RecOrt Architects ltd is a small South London based design studio, which offers tailor-made and specific design solutions for any budget.

We work in close collaboration with our clients and focus on a productive and positive relationship which positions the user at the heart of every scheme.

At the same time our projects create a coherent design which combines practical, flexible and space effective solutions with elements of beauty and surprise. Unexpected views and configurations help to introduce some fun and poetry into everyday life.

A rigorous examination of context, use and existing structures forms the basis of our work. We enjoy turning constraints and perceived restrictions into positive challenges and to discover and enhance all potential a site can offer.

In the typically dense urban setting, our reoccurring themes are to maximise day and sun light, to extend, connect and open up towards the elements and the surroundings, allowing for internal and external views and perforation, while balancing the need for privacy and preserving the appreciated characteristic elements. A playful juxtaposition of old and new is often embedded in our schemes. Materials, colours and textures are an integral part of our designs.

Our holistic approach addresses architecture and interior design in one design concept. Considering the role and build of fittings, furniture and finishes is crucial to the feel of the space and often helps to create more generous three dimensional experiences with sometimes limited space.

Over the years we have established great work relationships with consultants, trades-people, main- and specialist contractors and offer a vast amount of experience in residential and private house developments.

We are very enthusiastically involved in every project - ideally from the first idea through to the finished product. Happy clients are our biggest treats.

Our Sustainability Philosophy / Agenda:

With the UK aiming for zero carbon by 2050 and with tighter regulations in place for new buildings, there is now a particular focus on the refurbishment of existing structures.

We believe that adapting your existing house to better meet your needs and thereby extending its life span is in itself the first ‘sustainable’ move; secondly we would seek to utilise your refurbishment and extension work to improve the building to help deal with climate change wherever possible within the project context.

We are passionate about creating the most sensible and energy efficient solution and reducing everyone’s carbon footprint as much as possible.

In particular, considering your brief and looking at the entire building, we will carefully balance and integrate any new spaces, and, in a ‘fabric first’ approach, will advise you of any potential to upgrade existing (thermally inadequate) constructions and services. We will consider orientation, exposure & overshadowing of existing and new spaces in our design process and, if feasible in the overall context, explore potential scope for active methods e.g. PV, solar- and geothermal. The use and organisation of space plays a role in this as well, for example allowing for bike sheds, drying space for washing and balance hard landscaping and water retention schemes etc.

We will integrate specialist advice where it is necessary and make sure solutions remain practical and support the overall design.

Growing up against a backdrop of oil crisis, acid rain and nuclear concerns, German universities early on adopted sustainability as an important part of the curriculum; the responsible supply of resources and the principles of minimising heat loss and utilising solar gains were already seen as important design aspects, long anticipating current building regulations and standards.

While current target standards like BREEAM refurbishment or EnerPHit (passive house refurbishment) require specialist consultant input and can certainly benefit larger projects, this may not necessarily be the best solution for an individual house. We can offer a specific but all – inclusive agenda for the typical house extension and refurbishment schemes.

‘Esther and Christoph employ a thoughtful design approach to each project, giving it their full commitment and attention regardless of scale or budget. They respond to the client’s brief injecting it with innovative solutions and elegant interventions, rather than imposing unrealistic design trends. The ‘stamp’ they put on the project is therefore a clever combination of their professionality and creative talent and their clients requirements and vision. In our case their input was invaluable to realizing a modest but challenging self-build project. I just hope we get to collaborate with them again in the future.’

Helen & Ian, Nunhead, London

‘Esther and Christoph designed me the perfect open plan downstairs and brought light and space into a pokey little house. I wanted it to be a house where parties and big dinners were possible, including a space for the DJ and a kitchen with lots of storage and dining space. They gave me options that were easy to visualise. I am so happy with how it all looks now. It's sleek but it hasn't lost any of the character. The garden is so much more accessible too. It all flows and its a fabulous space for entertaining friends and family.’

Mel, Norwood, London

‘Esther and Christoph allowed us to realise a long held dream of transforming a little three bedroom terrace into so very much more …. Esther was great at listening and really understanding what we envisaged and how we wanted to live.  Much more than that she not only incorporated lovely details that we would not have imagined but she also took us a little way beyond our comfort zone to create something really unique.   Two years after finishing the project we still love all of it and feel really lucky to have had this opportunity to create such a fantastic space.’ 

Katie & Richard, Dulwich, London

‘Christoph oversaw the upgrade of our house, which included upstairs side extension, loft conversion, creating an open plan kitchen and stripping the house and re-fitting it. He had brilliant ideas, great taste, kept the project to time and schedule and transformed our grotty home into somewhere wonderful. He was meticulous at explaining details, brokered any issues with the builders and was always reliable. We have recommended Christoph and Esther to several of our friends, and each one has been delighted with the results.’

Magda & Jim, Denmark Hill, London

‘Christoph and Esther assisted us in a major renovation of our house, including kitchen, dining area and the creation of a completely new room with its ensuite bathroom. They were extremely imaginative as well as practical. Their solutions captured our desires but also offered new ideas that we loved. They were always available and with a smile on their face. Importantly, they were also exceptionally good at spotting and solving technical problems and at dealing with the builders. We highly recommend them.’

Ilaria & Filippo, Camberwell, London

‘Having Esther and Christoph unlock the puzzle of how to re-design my kitchen was invaluable - they came up with innovative solutions to all the problems and created a space which works perfectly for me and my family and which I love.  They worked to a tight budget and timescale without diluting any of the ambition - always positive, imaginative and with great attention to detail. They are a fantastic team and I can't thank them enough!’

Eleanor, Camberwell, London

‘We hired Esther to be our architect for a loft conversion. It was a great decision. She designed a really beautiful but also very liveable space. But as valuable was the project management, advice and guidance as we moved through the planning and building stages. It was a big job which went incredibly smoothly. We would highly recommend Esther and would work with her again in the future.’ 

Daniel & Mandy, Herne Hill, London

‘Dear Esther & Christoph, We are so excited to be moving into our lovely new home. Everything has gone so smoothly and we can’t thank you enough. We really appreciate all your hard work and help and we certainly couldn’t have done it without you! When we have settled in and have furniture, we hope you will both come and celebrate with a glass of bubbly.’

Jo & Tony, Norwood, London

‘I do think the work you do, your thoroughness and professionalism are a worthwhile investment.’

Helen, Worthing, West Sussex

‘We have really enjoyed our new space over Xmas - the problem is now we aren't using the rest of the house enough!’

Helen & Huw, Woldingham, Surrey

‘Goes without saying how much we are loving this space, it is truly amazing and has transformed our home beyond belief. Thank you! And everyone who has visited our garden in recent weeks has been amazed and thinks it looks very cool.’

Rosie & Noam, Telegraph Hill, London

Every situation asks for a specific creative idea and input. Some further samples are presented here to show approach and possibilities. They are just more snapshots of our work.

The 2 storey extension contains a new granny flat which has its own front entrance and is accessible from and flexibly connectable to the main house. The glass slot visually and acoustically separates the main house from the new flat and at the same time brings light down into the ground floor kitchen extension. The timber box riding on the stone clad retaining wall addresses the side area of the garden whereas the living-kitchen-dining area of the main house uses the patio and rear garden while not being overlooked

This garage conversion turns the existing low-ceilinged double garage into an additional and comfy family space by lowering a distinctive area of the floor. The wide, dark stained oak flooring continuous from the dining area and creates the snug. Five panelled folding doors in keeping with the rear façade offer a generous view and can be opened up fully to the gorgeous garden. A wood burner features next to the TV-music-media-cabinet, the back drop includes a plain white storage wall.

A Cedar-clad garden studio which had to offer a safe and enclosed space to work is designed along a 7 meter long creating and making table. The folding timber shutters can be closed to form a coherent and totally private timber box and can be positioned to vary lighting levels for the different working areas along the table.

A bright, summer coloured kitchen design wraps around the walls and frames the door in this beautiful Hampstead apartment refurbishment. The continuous white Corian surface, which forms the worktop -splashback-sink-and-shelves compliments the changing patterns of the spraypainted cabinet doors, completed with high-end appliances.

This sophisticated redesign of a flat for a developer creates a more open plan social space while adding another bedroom without compromising the generous feel and the ancillary spaces. A genuine palette of materials like Walnut veneered doors and furniture with travertine tiled bathrooms and Silestone kitchen worktops complemented the scheme.

Our favourite outie, a window seat which focuses on the new patio design and allows a coffee break in the most sunniest spot. The three sided glass-box offering a walnut lined seat and back overlooks the garden and frames the view right from entering the house.

Neat detailing throughout featured an integrated walnut hand rail and ‘invisible’ doors which were mostly opened down to elegant parquet and polished concrete flooring throughout the two ground floor levels

The ground floor annex had the kitchen at the end, blocking off the garden and any views as well as only allowing a reduced amount of light and sun coming in. We turned this arrangement around and positioned the dining table towards the garden and designed a very neat glass cut-out to open up the space to the rear garden and south-east facing, wide, side patio at the same time in order to catch as much sun as possible. Two sliding doors to either side allow the table to be positioned in the glass corner, feeling surrounded by a generous slate patio and a lot of very lush green.

The 3D-visual shows a souterrain and upper ground floor rear extension to a Duplex-flat in a nicely looked after conservation area of Hampstead which received the planners and conservation officers approval. It takes great care to involve a sensible patio design to bring light to the lower ground floor bedroom spaces with their own garden access while at the same time to enhance the sequence of the main social spaces and their connection to the lush garden behind the patio. The materials of the existing period property are reflected and translated into a contemporary design.

This ground floor rear extension features a generous glass slot where extension roof and old house meet. In line with the massive three glass panes of the roof glazing the 3 glass sliders have minimal frames maximizing the views, light and openness. A cantilevering roof emphasizes this light floating feel. A matt finished concrete floor and birch-ply faced kitchen support this approach and a purpose made steel welded table offers space for big family gatherings while serving as extra worktop space in everyday life.

Full height Crittall windows frame the view over the garden and hill. The house sits on a very steep slope and the extended dining, kitchen and rear lounge with patio are designed as a serious of steps to negotiate the height difference and to lead to the garden. It creates distinctive areas in a generous overall open plan space. Small ideas like the TV built into the back of the kitchen island, a big kitchen worktop running into a utility / larder space with windows and an under floor storage space give this project another quirky touch.

These interior views of a remodelled existing side return extension show the overall new space with generous and neatly designed glass elements, a lowered rear reception room floor allowing a much more smooth and efficient use of space, a lowered floor area under the low ceiling of the annex as the cosy space for the additional rear lounge. Boldly textured tiles on the floor provide the continuous context. Cloak room, coat space, utility room, kids’ school storage space and a small labtop desk area with shelves are hidden / integrated into a light oak clad angled timber wall which leads you into the space.

Interiors and furniture design is often an integral part of the architectural concept. Here the kitchen layout and dining table position (and therefore roof light and glass doors and wall position) are completed with the Zig-Zag seat, a piece of furniture ‘riding’ on the steps into the lower part of the room. It functions as bar stools to the kitchen island (which can’t fall down the steps) as well as a bench to the dining table with a comfortable back rest allowing the table to fit closer to the steps and more people at the same time. The birch ply finish is found on the room facing island cabinet doors as well.

Sometimes you have to go with the flow, a long room with a very long table and an even longer kitchen run. It is quite conceptual but a bit punk and fun.