Who are Studio Bark?

We’re a friendly and experienced team of architects based in East London, working across the UK. We specialise in low-carbon design, natural materials, and sustainable construction - from countryside homes to deep urban retrofits and community-led housing.

What makes Studio Bark different from other architecture practices?

We’re architects for a better future - for people and planet. Alongside award-winning design, we develop tools to make sustainability more practical and accessible, like:

• U-Build – our circular modular building system that puts construction back into people’s hands.
• SmallCarbon – our simple, affordable tool that helps small practices measure and reduce carbon in their projects.

We believe environmental design should be open, inclusive, and empowering - and we’re always looking to share what we learn.

Do you only work in London?

Not at all. While we love a good London retrofit or extension, much of our work is in rural locations across the UK. We’ve designed:

• New homes in the Green Belt and National Landscapes (formerly AONBs)
• Barn conversions (including Class Q and Class R)
• Off-grid cabins and Paragraph 84 countryside homes

Explore some of our past projects here.

When should I contact an architect for my project?

As early as possible. By speaking to an architect early in the process, you can avoid costly mistakes, unlock planning opportunities, and make smarter design decisions.

We can help you shape your brief, assess your site’s potential, identify risks, and guide you through the planning and design journey. Whether it’s your first project or your fifth, we’ll tailor the process to suit your needs, ambitions, and budget.

What's it like working with Studio Bark?

We’re collaborative, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and imaginative - or so our clients say. Here are a few of their words:

“They stood out as sensitive to our aims, enthusiastic, and with a clear idea of what could be done.”

- Victorian terrace extension client

"Exceptionally good at building a strong relationship with local planners — and gained a difficult consent.”

- Paragraph 84 client

“Wilf turned my jumbled ideas and a box file of cuttings into a coherent, exciting, and inspiring design.”

- Paragraph 84 client

“Very much a can-do attitude… they really walk the walk.”

- Paragraph 84 client

We break projects down into clear, manageable stages - from concept design and planning to technical drawings and on-site support.

Explore our Bark Journey for a step-by-step look at what it’s like working with us.

Can you help with planning permission?

Absolutely. We regularly support clients through the planning process - whether you need general design advice, a full application package, or help navigating complex policy.

Our services include:

• Pre-application advice
• Site analysis and strategy
• Planning drawings and reports
• Supporting statements and submission management

We have particular expertise in rural and sensitive sites, including:

• Paragraph 84 applications (formerly Paragraph 80)
• Class Q barn conversions
• Class R commercial conversions
• National Landscapes (AONBs) and Green Belt locations

You can explore some of our completed Paragraph 84 homes here.

New Homes in the Countryside

Can you design an environmental home in the countryside?

Yes - this is one of our specialisms. We design low- and zero-carbon countryside homes that respond beautifully to their setting, using natural materials, passive design strategies, and sensitive placement.

We always recommend starting with a site visit, so we can understand the unique qualities of your land and advise on design, sustainability, and planning routes.

What to expect from your Studio Bark site visit.

What is Paragraph 84 planning permission and how does it work?

Paragraph 84 (formerly Paragraph 80) is a planning policy that allows for new homes in open countryside if they demonstrate exceptional quality in design, landscape sensitivity, and sustainability.

We’ve secured multiple successful approvals under Paragraph 84 and can also advise on other planning routes that may be more achievable, depending on your context.

Read our guide to Paragraph 84.

Do you work on off-grid or low-energy homes?

Yes, we love designing self-sufficient, low-impact homes. These often include passive solar design, renewable energy systems, composting toilets, rainwater harvesting, MVHR, and natural insulation.

Our approach is always bespoke - tailored to your lifestyle, site, and long-term vision.

Is an off-grid home right for you?

Barn Conversions (Class Q and Class R)

Can I convert my barn into a home under Class Q?

Possibly. Class Q of permitted development rights allows certain barns to be converted into dwellings. The key is assessing eligibility and constraints early - location, structure, and access are all important factors.

We’ve helped many clients successfully navigate Class Q from feasibility to full design and planning.

Can I convert my barn into a shop, cafe, or office under Class R?

Again, possibly. Under Class R, you may be able to repurpose an agricultural building into a commercial space like a farm shop, café, workshop, or office. This can be a powerful way to diversify land use or bring new life to underused buildings.

Read our guide to converting farm buildings.

Retrofits & Extensions

Do you design home extensions or loft conversions in the city?

Absolutely. We’ve designed a wide range of extensions, from rear and side returns to lofts and garden studios. We focus on light, flow, comfort, and sustainability - often using natural materials and reducing energy use.

Our goal is to make homes that work harder for you, not just bigger.

Browse our city extension projects.

Can you help me retrofit my Victorian or Edwardian home?

Yes. We have deep experience retrofitting older homes to improve comfort and reduce energy use while preserving their character.

We take a fabric-first approach that might include:

• Breathable natural insulation
• Energy-efficient windows
• Heat recovery ventilation (MVHR)
• Better spatial layouts for modern life

See how our retrofit and extension at Meadow Road cut energy bills by 75% despite a 27% increase in floorspace.

U-Build: Our Modular Building System

Whether you're a business, developer, or self-builder looking for a smarter way to build, U-Build offers a low-impact, circular approach that’s designed for flexibility, reuse, and simplicity.

What is U-Build and how does it work?

U-Build is our modular, flat-pack building system, designed by Studio Bark and made in the UK from CNC-cut plywood. It’s simple to assemble (DIY or with help), demountable, and ideal for flexible, environmental spaces and buildings.

Visit the U-Build website.

Can I use U-Build for a commercial office or workspace?

Yes - U-Build is already in use across the UK in offices, co-working spaces, retail fit-outs, and temporary structures. It’s especially useful for businesses and developers looking for:

• A circular, low-carbon building system
• Flexibility to grow or reconfigure
• Simple maintenance and future reuse
• A warm, natural aesthetic

Explore U-Build’s workspace case studies.

How long does it take to build with U-Build?

Many smaller builds can go up in just a few days, depending on the size and your team. The panels arrive flat-packed with all fixings included - no special tools required.

Need support? We offer:

• Remote guidance
• On-site training
• Assembly help via our trusted build partners

What are U-Build’s environmental credentials?

U-Build is designed to make low-carbon, circular construction more accessible. Here’s how we minimise environmental impact:

• Designed for disassembly – all parts are bolted and screwed, so your building can be flat-packed, moved, reused, or reconfigured at any time.
• FSC-certified plywood – responsibly sourced timber is used as standard, with options for alternative facing materials like hemp board.
• Regenerative insulation – we work with sheep wool and hemp fibre insulation for low-embodied carbon and breathable performance.
• EPD verified – U-Build has an independently certified Environmental Product Declaration, so you can calculate its full lifecycle impact.
• Box Library – we offer selected U-Build components for temporary installations and events through our lending library.
• Take-back scheme – no longer need your structure? We’ll help you reuse, repurpose or reclaim your U-Build components through our circular return programme.

Whether you're aiming for BREEAM, circular design principles, or just want to build better, U-Build makes it easier to build light and tread lightly.

What else can I build using U-Build?

U-Build is designed with flexibility in mind, and can be used for a range of applications:

• New build homes
• Extensions and garden studios
• Office and shop fit-outs
• Arts installations
• Pop-up events

Explore U-Build’s extensive range of past projects on their website.

Navigating Class Q, Class R & Beyond for Farmers and Landowners

If you’re a farmer or rural landowner, you may be sitting on buildings full of potential. Whether you’re thinking about converting a barn into a home or finding new uses for underused agricultural buildings, we can help you explore what’s possible - and make it happen.

Can I convert my farm building into a house?

Possibly - under Class Q permitted development rights, certain agricultural buildings can be converted into dwellings without needing full planning permission.

We can help:

• Assess whether your building qualifies
• Guide you through planning strategy
• Design a conversion that works with the existing structure
• Manage the application process

We've helped clients across the UK get successful Class Q approvals - even in tricky or sensitive locations.

What’s Class R and how does it work?

Class R allows you to convert agricultural buildings for commercial use such as offices, cafés, workshops, or storage.

This can be a smart way to:

• Diversify income
• Bring disused buildings back into use
• Create rural jobs or community space

We can help assess feasibility, secure consent, and create thoughtful, sustainable designs tailored to your site.

Can you help with long-term development strategy for a rural site?

Yes, we offer early-stage site appraisals, rural planning advice, and design services tailored to farms, estates and landowners.

Find out more about our approach to sustainable Farm Developments here.

Working With Communities

We believe good architecture should be accessible, and that communities should have more say in how and where they live. That’s why we support Community Land Trusts (CLTs), co-housing groups, self-build collectives, and other community-led housing initiatives across the UK.

Do you work with Community Land Trusts and co-housing groups?

Yes - we’ve supported CLTs, co-housing groups, and self-build collectives. We offer design workshops, feasibility studies, and full architectural support for collaborative housing.

See our work for Forest CLT.

Can you help us deliver housing in phases or on a tight budget?

We understand that funding and timelines can be complex in collective projects. Our modular building system, U-Build, is perfect for community housing because it:

• Allows phased delivery (build as funds allow)
• Can be assembled by residents and volunteers
• Reduces waste, costs, and reliance on traditional contractors
• Is demountable and reconfigurable for future change

We also support groups with:

• Budget-conscious design strategies
• Early-stage visioning and site strategy

Find out about our support for Community Land Trusts.

Do you offer community engagement or building workshops?

Yes, we love running community engagement workshops, from working with children and young people, to running community build workshops. Speak to our team to chat through what you have in mind.

We’ve even set up our own educational live build programme, No Building As Usual, to improve diversity and climate literacy in the built environment industry.

Find out more about our education programme here.

SmallCarbon: Our Affordable Carbon Counting Tool for Architects

What is Smallcarbon?

SmallCarbon is Studio Bark’s carbon counting tool designed for early-stage architectural design. Built with small practices in mind, it helps you calculate whole life carbon from concept stage onwards, so you can make informed, low-impact design decisions from day one.

Learn more about Smallcarbon.

Why did you build Smallcarbon?

We couldn’t find a carbon counting tool that was affordable, intuitive, and granular enough to capture our bespoke design approach, and quickly realised many small architecture practices face the same barriers. So we designed one ourselves.

Is it free to use?

We aim to keep it as affordable as possible. There will be a small fee to support ongoing development and maintenance, but we never want cost to be a barrier to measuring and reducing carbon.

When will SmallCarbon launch?

We’re aiming to launch SmallCarbon in early 2026. We’re currently testing and refining the tool, and we’d love for you to be part of that journey.

Sign up to our SmallCarbon newsletter for launch updates.

How much do your services cost?

Our fees vary depending on the size and complexity of your project. After an initial chat, we’ll send a clear proposal with breakdowns for each stage.

Contact our team to start the conversation today.

Do you offer design-only services, or stay involved through construction?

We do both. Some clients hire us just for design and planning; others keep us on through tendering, site visits, and handover. It depends what support you need.

Do you take on small projects?

We do. Whether it’s a garden studio, cabin, or retrofit, we’re always open to inspiring projects, no matter the scale.

Explore our past projects here.

I have a project idea. What should I do next?

Start by getting in touch with us here. We’ll arrange an informal chat to hear more and see how we can help.

Where can I see your latest work?

You can explore our latest work in various ways:

• Browse our projects on our website from countryside homes to urban retrofits, farm conversions, and community-led designs.
• Explore our Resources page packed with articles, planning insights, design research, and sustainability tools.
• Follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes, work-in-progress, and life at Studio Bark.
• Follow us on Linkedin for the corporate stuff - awards news, collaborations, and career opportunities.
• Sign up to our newsletter for occasional updates on new projects, planning wins, and ideas we're excited about.

Whether you’re researching for your own project or just curious about what we’re working on, we love sharing our latest news, knowledge, and insights with you.