RHA_Residential_Brochure_161019_small

w: www.roberthirschfield.com
e: studio@roberthirschfield.com
t: O2O 7435 6O39

Of all forms of art, architecture offers man the
answers to his immediate and legitimate everyday
needs. It is a framework of life and practising it allows
us to design whilst respecting the natural world and
the place of man within it.
Robert Hirschfield Architects is interested in
the aesthetic and functionality of materials, of
maximising the light and volume within the spaces
we create, and to provide imaginative and costeffective
solutions to the challenges presented by
every brief.
We are an innovative architectural practice and we
will bring our knowledge of structure and form to
explore your project. We would like to re-tell the
story, re-interpret the site and re-visualise the
uniqueness of the design.
www.roberthirschfield.com

About RHA
At Robert Hirschfield Architects, we enjoy architecture
because it presents us with opportunities for problem
solving, and expressing our own visual style towards
resolving challenges.
It is a fascinating complex art embracing form and
function, symbol and social purpose, technique and belief,
acknowledging that designs may be diverse, potent and
expressive but always dynamic in their response to use.
Right: Design based on creative
thinking and rigorous analysis
Bottom-left: Committed to
design quality
Bottom-right: Our projects
respond to their context
We also enjoy mentoring and recognise the importance
of teamwork in practice throughout the many stages of a
project.

Design Approach
The practice has established a diverse portfolio working
with private residential clients and gallery owners as well as
undertaken several installation based projects.
Each of our projects is unique, tailored to brief, budget
and location. Our design philosophy is to treat each project
as a response to the client’s aspirations and end-user
requirements.
In preference to a house ‘style’, RHA has a clear ‘philosophy’
that expresses a shared approach to design. We aim to
achieve a unique and appropriate solution for each project,
inspired by the site, brief and client.
Right: Architecture as a
framework of life
Below: Designs may be
diverse, potent and expressive
but always dynamic in their
response to use and space
© Matt Clayton
Guided by this philosophy, we approach design with
intellectual rigour and passion, to produce spaces and ideas
that are eminently practical and emotionally uplifting.

Light and Volume
Architecture cannot exist without light; without it there is
nothing to see. On the other hand, volume and surface are
the characteristics through which architecture is revealed
and are instrumental in animating light.
These two defining elements are how we experience
architecture and are therefore fundamental in our approach
to design. Together they manifest themselves in why we
consider spaces to be journeys, both in terms of what one
sees and how you move through it as well as the surprises
you experience along the way.
Right: The eye is drawn upwards into
a light-filled triple height void
Bottom-left: Horizontal lines of porosity
give glimpses of spaces beyond
Bottom-right: A series of walnut clad
balconies transcend the heart of this
scheme
© David Grandorge

Materials and Textures
A subtle difference in material or finish can alter the
impression or perception of a design. We understand
how and why it is important to choose certain textures
and materials in order to communicate and establish the
project’s individuality, identity and user experience. Our
recommendations and selection of finishes are specific to
each design and contribute a visual and tactile integrity to the
overall effect.
Right and below: These images are
from a project entitled ‘Soul’ where
we worked alongside the artist David
Breuer-Weil. The sculpture, executed
in polished steel, represents the globe
as a single human form in which man
and the world become one.

Colour
Colour is an expressive element in architectural design
and can be used to emphasise the character of a building
and create harmony and unity, or it can be deliberately
contrasting to enliven or emphasise. It can also affect the
way in which people respond to their surroundings and
enhance a mood of calm or elation.
Right: The culture of travel and discovery
can create deeply personal spaces
Below: The energy of colour gives
interiors a vibrancy and intensity
Warm and cold colours play an important role in our lives and
express very different moods and emotions. We experience
them in the variations of daylight from morning to evening.

Kitchens
If the home is a “machine for living”, then the kitchen is its
engine. Kitchens not only need to be functional but also
comfortable and sophisticated gathering places where
food preparation and service can be an integral part of
entertaining guests.
Right: Simple design can often be the
most elegant
Below: A good kitchen is also an
ergonomic space
© David Grandorge / Matt Clayton

Furniture and Storage
‘A place for everything and everything in it’s place’.
Where possible, we seek to incorporate built-in furniture
and storage within our projects which can provide functional
and at times playful ideas and offer colourful, interesting
and innovative solutions in which the simplest and fewest
elements are used to create the maximum effect.
Right: Consideration is given to how
furniture and storage might be used
Below: Detailing and materiality are
considered in tandem
© David Grandorge

Bathrooms
If the home is a “machine for living”, then the bathroom is
its soul. Bathrooms can sometimes be utilitarian spaces but
given the opportunity they can also be a sanctuary or a spa
that reflects the client’s individuality, meeting their personal
needs and greatly enhancing their experience of every day
living.
Right: Sophisticated fixtures and fittings
can give the bathroom a luxurious
quality
Bottom-left: Bathrooms are designed
to be calm and relaxing
© David Grandorge / Matt Clayton

Light and Lighting
Our attitude towards light and lighting recognises that
architecture is dramatically illuminated through the handling
of light itself and in its capacity to visualise a wide range of
beliefs and values that could not be expressed with material
form.
Where possible natural light is a fundamental element of our
architecture. When artificial lighting is utilised, it is designed
to highlight and accentuate the architectural planes and
nuances.
Right: Natural and artificial light offer
different qualities depending on the time
of day
Below: Natural light illuminates and
animates like no other
© Tom Scott / David Grandorge
When applied with great care, light and lighting can produce
a space that is vibrant yet soothing, and with great spatial
depth. It’s innate illusionary quality can be channelled to
create an interplay of light and dark, warmth and coolness,
drama and calm.

Glass
Modern day architectural trends have elevated the way we
think about the role of glass in buildings. It is no longer simply
a material for windows and the occasional door; it is a design
component in its own right.
We have tried to utilise glass in our projects as an important
element in our approach to design so that it is not only
exploited in grand public structures but fully integrated into
the lives and homes of families.
Right: The use of glass increases the
transparency of the building envelope
Bottom-left: Working with glass is also
about being interested in the light and
the view (both inside and outside)
© Matt Clayton
The beauty of glass lies in its simplicity, and we seek to show
how it enables us to be enveloped by nature while living
comfortably indoors.

Landscape
At RHA, we consider landscapes to be about framing focal
points and creating a design that gives attention to the
primary visual elements.
They also provide an opportunity to contrast between
foreground and background, light and dark, rough and
smooth, high and low, inside and outside. Regardless of scale,
this philosophy underpins our interventions whether it be
an internal or external landscape, a modest urban patio, or a
substantial suburban garden.
Right: The garden is treated as another
room of the house
Below: Planters and decking provide a
continuous flow of forms and materials
© Matt Clayton

Play
We try to create spaces that are engaging, with varying
palettes of texture and colour, in an attempt to capture
children’s innate imagination. We believe that in creating
imaginative environments, the “imagination” at play should
be that of the child and not of the architect or adult.
We also try to create ‘room to grow’ i.e. to design a space
that is flexible and responsive to the developing needs and
interests of a growing child - a space that can be a safe and
familiar habitat from birth through to adolescence.
Right: The use of strong colour can
translate into more individual spaces
Below: Spaces can be rebalanced by
integrating thoughtful interventions
© Tom Scott / Matt Clayton

Small Scale Interventions
Small scale builds are commonplace in the work of RHA. We
are frequently asked to design fitted furniture in our projects,
which we see as akin to an installation.
One of the most intriguing requests is the staircase, which
is a fundamental element of architectural design and
essentially connects spaces vertically and visually. It can
be both a powerful aesthetic statement and a unifying
link within the upward/downward flow of a space and can
dramatically liberate a spatial layout.
Our projects are all bespoke and introduce warmth, honesty
and a timeless quality of design.
Right: Clean sharp lines combined
with engineering ingenuity
Bottom-left: Imaginative use of
materials and finishes
Bottom-right: The eye is drawn
upwards, into a light-filled triple
height void
© Tom Scott

Delivery and Quality
Delivering a successful project is about working with the right
people. It is about negotiating skills, reliability, approachability
and problem-solving. For RHA, it also means giving a great
service.
We found RHA to be highly responsive to our needs and
concerns and they displayed critical knowledge during all
stages of the project.
(Private Client)
Right: Obsession with detailing is
a quest for perfection
Below: Coordination is key in
delivering high quality projects
© Tom Scott
We have been very impressed by their approach to design
and have enjoyed the iterative process of exploring all the
options. We have found their service to be exemplary and
have no doubt that this architectural practice will go on to
become an established force in years to come. It has, and
continues to be a pleasure working with them and we look
forward to continued future cooperation.
(Private Developer)
Architecture is about making spaces and places for people
and we make the most of a project’s resources and are able
to deliver high quality and cost effective solutions for our
clients.

Services
The practice offers a range of architectural services,
including the following:
• Preparing feasibility studies
• Developing preliminary and detailed design proposals
• Applying for planning and other statutory approvals
• Preparing construction information
• Obtaining tenders for projects
• Contract administration / Project Management
• Interior design
Within this range of services, the practice is fully
conversant with Listed Building and Conservation Area
issues.
RIBA London Practice of the Month

w: www.roberthirschfield.com
e: studio@roberthirschfield.com
t: O2O 7435 6O39