Practice profile

CSKARCHITECTS is a thoughtful, ambitious practice, interested in crafted, tailored designs and the creation of buildings which have a real sense of belonging. We believe in a holistic approach to environmental design which examines all stages of the building’s life cycle. We collaborate on innovative projects that express the complex relationship between architecture and natural ecosystems. Through choosing what we build with and how these materials are put together we aim to deliver rich, sensory environments. As an extension of this, CSKRECLAIM has evolved to drive this focus further by sourcing and utilising reclaimed materials in our designs.

Who we are

• We are listeners and collaborators and we hope you will enjoy working with us.

• The practice is proud of its proven track-record of delivering high-quality contemporary buildings within programme and budget. We are resourceful and pragmatic.

• We have built up good working relationships with consultants and contractors, such that we have confidence in the quality of service and product that is delivered to our clients. 

• As a practice over the past thirty years we have developed an expertise in the development of explicitly contemporary buildings in locations of historical significance. We enjoy every stage of working in these demanding locations, from the intelligent exploration of possibilities through to the concise execution of an appropriate building.

• We challenge pre-conceptions and aim to be transformative, realising the untapped potential of each site.

• We have in depth experience in planning and listed building consents, with expertise of Green Belt sites and ‘Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty’.

• We have a Research and Development arm of the practice collaborating with the Bartlett School of Architecture UCL and other partners on material research with the aim of delivering holistic, whole-life environmental design.

Vision

As a practice we feel we are facing many challenges both architectural and social in nature. Architecturally the challenge is to realise the potential of each site. Understanding the context of our projects is central to our approach. Whether we are working with a listed building or a vacant plot of land, we aim to turn the constraints and conditions of the site into opportunities, developing unique buildings which ‘belong’ to their place.

Socially the challenge is one of environmental sustainability. This is at the core of our approach and how to integrate this more into each and every project is a goal we have set ourselves. We have a dedicated ‘Research and Development’ arm of the practice, lead by Matthew Barnett Howland, investigating new forms of bio-renewable material, targeting carbon negative construction. We are currently collaborating on a new ‘live/work/grow’ typology for an exemplar bio-dynamic farm, using hemp as a building material which is grown on the farm and we are involved in two circular economy stone re-use projects.