Architect for period and heritage homes in London
GOAStudio is a London residential architecture practice for homeowners planning work to Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and other period or heritage properties. We help with renovations, extensions, internal reconfiguration, retrofit and planning-sensitive alterations.
Our aim is to create a home that works better for contemporary life while respecting the qualities that give the original building its character. That might mean better natural light, a calmer layout, more useful storage, improved comfort or a stronger connection between the house and garden.
Period homes need more than a standard design response. Their construction, planning context and heritage significance can affect what should be retained, what can change and how new work should be designed.
If your home is in a designated conservation area, our guide to conservation area architects in London explains the planning context, local appraisals and the types of alterations that may be acceptable.
Projects of this type also require clear, honest advice, and an intuitive understanding of what gives the building its character. We provide early guidance on how planning, heritage and design considerations may shape your project.
GOAStudio London residential architecture
George Omalianakis, BA (Hons) B.Arch Pg Dip Environmental Design.
Chartered RIBA architect and ARB registered.
RIBA Conservation Registrant specialism in conservation areas, period and Listed buildings.
Residential expert contributor for magazines including Which? magazine and Ideal Home.
Last reviewed by George Omalianakis for GOAStudio: August 2026
At a glance
Who we help
Owners of Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and other period homes, including listed, locally listed and conservation-area properties across London.
What we help with
Extensions, renovations, internal reconfiguration, refurbishment, retrofit, planning strategy, Listed Building Consent and technical design.
Relevant experience
George Omalianakis is a Chartered Architect, ARB registered architect and RIBA Conservation Registrant, with environmental-design and older-building energy-efficiency training.
Best first step
Start with a free Feasibility Review, or arrange a two-hour Home Consultation when you need detailed advice at the property.
Feasibility Review
A request a Feasibility Review is often the best first step if you want a realistic view of planning restrictions, design scope and what is worth pursuing before you commit further.
Home Consultation
If you already need more detailed, property-specific advice, Book a home consultation and we can help you clarify the brief, priorities and likely next steps.
Architectural services for Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian homes
Every period home is different, but its age and building type help us identify the design, construction and heritage questions that should be addressed first.
Georgian home renovations
Georgian London homes often depend on carefully ordered façades, sash-window proportions, internal hierarchy and the rhythm of a wider terrace or square. Our work may involve listed fabric, sensitive internal alterations, rear additions, services and improvements to comfort without unnecessarily losing original plan form or architectural detail.
Victorian home renovations
Victorian terraces and villas often offer opportunities for side-return and rear extensions, loft alterations and broader internal reconfiguration. We consider the whole ground-floor plan so that new space does not leave the centre of the original house darker, less practical or disconnected from family life.
Edwardian home renovations
Edwardian houses can have wider plans, larger windows and strong Arts and Crafts influences. Renovation may involve rear extensions, roof work, retrofit and new services, while retaining the roof forms, brickwork, timber details and generous proportions that give the property its character.
Who this page is for
This page is for London homeowners who are considering work to:
• a Victorian, Edwardian, Georgian or interwar home
• a house or flat in a conservation area
• a listed or locally listed building
• a characterful home that needs extension, renovation or reconfiguration
• a property where planning sensitivity is likely to influence what can be achieved
It is also for homeowners who are unsure how far they should go, what should be preserved, and how best to improve the home without compromising what makes it special.
RELATED ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES – See what we can do for you.
Why period homes and conservation settings need a careful approach
Older homes often carry a quality and character that is difficult to recreate. That may be found in their proportions, materials, detailing, relationship to the street, or in the way the building has evolved over time.
When a property sits in a conservation area, is listed, locally listed, or has clear architectural significance, good decisions early on matter.
The aim is not to freeze the building in time. It is to improve the way it works for everyday life without losing the qualities that make it valuable in the first place.
That means understanding what should be retained, what can be altered, and how a proposal is likely to be understood by the local planning authority.
Homes in London often need appropriate architectural solutions if they are to obtain planning approval, particularly where heritage or conservation policy is involved.
How GOAStudio architects can help with your period home
We support homeowners with:
• period home extensions and renovations
• conservation-area alterations
• listed and locally listed homes
• internal reconfiguration and refurbishment
• improving comfort, functionality and long-term liveability
• planning-sensitive design ideas
• early advice before you commit to the wrong approach
We see our role as helping you make informed decisions at the right time. Sometimes that means testing how far the house can be taken.
Sometimes it means taking a more proportionate route that protects the character of the home while still improving how it works.
Our approach is practical and planning-aware. We look to maximise what might be possible in the context of planning, Building Regulations and other approvals, while responding properly to the building itself and to your priorities.
After planning or listed building consent, our Building Regulations drawings service can carry the design into coordinated technical detail while responding carefully to the existing fabric.
Why homeowners come to us for period and conservation area homes
Homeowners come to GOAStudio for this kind of work because they want more than a generic design service.
They want a practice that understands how to work with characterful homes carefully and practically.
GOAStudio brings together:
• experience working with London planning authorities
• specialist conservation expertise
• understanding of older and traditional buildings
• awareness of how inappropriate alterations can affect performance and long-term condition
• clear, honest advice before you spend money on the wrong direction
We love working with historic buildings and with properties in conservation areas.
At the same time, we understand that period homes need to work well for modern life.
The challenge is to improve them in a way that is appropriate, proportionate and well judged.
Relevant projects and guidance
You may also want to explore:
South Hampstead Conservation Area in Camden NW6
A useful example of working within a conservation setting.
Highgate conservation house extensions renovation
A project that reflects the balance between change, character and everyday use.
Holland Park conservation architect | Villa house extensions and renovation
A further example of carefully considered work in a sensitive context.
Read our practical guide to how to renovate a period home in London, including Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian homes, heritage protection, traditional construction, retrofit, budgets and timescales.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an architect for work in a conservation area?
If your home is planning-sensitive or architecturally significant, early architectural advice is usually very helpful. It can save time, reduce uncertainty and improve the quality of the eventual proposal.
Can I extend a period home without harming its character?
Often yes, but it depends on the house, the setting and the approach. The best results usually come from understanding what matters about the existing building before deciding how to alter it.
Can GOAStudio help with listed or locally listed homes?
Yes. We have extensive experience with planning-sensitive sites, including listed buildings and conservation areas.
Can I speak to you before I commit to a design direction?
Yes. That is one of the main purposes of the consultation and the early advice process.
Looking to improve a period or conservation-area home in London?
If you would like clear, honest early advice on what may be possible for your property, get in touch to book a consultation.
Does GOAStudio work on Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian homes?
Yes. GOAStudio works with London homeowners on Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and other period properties, including listed, locally listed and conservation-area homes. Our work includes renovations, extensions, internal reconfiguration, retrofit, planning applications, Listed Building Consent and technical design. The right approach depends on the property’s construction, condition, architectural character and heritage status.
We provide architectural services for residential projects in the following London Boroughs:
Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster
We specialise in
- Greener homes
- Retrofit and energy efficiency for older and traditional buildings
- Conservation areas
- Listed Buildings
- Homeowner architectural services
- Property developments architectural services
GOAStudio London residential architecture limited.
86-90 Paul Street, EC2A 4NE, Hackney
Chestnut Avenue South, E17 9EJ, Waltham Forest
t: 0203 984 3005
