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rixonarchitects

Multi Award winning Cirencester based Architects

So, to spot a project - find your ideal location(s So, to spot a project - find your ideal location(s), then the properties available on that location (or go door knocking!), then see if they fit 7 of your 10 criteria. Finally, see if you could achieve the final three criteria over the longer term with building projects.

Sounds easy? We know it’s not, but that’s also part of the fun…

#cotswoldarchitecture 
#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign houseandgardenuk
A few of us in the practice have been in our house A few of us in the practice have been in our houses for a while, without investing much in cosmetic improvement for a few years. We are considering two options - whether to spend money sprucing up our homes, or using the same quantity of cash in stamp duty to move house. 

#cotswoldarchitecture 
#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign houseandgardenuk
To move or not to move? It’s approaching that tim To move or not to move? 
It’s approaching that time of year where many of us have a think about what we’d like to achieve this year - and for the lucky ones, considering moving house is almost always on the list. 

A sage old mentor of the practice (Jonathan’s Dad), once said make a list of ten things you want from a house. You are likely only to get the top 7. The rest might be achievable with a project (or three) in the future, once funds and motivation have been rebuilt.

Now being Architects, any house move will inevitably turn into a project - any property is likely to need significant improvement or expansion. We accept we are in the fortunate position where we do this for a living, so it is in our toolkit to see the opportunity where others may not. 

#cotswoldarchitecture 
#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign
We try to produce designs which respond to the fee We try to produce designs which respond to the feelings our clients want from the spaces.

#cotswoldarchitect 
#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign
The year ahead.. 2026 thoughts - there’s a lot of The year ahead.. 
2026 thoughts - there’s a lot of this around at the moment.. so let’s assume we’re excited about the year ahead etc… the question will be whether there is enough pent up energy in the housing market to force some movement after a stagnant few years in the property market. We also think the sheer cost of buying/selling property might generate refurbishment projects as owners invest in their properties instead of moving house.

Another potentially interesting project pipeline - in trying to find silver linings, the Government’s recent ‘mansion tax’ announcement might encourage purchasers to consider properties under the £2m threshold for mansion tax, and hold funds back for development work to the property. This might include restoration, refurbishment, extension, development of the site, conversion of outbuildings, spying opportunities on the overall site.

Otherwise, we cautiously optimistic that provided we keep doing our best, and upholding our values, the projects will keep coming!

#cotswoldarchitect 
#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign
We want to start the year with our reason for bein We want to start the year with our reason for being here on IG - to share knowledge and advice, with nothing in return. This year we are going to share monthly quotations - there are certain pieces of advice we share with almost all clients, and we thought it might be quite helpful to share them with the wider world too! Some speak for themselves.

Our design process is super iterative and intuitive. When we produce our first design proposal, we won’t know all of the clients needs and wants, and likely nor will they - it is only when presenting initial designs that these preferences start to become clear. If the start of the process is the first sketch being wrong, it opens it up to improvement - the second sketch.

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#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #homesandgardens
A few more from our portfolio that we are really p A few more from our portfolio that we are really proud of that haven’t shared in a while … 

#cotswoldarchitect #cotswoldarchitecture
#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes
And here's some lovely photos from past projects w And here's some lovely photos from past projects we haven't shared in a while, ending the year as we should - using IG to share knowledge and experience, importantly not asking the community for anything!  #cotswoldarchitect #cotswoldarchitecture
#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes
Happy Festive period! We just wanted to take a mom Happy Festive period!
We just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone we have worked with this year - you know who you are. Clients, Consultants, Building Contractors, specialist makers, Cirencester History Festival, Cirencester College, Cotswold District Council (yes, at times even the Planners), photographers, collaborators, Property Agents, etc etc etc…! Happy Festive period everyone, and thank you to our Community for reading to end of this post!!

#cotswoldarchitect #cotswoldarchitecture
#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes
A little less positive has been the, erm, underwhe A little less positive has been the, erm, underwhelming, property market. Many of our commissions comes from new property purchases, and a quiet market combined with low market confidence means a slow year economically for the practice. Which is why we are really proud to have still grown by one headcount (which is more than most Architects practices can say this year), with Mel joining us Mel to help out with marketing, practice administration and design. Hopefully a sign that we’re doing a good thing for the world - we are really morally led, and hope that feeds through our DNA as a practice.

The upcoming Planning changes might mean more commissions for new build projects in 2026, but it remains to be seen if the Government can unlock the (often subjective) bureaucracy of the Planning Application process.

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#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes
A little look back over the year.. The most impo A little look back over the year.. 

The most important event of the year is our acquisition of the Brunel designed Old Railway Station in Cirencester, finally we have a permanent RA HQ. This move has encouraged us to really think about who are we, what we represent, and what the future holds for the practice. It also allows to demonstrate we can ‘walk the walk’ - the station is not only Listed but was also (almost) derelict, and we have slowly been bringing it back to life. Opening the building to the public for the Cirencester History Festival was a really special highlight of the year for us.

#cotswoldarchitect #cotswoldarchitecture
#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes
While our design process is common through our pro While our design process is common through our projects, the Cotswold projects also have material similarities. The most obvious common thread is that almost all of our projects use natural stone, and almost always externally and internally. We also understand the Cotswold lifestyle - appreciation of the great outdoors, modern family living, the needs of buildings at all scales. It is often this lifestyle that folks moving to the area are looking for.
There are functional threads which run through our projects too - for example our clients will be fed up with us constantly talking about FLOW. Get the flow of a project wrong, and everything will fall apart around it. Scroll back through our feed to ‘Happy House’ to read more about Flow, and the other key elements that make up a successful design (12/08/25)

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#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign #cotswoldstyle #houseandgardenuk #homesandinteriors #principlesofdesign #architectureprinciples
A lot of people ask us about our ‘style’… while we A lot of people ask us about our ‘style’… while we have refined our design process over the years (and continue to!), we are intentionally varied in our design style. So much so, we are really keen not to be known for having a ‘house style’ We enjoy the challenge of design, and are as happy working on a Listed Building restoration as we are on a contemporary new build.

#cotswoldarchitect #cotswoldarchitecture
#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign #cotswoldstyle #houseandgardenuk #homesandinteriors #principlesofdesign #architectureprinciples
Cotswolds to the Caribbean Here’s a cool and qui Cotswolds to the Caribbean 

Here’s a cool and quick fly through we did for a house proposal over in the Caribbean.. top secret awesome location! 

While the design approaches are similar between the two, fewer regulatory constraints (ie planning departments with strong opinions) means we have more creative freedom in our projects in the Caribbean. We work with differing climatic conditions, cultural expectations, vernacular materials, historic styles, and client needs. Most of all it’s different to the Cotswold projects, which ultimately keeps both of them interesting, which is why we think they work excellently together!

#cotswoldarchitect #cotswoldarchitecture
#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign #cotswoldstyle #houseandgardenuk #homesandinteriors #principlesofdesign #architectureprinciples
Cotswolds to the Caribbean We are super fortunat Cotswolds to the Caribbean 

We are super fortunate to have a great array of projects in the Cotswolds, but as they say a change is as good as a break. So while many Architects take on projects in London, we have always had projects in a couple of small pockets of the Caribbean, most notably Portland in North East Jamaica.

We have built up a strong reputation in these pockets for designing in a contemporary Caribbean style, and have a similar contacts database specific to the regions. 

#cotswoldarchitect #cotswoldarchitecture
#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign #cotswoldstyle #houseandgardenuk #homesandinteriors #principlesofdesign #architectureprinciples
Cotswolds to the Caribbean We are often asked ho Cotswolds to the Caribbean 

We are often asked how far we travel for projects. In short, the majority of our projects are within about half an hour of Cirencester. Keeping it local means we have a really relevant ‘black book’ of contacts for our projects. They are mostly small and local businesses who intimately understand the very local - be that local planning policies, materials, traditions, property market, construction, specialist trades, engineering, etc

It also means we don’t waste lots of time on the road getting to our projects, so we can spend more time being Architects!

#cotswoldarchitect #cotswoldarchitecture
#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign #cotswoldstyle #houseandgardenuk #homesandinteriors #principlesofdesign #architectureprinciples
Finally it has been a busy month at the practice, Finally it has been a busy month at the practice, despite the nervousness in the air around the Budget. We have projects at all stages from initial site visits to finalising construction projects before Christmas. Lots of Pre-Apps and Planning Applications going to the Council, which bodes well for the pipeline next year. We’ve also been working on some fun new projects over in the Caribbean - hopefully we’ll be able to share some imagery of these in the future!

#cotswoldarchitect #cotswoldarchitecture
#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign #cotswoldstyle #houseandgardenuk #homesandinteriors #principlesofdesign #architectureprinciples
We are also pleased to announce an Award win! We w We are also pleased to announce an Award win! We won the award for Best Single Residence at the International Property Awards - Jonathan was at the awards ceremony in Mayfair to receive the award on behalf of the practice. Super pleased for the whole team involved - a few shots here of the project! #internationalpropertyawards

#cotswoldarchitect #cotswoldarchitecture
#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign #cotswoldstyle #houseandgardenuk #homesandinteriors #principlesofdesign #architectureprinciples
RA monthly… The month started with the Old Station RA monthly…
The month started with the Old Station Experience in collaboration with Cirencester History Festival. We opened the doors of the Old Station to a fantastic 3000 people over 3 days to wander the building, enjoy the exhibition, and to visit the train on the platform - the first time the train had been at the platform since the railways closed in 1964.  Images, beautifully captured  by the very talented @oliviadalestudio, thank you! 

#cotswoldarchitect #cotswoldarchitecture
#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign #cotswoldstyle #houseandgardenuk #homesandinteriors #principlesofdesign #architectureprinciples #oliviadalestudio #cirencesterhistoryfestival #cirencester
Earlier this year, we found our forever home in th Earlier this year, we found our forever home in the amazing, Brunel-designed Railway Station in Cirencester! Jonathan spotted the old GWR Station when it came on the market and knew the Brunel Boardroom would be the perfect long-term fit for Rixon Architects. We’re in the throws of restoration right now, but hoping to be fully in and sketching away by early 2026! …
So when Jonathan finally puts down the pencil!  he’s often found listening to music, playing guitar and enjoying the minds of creatives visiting Art exhibitions, or even judging RIBA awards! Plus, he’s a secret (or not-so-secret!) Triathlete and loves travelling the world with his daughter. Talk about a busy schedule!

#cotswoldarchitect #cotswoldarchitecture
#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign #cotswoldstyle #houseandgardenuk #homesandinteriors #principlesofdesign #architectureprinciples
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Old Station Works, Cirencester GL7 1RQ
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