light?”
“What are we trying to achieve in regards to natural light? Should we keep the amount of roof glazing to a minimum, which will make the rear garden appear more theatrical? Or should we go for lots of roof glazing to create an outdoor effect? Where should the cosy areas be?”
“What materials do we like and how do they make us feel? What mental associations do we make with them, what memories do they evoke and what do we want to say with the spaces we look to create?”

Kitchen extensions – London architectural and design home guide

More space for cooking
A dining area
A kitchen island or breakfast bar
Seating areas
Smart technology and appliances
A link to the garden
A feeling of outdoor living
More natural light
Increased space with extra height
Improved accessibility
Seamless integration with other rooms of the house
Open plan, zonal layout or defined and enclosed.

Flat extensions – London architectural and design home guide

“What are the top three things we like about the flat, and what are the top three things we want to change as part of extending and re-designing it?”
“Do we have a specific budget ceiling, and where do we want the money spending to be focussed on? What are the special elements of the design we do not want to compromise and where can we be more flexible within the context of our budget?”
“What are the provisions of my Lease, or Share of Freehold Agreement, and how do we need to go about securing Freeholder Approval for the building works?”

Garden flat extensions – London architectural and design home guide

“How long do we plan to live in the property, and how is our lifestyle likely to change over this time? What are the chances for a growing family, working from home, or picking up gardening as a hobby one day?”
“Is this garden flat a place for us to grow into or is it a stepping stone to our dream property?”

House extensions – London architectural and design home guide

More space | Because families grow, kitchen areas are never large enough, and there is never enough storage space.
Better space | Because rooms can be dark, the living areas can be cut off from the garden, and because everybody likes the convenience of an en-suite in the master-bedroom.
Adding value | Because of stamp duty costs, the desire to step up the property ladder, and overall old good common sense.

Listed Buildings – London architectural and design home guide

“What is a Listed Building?”
“What is a Locally Listed Building?”
“Is it possible to extend my Listed Building property?”

Mansard roof extensions – London architectural and design home guide

“How can we best use this new room? Will it be our new master-bedroom, a study space, a nanny’s room? What other bedrooms are available in the house, and what would work best for our changing needs and family?”
“Space permitting, how about adding an en-suite, a walk-in wardrobe, or even a coffee area in front of a Juliet balcony?”
“What do we think about rooflights in the bedroom? They bring more light into the room but how about the rain ticking on the glass; is it charming or just plain annoying?”

Rear extensions – London architectural and design home guide

“How can we improve the garden and how can we blend the views from inside out and outside in when it comes to floor and wall finishes? What’s lacking in my relationship to my garden, and how do I want to use my outdoor space in the future?”
“How will the family use the new space and how will it work in harmony with the adjacent living areas? Do we need overlapping family space as part of the new rear extension, a study or tv corner, and how will the circulation flow work for us?”

Residential renovations – London architectural and design home guide

“How long do we plan to live in the property and how is our lifestyle likely to change over this time?
What are the chances for a growing family, working from home, or picking up gardening as a hobby one day?
Is this property a place for us to grow into, or is it a stepping stone to our dream property?”

Roof extensions – London architectural and design home guide

“Space permitting, how about adding an en-suite, a walk-in wardrobe, or even a coffee area in front of a Juliet balcony?”
“What do we think about rooflights in the bedroom? They bring more light into the room but how about the rain ticking on the glass, is it charming or just plain annoying?”

Side extensions – London architectural and design home guide

“Should we build to the boundary, or is it possible to retain access to the garden from the front of the property by building an extension that is less wide?
“Is there a manhole cover in the side area, and what will happen to the existing drainage and soil vent pipes in this area?
“How can we maximise the light from the side extension, and should we go for a flat roof or a pitched roof?

London Borough Planning and Design Guides

We have also prepared a series of London Borough Planning and Design Guides. Across London architects need to deal with different planning policies for each of the London Borough.

Our Guides focus on the guidelines of your local planning authority and the key planning policies that might be relevant to your home project.

GOAStudio architects London Borough of Barnet planning and design guide

For more information see: Barnet Council residential design guidance

N2 East Finchley, Hampstead Garden Suburb, N3 Church End, Finchley, N10 Muswell Hill, N11 Brunswick Park, Friern Barnet, N12 North Finchley, Woodside Park, N14 Southgate, N20 Totteridge, Whetstone, NW2 Cricklewood, NW4 Brent Cross, Hendon, NW7 Mill Hill, NW9 Colindale, The Hyde, NW11 Golders Green, Hampstead Garden Suburb

GOAStudio architects London Borough of Camden planning and design guide

For more information see: Camden Council residential design guidance

N19 Dartmouth Park, NW1 Camden Town, Primrose Hill, Regent’s Park, Somers Town, NW3 Belsize Park, Hampstead, Swiss Cottage, NW5 Gospel Oak, Kentish Town, NW6 Kilburn, South Hampstead, West Hampstead, NW8 Lisson Grove, St John’s Wood, W1 Fitzrovia, Soho, WC1 Bloomsbury, Kings Cross, St Pancras

GOAStudio architects London Borough of Enfield planning and design guide

For more information see: Enfield Local Plan (June 2021)

N9 Lower Edmonton, N11 New Southgate, N13 Palmers Green, N14 Southgate, N18 Edmonton, Upper Edmonton, N21 Winchmore Hill, N22 Bowes Park

GOAStudio architects London Borough of Hackney planning and design guide

For more information see: HACKNEY SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT RESIDENTIAL EXTENSIONS AND ALTERATIONS – Approved April 2009

Districts:
Dalston, De Beauvoir Town, Finsbury Park, Hackney, Hackney Central, Hackney Downs, Hackney Marshes, Hackney Wick, Haggerston, Homerton, Hoxton, Kingsland, Lea Bridge, London Fields, Lower Clapton, Manor House, Newington Green, Shacklewell, Shoreditch, South Hackney, Stamford Hill, Stoke Newington, Upper Clapton, West Hackney
Postcodes:
E1, E15, E2, E20, E5, E8, E9, EC1V, EC2A, EC2M, N1, N15, N16, N4, N5

GOAStudio architects London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham planning and design guide

For more information see: Hammersmith & Fulham PLANNING GUIDANCE Supplementary Planning Document February 2018

NW10 Old Oak Common, SW6 Fulham, Parson’s Green, Sands End, W6 Hammersmith, W12 Shepherd’s Bush

GOAStudio architects London Borough of Haringey planning and design guide

For more information see: Haringey Council residential design guidance (Development Management DPD adopted July 2017)

N4 Finsbury Park, Manor House, Stroud Green, N6 Highgate, N8 Crouch End, Hornsey, Turnpike Lane, N10 Bounds Green, Muswell Hill, N15 Seven Sisters, South Tottenham, N17 Tottenham, Tottenham Hale

GOAStudio architects London Borough of Hounslow planning and design guide

For more information see: Hounslow planning department

W4 Chiswick

GOAStudio architects London Borough of Islington planning and design guide

For more information see: Islington Council residential design guidance (Urban Design Guide, Supplementary Planning Document, January 2017)

EC1 Clerkenwell, Finsbury, St Lukes, N1 Angel, Barnsbury, Canonbury, Clerkenwell, Islington, Pentonville, N5 Highbury, N7 Holloway, Lower Holloway, N19 Archway, Tufnell Park, Upper Holloway, WC1 Kings Cross

GOAStudio architects London Borough of Lambeth planning and design guide

For more information see: 2015 Lambeth Building Alterations & Extensions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

SE1 North Lambeth, South Bank, Waterloo, SE11 Kennington, Lambeth, SE19 Gipsy Hill, SE24 Herne Hill, SE27 Tulse Hill, West Norwood, SW2 Brixton, Brixton Hill, Streatham Hill, SW4 Clapham, Clapham Park, SW8 South Lambeth, Vauxhall

GOAStudio architects London Borough of Lewisham planning and design guide

For more information see: 2019 Lewisham Alterations and Extensions Supplementary Planning Document

SE3 Blackheath, SE4 Brockley, Crofton Park, Honor Oak Park, SE6 Bellingham, Catford, Hither Green, SE8 Deptford, St John’s, SE12 Grove Park, Lee, SE13 Hither Green, Ladywell, Lewisham, SE14 New Cross, New Cross Gate, SE21 Upper Sydenham, SE23 Forest Hill, SE26 Bell Green, Lower Sydenham, Sydenham

GOAStudio architects London Borough of Newham planning and design guide

For more information see: Newham 2027 – Newham’s Local Plan Altering and Extending your Home Supplementary Planning Document

E6 Beckton, E6 East Ham, E7 Forest Gate, E7 West Ham, E12 Manor Park, E13 Plaistow, E15 Stratford, E15 West Ham, E16 Canning Town, E16 North Woolwich, E16 Silvertown, E16 Victoria Docks

GOAStudio architects London Borough of Redbridge planning and design guide

For more information see: Housing Design Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) – Adopted September 2019

E11 Wanstead Village, E12 Aldersbrook, Wanstead Park, E18 South Woodford, Woodford, Churchfields,, IG1 Ilford Town, IG2 Ilford, Gants Hill, Newbury Park, Aldborough Hatch, IG3 Seven Kings, IG4 Redbridge, IG5 Clayhall, IG6 Barkingside, IG7 Chingwell, IG8 Woodford Green, IG9 Buckhurst Hill, IG10 Loughton, IG11 Barking

GOAStudio architects London Borough of Tower Hamlets planning and design guide

For more information see: Tower Hamlets Planning and Building Control Department

Districts:
Aldgate, Bethnal Green, Bow, Bromley-by-Bow, Cubitt Town, Hackney, Limehouse, Mile End, Poplar, Shadwell, Spitalfields, Stepney, Wapping, Whitechapel, Millwall
Postcodes:
E1, E14, E2, E3

GOAStudio architects London Borough of Waltham Forest planning and design guide

For more information see: Waltham Forest residential design guidance (Residential Extensions and Alterations, Supplementary Planning Document, Adopted February 2010)

E10 Leyton, E11 Leytonstone, E15 Maryland, Leyton, Leytonstone, E17 Walthamstow, E20 Leyton, E4 Chingford, E5 Lea Bridge, E7 Forest Gate, IG8 Woodford, N17 Tottenham

GOAStudio architects London Borough of Wandsworth planning and design guide

For more information see: Wandsworth Local Plan Supplementary Planning Document Housing – Adopted November 2016.

SW8 Nine Elms, SW11 Battersea, Clapham Junction, SW12 Balham, SW15 Putney, Putney Heath, Putney Vale, Roehampton, SW16 Streatham Park, SW17 Furzertown, Tooting, SW18 Earlsfield, Wandsworth, SW19 Putney Vale, Southfields

GOAStudio architects London Borough of Westminster planning and design guide

For more information see: Westminster planning department

NW1 Marylebone, Regent’s Park, SW1 Belgravia, Pimlico, St James’s, Victoria, Westminster, W1 Hyde Park, Marylebone, Mayfair, Piccadilly, Soho, West End, W2 Bayswater, Hyde Park, Paddington, W9 Maida Hill, Maida Vale, Warwick Avenue, W10 Kensal Town, WC1 Holborn, WC2 Chinatown, Covent Garden, Holborn, Strand