Enhancing Building Safety, Performance, and Aesthetics
Our architectural refurbishment and cladding design services support high-rise residential buildings in delivering safe, modern, and compliant external façades. Whether part of general building improvements, energy efficiency upgrades, or remedial works to address fire defects, our design solutions help landlords, councils, and housing associations enhance building performance, protect residents, and extend asset life.
We provide practical, evidence-based design services that integrate fire safety, regulatory compliance, and long-term durability with aesthetics and functional improvement.
What Is Architectural Refurbishment and Cladding Design?
Architectural refurbishment involves updating and improving a building’s structure, envelope, and finishes to enhance performance, safety, and appearance. Cladding design focuses on external wall systems, including panels, insulation, fire barriers, and façades, ensuring compliance with fire safety and building regulations.
For high-rise blocks, this can include:
- Replacement or upgrading of external wall cladding
- Remediation of combustible materials and fire defects
- Installation of insulation, weatherproofing, and energy efficiency improvements
- Façade improvements to enhance aesthetics and resident experience
- Upgrades to balconies, windows, and access areas
Our designs ensure that buildings are safe, compliant, and visually appealing, while remaining practical to maintain over the long term.
Why Refurbishment and Cladding Design Matters
High-rise residential buildings require careful attention to external wall systems and building envelopes to ensure:
- Resident safety, particularly through addressing fire defects or hazardous cladding
- Compliance with Building Safety Act requirements and regulatory guidance
- Durability and longevity of the building fabric
- Improvements in energy efficiency, thermal performance, and weatherproofing
- Enhanced aesthetics to improve tenant satisfaction and asset value
Well-designed architectural refurbishment and cladding interventions reduce risk, enhance performance, and protect the long-term value of high-rise housing stock.
Our Architectural Refurbishment and Cladding Design Approach
We follow a structured, collaborative approach to deliver safe, compliant, and practical solutions:
- Assessment of Existing Fabric – evaluation of building condition, fire defects, and performance issues.
- Feasibility and Design Development – identification of suitable refurbishment or cladding solutions, considering safety, aesthetics, and budget.
- Regulatory Compliance – design aligned with building regulations, fire safety guidance, and Building Safety Case requirements.
- Specification and Material Selection – selection of appropriate panels, insulation, fire barriers, and finishes to meet performance standards.
- Implementation Support – coordination with contractors, project management support, and oversight to ensure design intent is delivered effectively.
Our approach ensures that refurbishment and cladding projects are safe, efficient, and fully compliant, with minimal disruption to residents.
Deliverables
Clients receive:
- Detailed architectural and cladding design drawings
- Specifications for materials and systems, including fire-resistant options
- Compliance documentation suitable for regulatory approval and Building Safety Case submissions
- Recommendations for installation, maintenance, and lifecycle management
- Advice integrated with wider building improvement, retrofit, or remedial programmes
Why Choose Us?
We have extensive experience in architectural refurbishment and cladding design for high-rise residential buildings, combining technical expertise, fire safety knowledge, and practical project experience.
Our solutions help councils, housing associations, and private landlords deliver safe, compliant, and visually improved buildings, addressing fire defects, improving energy performance, and enhancing the overall living environment for residents.