Reviews

“It was a pleasure to work with ALWA. It was important that our vision for the new house was central to the project and ALWA listened to us throughout the build and more than met our expectations in every way. Use of space and maximising light are key highlights of our new build, their ideas on this were transformational. If I could find another project to work on with ALWA I wouldn't hesitate to start immediately.”

P. Haningan

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the work ALWA did on the renovation and extension of our protected structure home. They perfectly balanced respect for the historic character of the house with a fresh, contemporary design that feels natural and full of light.

Living overseas during the entire project, we relied on ALWA to manage everything — and they were outstanding. Communication was clear and consistent, and their attention to detail gave us complete confidence from start to finish.

The finished home is more beautiful and functional than we could have imagined. ALWA managed to preserve the soul of the old house while introducing a calm, modern space that feels effortlessly connected. We couldn’t recommend them more highly.”

S + C Cullinane

“We always knew that the location of our house was very special but ALWA brought it to a whole new exceptional level. They have captured the vista in the most spectacular but understated way. They have also created a home that has a perfect flow, combining the existing with the new in a seamless way. It’s a house that stands up to the elements without compromising on beauty. The house has so much light but without glare or overheating. We have a house now that we never want to leave.. and neither do our guests! The house is a very efficient A2 rating which we never thought would be possible with the old cottage which was rated D. It is perfectly tailored to make the most of the view and is a great place for friends and family to gather. We’re thrilled with the results.”

O.Ryan and E McNicholas

“We wanted to create a home that could comfortably support a busy family of six while respecting the character of the period house. As well as the functional aspects we needed space to entertain for both adults and children. The contemporary extension flows fluidly from the original house and provides significant increased living space while also creating zones that allow both adults and the younger members of the family to enjoy the house with their friends without interfering with each other!

Storage and organisation were a priority. Integrated joinery, discrete built-in storage and a back kitchen has allowed us to manage daily life with minimal clutter. The new glazing and rooflight maximise the natural light throughout the house and bring a greater connection to the garden while also maintaining privacy. The space was cleverly designed to incorporate the sauna we sought with wet room adjacent.

The design has allowed us to remain in our period home while enjoying the comfort, openness and practicality of contemporary living. The additional space has allowed us to gather comfortably while still providing separate areas for relaxation and privacy. Carefully designed storage has reduced clutter and the quality of light has been transformed throughout the house. The sauna provides a dedicated space for relaxation and wellbeing.

The result is a bright, functional home that works effortlessly for a modern family.”

E and L Cassidy

“We worked with ALWA on our home renovation and extension, and the experience was excellent from start to finish. They combined strong design vision with a very practical understanding of how the house needed to work for our family day to day. They listened carefully to our brief, offered thoughtful and creative solutions, and guided us confidently through the design, planning, and construction stages.

Throughout the project, communication was clear and reliable, and their attention to detail made a real difference to the final outcome. The finished house exceeded our expectations both aesthetically and functionally. We would highly recommend ALWA to anyone looking for a professional, talented, and committed architect.”

P. O’Kane

“We have worked with ALWA three times now. First on the initial clever renovation, second on our beautifully designed extension & thirdly on some extra design detailing adding further to our much loved home. We have been delighted with the high end, functional quality of design at each phase. Mark, Pat & Jane are all a pleasure to work with, listening carefully to our needs, desires & budget. We have & will keep on highly recommending them to friends & acquaintances. Thanks again to you all!”

Sally & Lucas Mollan

“From inception to finish the work with ALWA was really enjoyable. The team stretched the possibilities for our house and helped us take our vision and personalities into a design that simply has exceeded our expectation. Be it in summer or winter they created details and considerations that have helped us achieve something we feel is really special.”

Mark Barrett & Zahra Shah

“We are delighted we engaged the services of Mark, Patrick and Jane to manage our project. The team were excellent from day one and really eased any concerns and stress that we had with a considerable sized project. The team were always available for meetings whether onsite or in the office and we always felt confident that they had everything under control. We loved the design and ideas that the team brought and also felt very comfortable in challenging and working through various ideas. Overall an absolute delight and pleasure to work with the team and we are delighted with our new home.”

Alan Dalton & Katherine Stafford

“We appointed ALWA to help us reconfigure our kitchen to provide a bright open space that could also accommodate a living area for a young family of six. ALWA provided an excellent design that not only delivered on the required scope but also incorporated a separate utility area that allowed us to divide our laundry elements from the day to day use of the kitchen. All aspects of planning were undertaken by the team as well as day to day project management of the main contractor. Their knowledge, attention to detail and professionalism ensured that things ran smoothly, on budget and to the agreed timetable. They were easy to work with, always contactable and quick to respond. We would highly recommend ALWA for any building project.”

Mark & Siobhan Carlin

“From the design stage, throughout the build and beyond ALWA have been extremely professional. They made the whole process as painless as possible. On top of this, Pat, Jane and Mark were extremely personable and approachable with any questions or concerns. One of our main concerns was the budget which was extremely limiting. The team handled this deftly, always with one eye on the final cost which came in just below what we could afford despite being a listed building. They seemed genuinely passionate about the job we hired them to do and the final build is testament to the passion and effort they put into the house over the 9 month project.

The brief for ALWA was to restore our large Victorian house from 8 bedsits back to its former glory as a family home. The house needed separating walls removed, all electric and plumping replaced, as well as a new kitchen, bathrooms and a set of stairs connecting the first story dining room/kitchen to the garden. We left it in the hands of the architects to project manage the build and allowed them flexibility to add features they thought would enhance the house as well as considering our families happiness and wellbeing. Some of the highlights of the house were the architect’s idea and without them the house would not feel as welcoming.

One of the main features are the lay lights on the upstairs landing. Historically this would have been a dark section of the house with very little reason to spend any time there. Now natural light floods in and it is used for reading and playing. We wanted to connect with the garden from our dining room/kitchen. The architects designed a set of stairs incorporating a balcony which is ideal for entertaining, gardening and having quieter moments of play.”