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rixonarchitects

Multi Award winning Cirencester based Architects

‘No design decision should be artbitrary’ This is ‘No design decision should be artbitrary’
This is our go-to when designing. Everything for a reason. That, and Dieter Rams 10 principles of good design..

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Balancing heritage sensitivity with modern family Balancing heritage sensitivity with modern family living - We pride ourselves on striking the balance between listening to what the building might want, and the needs of its most recent custodians - our clients. We find treading this line can help when working with the allocated Conservation Officers, and putting together a cohesive pack explaining the reasons for our decisions.

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‘Old buildings have opinions’ We feel this is the ‘Old buildings have opinions’
We feel this is the best way to understand how to treat a building - if we can imagine if the building would approve of our proposals. It sounds a bit mad, but it works for us!!

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While we have some excellent momentum with our cur While we have some excellent momentum with our current projects, there’s still not an abundance of new projects, which is handy given we’re a bit stacked right now. We’re hoping the pent up energy in the housing market starts to show itself from next month. It can’t stay stagnant forever!!

An event to watch out for - Jonathan is involved in a couple of different events at the Cotswold Homes and Interiors Festival 2026. It’s being held on 21st and 22nd March in Cirencester. He’ll be offering free 1-2-1 quick fire consultations, as well as joining a session on how to add value to your home.  Keep an eye on what’s going on here #cotswoldinteriorsfest_

Jonathan will also be speaking to the Cirencester Civic Society on Monday March 23rd about Rixon Architects’ projects, and of course our journey at Old Railway Station. All are welcome to join.. head to their website for details….www.cirencestercivicsociety.org.uk/talks/

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New Office - We’ve now moved upstairs at The Old S New Office - We’ve now moved upstairs at The Old Station, which we’re VERY excited about. Most importantly, it’s warm!! But it’s also a fabulous set of spaces, and a long time coming. Jonathan took quite the risk is acquiring the building in a very poor state of repair, but it looks like it is now paying off. We even have a new tenant on the Ground Floor, which we’re excited to tell you all about (in good time!). All of this is giving the building a new lease of life, but also the area some presence after lying dormant for so long.

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Well February flew by. We’ve gone from being a bit Well February flew by. We’ve gone from being a bit hesitant at the start of the year, to considering if we need some more help!! With so many projects trying to get going, we’re now in the very fortunate position of having quite a backlog, which is a lovely problem to have.

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How natural light informs layout… However, there a How natural light informs layout…
However, there are times when evenings draw in, and we retreat into the dark - darker sitting rooms convey a different, perhaps more pensive atmosphere - more introspective, to reflect on the day, or just let the mind slow down. 
In this room, it might not be about the quantity of daylight entering the room, it might be more about a framed view looking out - perhaps there’s a lovely old tree, or a bird feeder, or if you’re fortunate enough a long view out into the countryside or to sea. 

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How natural light informs layout… Windows should b How natural light informs layout…
Windows should be higher in walls - it’s the light that comes through the top of the window that penetrates deepest into the space. The extreme of this is when the light is in the ceiling - a rooflight penetrates natural light into the room many times more than a window in a wall. So have a think about where you spend your time, and put these places in the light.

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How natural light informs layout…. At the start of How natural light informs layout….
At the start of the year, many people are beginning their journey on expanding their property, or even building a new one, so we thought we’d share some tips we use when designing buildings and spaces. 

First we’re going to talk about natural light. It’s obvious to say the nearer we are to natural light, the better we feel. Spaces where we spend the most time should be in the most light - Kitchens, dining spaces, social spaces - should all be bathed in light, where possible. By contrast, ’secondary’ spaces can be in the darker areas of the building, particularly in deeper plans where there is a ‘belly’ of the building. 

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This stained glass window was provided by our clie This stained glass window was provided by our client for incorporating into the project, so took some careful detailing to turn it into a thermally efficient window. 

You’ll notice the windows have dots on them - this is vacuum glass. Almost as thin as single glazing, but with thermal performance far higher than the most efficient triple glazing, it meant we could keep the transom and mullion profiles down to retain the traditional aesthetic. Using super efficient glazing also allows us to have more fit without overheating - resulting in a fabulously light space, even in winter.

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This is a great example of natural materials singi This is a great example of natural materials singing from the rooftops, which we really enjoy when designing. Locally sourced natural stone, hardwood windows and natural internal finishes connect you to these materials.

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Here are some team shots from a recently completed Here are some team shots from a recently completed project in The Cotswolds. We took great care to get the details right, with lots of valuable input from the Contractor (it’s a team effort!). Some gentle internal reconfiguring, and an extension to allow our clients to be more connected with their beautiful garden. The Contractor, Barguss Construction #bargussconstruction specialise in crafted bespoke construction, and were perfectly suited to this project. 

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Take time to digest the design…. After a design w Take time to digest the design….

After a design workshop, we always encourage clients to take some time to let the proposals sink in. We go through a large amount of information during workshops, so this digesting time means even stronger feedback, and in turn an even stronger design.

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Client feedback is critical to our pcroces Design Client feedback is critical to our pcroces Design workshops - design is a two way, iterative process. 

One of the highlights of a project are the design workshops, which happen at every design stage. We sit with the client for up to three hours at a time, and spend most of the time listening!! Sketching over and over designs helps us to evolve the design to work in a way the client likes. Often the client doesn’t know how they want a particular space to work, and it’s through sketching and sketching and sketching that it intuitively feels right to them. After that, we encourage a week ‘off’ the design, to let it sink in, then we go back over it again..!

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We want an engaged client…. Jonathan explains this We want an engaged client….
Jonathan explains this to all potential clients. Everyone’s needs are different, and we work really hard to make sure we hit the brief. Inevitably the brief we are set at the start of a project often evolves as the design progresses - we wouldn’t expect a client to get it right first time, so we encourage it to evolve. So it’s only with an engaged client that we can work closely to make sure the design is just right.

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Finally, this month we have been working hard at T Finally, this month we have been working hard at The Old Station, with a view to moving into our permanent office in the coming weeks - we’ll update you all on that once we’re in!!

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January is often a time of people deciding to star January is often a time of people deciding to start a project. New enquiries are fortunately plentiful, within an inevitable hesitancy given the macroeconomics around at the moment. We are truly hoping for a buoyant property market - there are initial positive signs at least!

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It’s been a productive first month of the year - o It’s been a productive first month of the year - ongoing projects have continued or restarted from a slightly lethargic 2025. We received a few great Planning and Listed Building consents at the end of 2025, and the Clients are keen to get their projects on site asap. 

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We also believe old buildings have opinions of the We also believe old buildings have opinions of their own.
When you’re working with heritage structures, they often tell you what they want to be. The challenge (and the fun!) is the “Heritage vs. Contemporary” dance. People often worry that “modern” means cold, white, clinical interiors. But at Rixon Architects, we love playing with the contrast.
You can have a cutting-edge, contemporary space that feels warm and textural. Think poured concrete floors paired with warm oak cabinetry, or dark, moody bronze fixtures against an original stone wall.
It can feel incredibly modern and minimalist, but hold all the warmth of a 200-year-old building.

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There’s a phrase we use when designing buildings - There’s a phrase we use when designing buildings - the ‘Spirit of Place.’ We try to design so that the buildings embody their place, it’s the way the buildings sit in the landscape. The vernacular here is very “outward-looking” in contrast to urban architecture.
In our projects, we really try to lean into that. It’s about creating spaces that don’t just shield you from the elements, but actively connect you to land around. Whether it’s a perfectly framed window over a rolling valley, a glass link that lets the garden feel like part of your living room, or a covered verandah to breathe in the air.  We want our buildings to breathe with their surroundings, and bridge to the outdoors.

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