# R2 Studio Architects - Delightful and hard-working designs in London > R2 Studio Architects is a RIBA-accredited architecture and interior design practice based in Dulwich, south London (SE22). Founded in 2009 by Emily and Frederik Rissom, the practice specialises in low-energy retrofits, contemporary residential projects, community and leisure projects, interior design, smaller scale commercial projects and new builds. Specialists of Dulwich Estate applications, listed buildings and conservation areas. Significant construction expertise. Areas served are SE21, SE24, SE22, Southwark, Lambeth, south London and further afield. Directors hold memberships with RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects), BIID (British Institute of Interior Design), and AECB (Association for Environment Conscious Building), reflecting the practice's commitment to sustainable, low-energy design. ## Projects - [Parkside House](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/parkside-house/) - [Dulwich Gables](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/dulwich-gables/) - [Camberwell House](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/camberwell-house/) - [Dulwich Up](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/dulwich-up/) - [Half House](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/half-house/) - [Number 22](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/number-22/) - [Riverside House](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/riverside/) - [3 Cubes](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/3-cubes/) - [South Downs Residence and Studio](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/south-downs-residence-and-studio/) - [Delawyk Modular House](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/delawyk-modular-house/) - [Scholar's Library](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/scholars-library/) - [Brixton Kunstraum](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/kunstraum/) - [Royals Youth Centre](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/royals-youth-centre-rainham/) - [Long House](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/long-house/) - [St Faith's Community Centre](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/st-faiths-centre/) - [Yoga Retreat](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/yoga-retreat/) - [Kennington House](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/kennington-house/) - [Herne Hill](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/herne-hill/) - [Beckenham](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/beckenham/) - [Sheen House](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/sheen-house/) - [Dulwich Orchard House](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/dulwich-orchard-house/) - [Norwood Works](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/norwood-works/) - [Brixton House](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/brixton-house/) - [One Tree Hill](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/one-tree-hill/) - [Poets Corner](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/poets-corner/) - [Cedar Corner House](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/cedar-corner-house/) - [West 16th Cafe and Creative Studio](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/west-16th/) - [Dulwich Wood](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/dulwich-wood/) - [Brückenhaus](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/brueckenhaus/) - [Offset House](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/offset-house/) - [Ash House](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/ash-house/) - [Kinder La La](https://r2studio.co.uk/projects/kinder-la-la/) ## Pages - [Studio](https://r2studio.co.uk/studio/) - [Terms](https://r2studio.co.uk/terms/) - [Knowledge](https://r2studio.co.uk/knowledge/) - [Homepage](https://r2studio.co.uk/) - [Approach](https://r2studio.co.uk/approach/) ## Posts - [What can we do about climate change?](https://r2studio.co.uk/2024/01/31/the-climate/): Insulation, insulation, insulation! In the same way as a warm coat or a duvet, insulation is what keeps the heat... - [The design process](https://r2studio.co.uk/2024/01/24/the-design-process/): Over the last 15 years we have been adapting the RIBA Plan of Work to our projects, aiming to make... - [Conservation areas and Dulwich Estate](https://r2studio.co.uk/2024/01/22/conservation-areas-and-dulwich-estate/): Conservation areas are beautiful and as a result very popular places to live. We enjoy working in historical contexts, updating... - [Interior Design](https://r2studio.co.uk/2024/01/21/interiors-tips/): Talk early on to the architect about what you want to achieve in the interior. As you develop the design... - [Insulation, insulation, insulation!](https://r2studio.co.uk/2024/01/20/insulation-insulation-insulation/): Insulating buildings is the single most effective way of saving energy long-term and we always look at doing this before... - [What does an architect do during construction?](https://r2studio.co.uk/2024/01/19/1610/): Construction stage We usually act as the Contract Administrator during the construction stage. This is a very specific role linking... - [What makes a great client](https://r2studio.co.uk/2024/01/18/what-makes-a-great-client/): Early on: Briefing: Be clear about what you want to achieve. Is your main aim to create a large open... ## Team - [Aleksis Klavins](https://r2studio.co.uk/team/aleksis-klavins/): Aleksis joined R2 in 2025 following the completion of his MArch in Advanced Architectural Design at the University of Strathclyde,... - [Nanami Sakimura](https://r2studio.co.uk/team/nanami-sakimura/): Nanami joined the studio in 2025. After completing her studies at the University of Tokyo, she gained professional experience in... - [Anna McDermott](https://r2studio.co.uk/team/anna-mcdermott/): Anna is an architect with particular interest in developing sustainable designs to create lasting, joyful homes centred around the people... - [Sinead Carava](https://r2studio.co.uk/team/sinead-carava/): Sinead joined R2 Studio in 2024. Half French, half Irish, she completed her Part II studies with First Class Honours... - [Anke Edwardes](https://r2studio.co.uk/team/anke-edwardes/): Anke joined R2 STUDIO in 2014 and since then has led numerous projects from inception to completion. She delights in... - [Frederik Rissom](https://r2studio.co.uk/team/frederik-rissom/): Frederik founded R2 with Emily with the aim to provide bespoke design services and set up collaborations with inspiring clients... - [Emily Rissom](https://r2studio.co.uk/team/emily-rissom/): Emily leads the practice with Frederik. She is an experienced architect and interior designer and trained in the UK and... # # Detailed Content ## Projects ## Pages R2 Studio Architects - Delightful and hard-working designs in London Skip to main content R2 Studio Architects Open navigation Open navigation Home Projects Approach Studio Knowledge Contact Menu Home Projects Approach Studio Knowledge Contact R2 Studio Architects Ltd 020 8766 6116 info@r2studio.co.uk 2 Woodwarde Road London SE22 8UJ Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Our social channels Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Pinterest Follow us on Houzz Delightful and hardworking spaces We believe in using architecture and interior design to create spaces that work hard and bring delight. Ready to question every aspect of every project, we use ingenuity to create unique moments of surprise and joy. We’ve been rethinking and renewing spaces in south-east London and beyond since 2009. More about our approach Delightful and hardworking spaces We believe in using architecture and interior design to create spaces that work hard and bring delight. Ready to question every aspect of every project, we use ingenuity to create unique moments of surprise and joy. We’ve been rethinking and renewing spaces in south-east London and beyond since 2009. More about our approach Selected spaces One house, three gardens and a river. Ash House. One house, three gardens and a river Ash House Living reinterpreted through an artist's lens . Brückenhaus. Living reinterpreted through an artist's lens Brückenhaus California in a south London cul-de-sac. Offset House. California in a south London cul-de-sac Offset House A slice of New York in southeast London. West 16th Cafe and Creative... ## Posts - Categories: Uncategorized Insulation, insulation, insulation! In the same way as a warm coat or a duvet, insulation is what keeps the heat inside the building in winter and outside in the summer. It is an obvious one to tackle first, as not only less energy is needed to heat the inside up but also it is then kept inside, needing fewer top-ups. In addition, the building will feel comfortable in all areas with an even distribution of heat, avoiding cold corners or draughty seats by the windows. Read more about insulation here. A well-insulated building can use as little as 10-20% of one that is not insulated at all, that's an energy saving of 80-90%. This has a direct effect on the system you need to heat the building. A good measure for this is the amount of primary energy needed per year per square metre of building (kWa/m2). A standard Victorian house might require up to 250kWa/m2 while a low energy house would be around only need 50-80. A PassivHaus standard new build would be below 15 kWa/m2 net. Put another way, conventional boiler systems are rated around 30-40kW peak load. Air source heat pumps for a similar sized well-insulated building would be rated 6-10kW only. Design for flexibility Building is a carbon-intensive activity, even if done following all best-practice standards and even if the front-loaded emissions of building materials, energy and wastage ultimately lead to a low-carbon home in the long term. We are therefore aiming to build only as... - Categories: Uncategorized Over the last 15 years we have been adapting the RIBA Plan of Work to our projects, aiming to make the process as transparent as possible: Concept Design Stage In this stage we work closely with our clients to get to know them better personally and explore what the key drivers are for the project. We define and refine the brief in a series of collaborative design workshops in which we review a number of different design options, ranging from the straight-forward to the "what if" scenarios. The aim of this stage is to provide clarity on design feasibility and an outline budget. The outcome of this stage enable the client to make decisions of which design option, or which mix of options to take forward into the next stage. It is basically defining what the project is. We also use this stage to gather information about the existing site and commission surveys needed for the following stages. The environmental strategy is set out at this stage. If specialist consultants such as quantity surveyors or energy assessors are needed for the project they are ideally appointed early on in this stage for their strategic input. Planning Design Stage In this stage the focus is on the external appearance of the proposals and their impact on the surroundings. Aspects such as materials, building shapes, access, landscaping - everything that is relevant to the approvals process. In order to make decisions on these aspects we develop the concept designs further and add... - Categories: Uncategorized Conservation areas are beautiful and as a result very popular places to live. We enjoy working in historical contexts, updating buildings while being respectful to the surrounding streetscape. In order to achieve this these projects do require another level of care and consideration. Having the privilege of being based in the Dulwich area we have extensive knowledge of working with the Dulwich Estate and surrounding conservation areas. These areas are protected by law and the local authority has a role to ensure that character and appearance of the conservation area is preserved and enhance through the planning process. Along side this the Dulwich Estate are committed to preserving the area’s character and aims to guide homeowners and commercial landlords to develop their properties in a sympathetic manner. This is great for the area but can pose difficulties for owners juggling the various needs of any project. These constraints need to be carefully managed, such as visual and massing impact, materials and impact on the neighbours. The Dulwich Estate's Scheme of Management approval process has seen an update recently, now working in two stages: First, approval of a design in principle ('Permit'), followed by a completion inspection which checks that the implemented is in line with the drawings ('Licence'). This is different to in the past when the Licence was issued at drawing approval stage. The Dulwich Estates guidelines for developments is very helpful and with careful consultation and a reasonable approach to the context you can obtain some flexibility as... - Categories: Uncategorized Talk early on to the architect about what you want to achieve in the interior. As you develop the design you can gauge whether you need additional help but worth talking to the architect to see if they can support you further in this rather than assuming you will need a separate designer. Should be more cost effective than introducing a new consultant to the scheme, assuming they can fulfil this role. Here are a few aspects to think about when creating your brief: How should it feel How you want to feel in a space. What is it telling others and how does it align with your aims? Is it for calm serenity or are you after something which will be invigorating. Its personal and only you can set the agenda. Sometimes we are given just an art movement or set of objects to illustrate what makes someone tick other times it is more the finished look. However you want to portray the look and feel the designer should be able to interpret it. Incorporating elements Are there specific elements you want to utilise. Fascination with photography or a pottery collection. These can be given prominence and help to build the character of a scheme. A day in the life of Think about different scenarios of how you want to use the space or flow through them. Are some more calm and others more about drama. What activities will be happening, when and how often? What you don’t want... - Categories: Uncategorized Insulating buildings is the single most effective way of saving energy long-term and we always look at doing this before any more advanced measures such as heat pumps or photovoltaics are added. Roof: As heat rises, it makes sense to start by insulating the roof - 25% of heat losses occur here. For most people that is the easiest and most cost-effective thing to do first. Before doing so, it might be worth thinking about extending the building upwards into the loft at the same time. Note: While extruded PIR insulation still is commonly used and offers great thermal performance at minimal thicknesses, consider heavier natural insulation materials such as wood fibre. This will be thicker but has many advantages: the weight helps against noise from airplanes etc the weight helps to keep the roof space cooler in summer, especially when combined with good ventilation behind roof tiles Natural fibre insulation materials are fully recyclable and use less energy in production Natural fibre material is breathable (vapour-open) Floor: When refurbishing a floor, consider taking up the floor boards and fitting insulation between the joists. While this lowers your carbon emissions the immediate benefit of this is a comfortable, draught-free floor. This will also enable fitting a wet underfloor heating system which is particularly suited in combination with renewable low-temperature heating solutions such as heat pumps (ground source or air source). Walls: Wall insulation can be retrofitted externally or, in heritage buildings, internally. Internal insulation is a little more complicated to... - Categories: Uncategorized Construction stage We usually act as the Contract Administrator during the construction stage. This is a very specific role linking up the client and the contractor. It is a professionally impartial role with the main aim to provide clarity as to whether the works are being carried out in accordance with the agreed scope set out in the contract. We always aim to be as proactive as we can in this role - a non-compliance spotted on site early can often be rectified much more easily than later on when the element in question is completed. At the beginning of this stage, a pre-contract meeting is held to review contract particulars and site practicalities. A formal contract is set up between the clients and the contractors. These contracts are industry standard documents and set out scope, cost, payment terms, roles and responsibilities, liabilities and insurances. They are written in a collaborative spirit but also set out how to terminate a contract in case the project does not progress as expected. Generally the contract provides clarity of what is expected of each party. The Contract Administrator then performs variety of tasks such as: Visiting site periodically and comment on accordance with the specifications and drawings, comment on level of quality Holding regular progress meetings with contractor and client Preparing notes from site visits and meetings Issuing instructions to the contractor as required, logging variations and associated costs Reviewing and certifying interim valuations submitted by the contractor, usually monthly Completion visit (s)... - Categories: Uncategorized Early on: Briefing: Be clear about what you want to achieve. Is your main aim to create a large open space or a series of smaller spaces? How much flexibility will you require? What are the expectations of budget, timing, quality? Who is making decisions? Communicate if there are areas that you don't need help with. Choice of consultants: The architect can help you find a suitable team of consultants such as surveyors, engineers or specialist advisors. While cost is naturally a consideration one key aspect is if you feel comfortable working with a consultant for 1-2 years. Same as for the choice of architect, questions to ask are: Do they understand you? Do they have the required experience? Can they provide referees you can speak to? Can you perhaps visit an example project if relevant? Can they accommodate your timescales and level of service you require? Surveys: The earlier the surveys are carried out the better as they often affect the design process by providing background information and accuracy. However, if you are only exploring possibilities initially before deciding whether to go ahead with a project it might be ok to delay some of the surveys and delay the expenditure. Yet, if you are fairly sure that you want to go ahead with a project in one shape or another it is advisable to gather as much information about the existing house as early as possible and de-risk the process as much as possible. Your architect can steer you... ## Team Aleksis joined R2 in 2025 following the completion of his MArch in Advanced Architectural Design at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, where he graduated with Distinction. During his Part 1 experience in London, he worked on large-scale healthcare projects, contributing to the complex coordination of multidisciplinary design teams. He has a strong interest in the digital side of architecture, exploring new tools and workflows for modelling and communicating projects with a particular interest in Building Information Modelling (BIM). Nanami joined the studio in 2025. After completing her studies at the University of Tokyo, she gained professional experience in the UK and completed her RIBA Part III course in 2020. Nanami has experience across a range of sectors and has previously led arts and culture projects at David Chipperfield Architects. She enjoys the process of collaborative design and is interested in creating environmentally and socially sustainable architecture. Anna is an architect with particular interest in developing sustainable designs to create lasting, joyful homes centred around the people that will live in them for years to come. Before joining R2 she trained as an architect at the University College of Dublin and University of Westminster. Anna's experience includes a range of residential projects from student accommodation in Dublin to low-carbon retrofits in London. At R2 Anna helps drive our sustainability agenda, exploring low energy solution as well as creating lasting, flexible spaces. Sinead joined R2 Studio in 2024. Half French, half Irish, she completed her Part II studies with First Class Honours at the School of Architecture, Building and Environment at TU Dublin. In Dublin she gained experience on a range of residential projects and public libraries while working in local practices. She is interested in working within historical contexts and has volunteered on self-build and renovation projects. Sinead is also interested in architectural ethnography and how people use spaces. Anke joined R2 STUDIO in 2014 and since then has led numerous projects from inception to completion. She delights in pulling all the strands of the design process together to form a cohesive and functional scheme. After training as an architect in Berlin with a specialism in building conservation and creative re-use Anke worked in Zurich on a variety of innovative conservation projects in the housing and commercial sector. Frederik founded R2 with Emily with the aim to provide bespoke design services and set up collaborations with inspiring clients and stakeholders. He is an experienced architect who has led high-profile projects winning national design awards in the USA and UK. Frederik has German and Danish family heritage, grew up in France and trained as an architect in Germany and the UK. Frederik is particularly passionate about the environmental impact of buildings and continues to promote passive design solutions such as the use of daylight and high thermal performance as part of his work and university teaching. He is the studio's driving force for well-detailed, considered and buildable solutions that create spaces with a strong narrative. Emily leads the practice with Frederik. She is an experienced architect and interior designer and trained in the UK and the USA. Emily has led many high-profile projects and brings her strong focus of aesthetics and functionality to the team. She has an eye for space and colour and enjoys developing the clients' ideas into inclusive and engaging environments. > R2 Studio Architects 2 Woodwarde Road London SE22 8UJ