Overview: Concept design and delivery of the refurbishment of the existing lower-ground level office space at St Anne’s Court, Soho provides a new dedicated 250sqm skin and haircare product testing facilities for the iconic Good Housekeeping brand. GHK is one of the oldest continuous magazine publications in the UK, for the largest international publishing house, Hearst. Community Impact & Value: As a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to product testing, the bespoke laboratories within the Hearst Institute are based on significantly remodelled spaces within the existing retained building. Designed to provide a publicly accessible live studio, absorption within the testing process can be experienced. The working lab space, as well as flexible staff working areas support the studio provision. Here early phases of market research and product development through to quality testing and marketing is undertaken for a number of the nations most recognised brands. Technical Insights & Challenges: Full internal reconfiguration and building services where curated within this highly impactful design. The aim being to provide a functional and elegant visitor experience, drawing on a contemporary interpretation of the origins of the GHK brand within the Art Deco period and interior style. Colour use, bespoke designed furniture and equipment requirements were all seamlessly integrated. Our working wall for product trialing encapsulates both advance testing equipment with splashes of nostalgic references from the Hearst archive, individually selected and curated. The bespoke floor to ceiling metalwork is also adaptable to the changing needs of the venue and allows for future relocation if necessary. Key Achievements: The Hearst Institute will support the Good Housekeeping Cookery School also at St Anne’s Court, whilst continuing to test and review products and services for the public and wider beauty industry. HEARST INSTITUTE Client: Hearst Value: Confidential Status: Completed Overview: Concept design and delivery of the refurbishment of the existing lower-ground level office space at St Anne’s Court, Soho provides a new dedicated 250sqm skin and haircare product testing facilities for the iconic Good Housekeeping brand. GHK is one of the oldest continuous magazine publications in the UK, for the largest international publishing house, Hearst. Community Impact & Value: As a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to product testing, the bespoke laboratories within the Hearst Institute are based on significantly remodelled spaces within the existing retained building. Designed to provide a publicly accessible live studio, absorption within the testing process can be experienced. The working lab space, as well as flexible staff working areas support the studio provision. Here early phases of market research and product development through to quality testing and marketing is undertaken for a number of the nations most recognised brands. Technical Insights & Challenges: Full internal reconfiguration and building services where curated within this highly impactful design. The aim being to provide a functional and elegant visitor experience, drawing on a contemporary interpretation of the origins of the GHK brand within the Art Deco period and interior style. Colour use, bespoke designed furniture and equipment requirements were all seamlessly integrated. Our working wall for product trialing encapsulates both advance testing equipment with splashes of nostalgic references from the Hearst archive, individually selected and curated. The bespoke floor to ceiling metalwork is also adaptable to the changing needs of the venue and allows for future relocation if necessary. Key Achievements: The Hearst Institute will support the Good Housekeeping Cookery School also at St Anne’s Court, whilst continuing to test and review products and services for the public and wider beauty industry.

Selected Projects Commercial Cultural Housing EAST STREET DORA CARR CLOSE NEW ROAD TRIANGLE BARNET HOUSE BARBICAN ART GALLERY GRAYS INN ROAD THE FABRIC WORKS TOTTENHAM HALE PAVILION BRIDGE HOUSE BERESFORD STREET LION GREEN ROAD BARBICAN CINEMAS 2&3 GUILDFORD PLAZA HOUSE OF HEARST MARSTEAD LIVING

Overview: Originally constructed in 2009 and set amongst some of the only remaining ancient oaks in London’s Highgate Conservation Area, this single-storey family home was touted as a forward-thinking timber framed building. Our sensitively contemporary refurbishment and extension of the property centred around a shared ethos of low-carbon construction whilst echoing the qualities of the ecologically-innovative original. Community Impact & Value: Asymmetrically nestled into a semi-sunken back garden plot, the fragmented nature of the internal arrangement posed a number of challenges requiring a unified response. Obstacles included bedrooms opening onto main entrances, and principal rooms suffering from a lack of connection to the garden. The proposed concept methodically addressed these constraints, creating a simpler flow and separation between communal and private spaces. Technical Insights & Challenges: We repaired the disconnection between the landscape and the existing house through the provision of full height sliding doors and refurbished clerestory windows. Introducing sliding windows for all adjacent rooms also established a powerful visual and physical connection, combined with a new landscape strategy and the flourishing green roof. Both new and existing external timber are finished in black, helping the building sit effortlessly amongst the landscape. A number of sustainability strategies were implemented inside and out, including the inclusion of temperature-controlled stack and cross ventilation, permeable paving, green roofs and flood protection. Prioritising the retention and upgrading of existing fabric where possible minimised embodied carbon. The primary timber structure and cladding of the original building were extended to create an architecturally and conceptually-sensitive addition that blurred the lines between old and new. Key Achievements: The formed directional vistas from each space provide concealed yet subtly interconnected spaces that exude privacy while helping to foster togetherness for the family. CHURCH ROAD Client: Private Residential Value: Confidential Status: Completed - Awards: Dezeen Awards 2022 Urban House category - Longlist NLA Don't Move, Improve 2022 Urban Oasis category - Winner AJ Retrofit Award 2022 House £500,000 and over - Highly commended Overview: Originally constructed in 2009 and set amongst some of the only remaining ancient oaks in London’s Highgate Conservation Area, this single-storey family home was touted as a forward-thinking timber framed building. Our sensitively contemporary refurbishment and extension of the property centred around a shared ethos of low-carbon construction whilst echoing the qualities of the ecologically-innovative original. Community Impact & Value: Asymmetrically nestled into a semi-sunken back garden plot, the fragmented nature of the internal arrangement posed a number of challenges requiring a unified response. Obstacles included bedrooms opening onto main entrances, and principal rooms suffering from a lack of connection to the garden. The proposed concept methodically addressed these constraints, creating a simpler flow and separation between communal and private spaces. Technical Insights & Challenges: We repaired the disconnection between the landscape and the existing house through the provision of full height sliding doors and refurbished clerestory windows. Introducing sliding windows for all adjacent rooms also established a powerful visual and physical connection, combined with a new landscape strategy and the flourishing green roof. Both new and existing external timber are finished in black, helping the building sit effortlessly amongst the landscape. A number of sustainability strategies were implemented inside and out, including the inclusion of temperature-controlled stack and cross ventilation, permeable paving, green roofs and flood protection. Prioritising the retention and upgrading of existing fabric where possible minimised embodied carbon. The primary timber structure and cladding of the original building were extended to create an architecturally and conceptually-sensitive addition that blurred the lines between old and new. Key Achievements: The formed directional vistas from each space provide concealed yet subtly interconnected spaces that exude privacy while helping to foster togetherness for the family.

First look! Follow us to keep up with the newest addition to our growing portfolio. We're thrilled to share this first glimpse into our latest work in a specialist sector. Stay tuned! Back to News

We’re pleased to share the completion of New Road Triangle, delivering 176 new homes in Hounslow, which also features in the @architectsjournal! Transforming a former Network Rail site, the scheme creates a new gateway to the town centre while activating the Longford River and strengthening connections to Glebelands Park. Our detailed design and delivery focused on balancing a regular façade with a diverse mix of apartment layouts, resolving complex fabric and services challenges through close collaboration with @cfieldconstruction_ and the wider team. The project delivers 124 social rent homes for local people through Hounslow Council, alongside strong sustainability and energy performance outcomes. A great collaboration with @ewl.living and Lampton Development 360. Photography: @robparrishphoto Back to News

RUFFARCHITECTS is pleased to be working once again with Buckinghamshire New University on a feasibility study exploring the potential transformation of an existing civic building into a contemporary higher-education environment. The study considers how the six-storey structure, organised around a central atrium, could be reconfigured to support a range of flexible teaching and learning spaces. Early proposals explore opportunities for adaptable classrooms, immersive learning environments, and specialist training facilities, while making the most of the building’s generous floorplates and natural daylight. The work highlights the potential of the existing structure to accommodate a future-focused learning environment through careful refurbishment and adaptive reuse, and we look forward to continuing the conversation with BNU as the project progresses. Back to News