MWA+D Maxwell Ward Architecture and Design, 35a Worple Road, Epsom (2026)

27/05/2026

What a lovely day for a swim, but unfortunately, the Sky Pool is not open to the general public.

17/05/2026

We have been approached by a client to carry out a feasibility study for a potential small project (9.5m x 12m) at the rear of a long garden in West London.

The proposed feasibility study will examine the possibility of creating a small one-bedroom dwelling at the end of the client’s garden, with separate access to one side of the existing garden. The client’s goal is to downsize from their larger house but does not want to sell it.

There is already precedent on two adjacent properties for this type of development, with small dwellings that include basements accommodating several bedrooms served by lightwells.

As part of the feasibility process, we are also examining the potential use of a landlocked site to the left-hand side of the client’s garden, which is currently heavily overgrown with several mature trees. Due to the nature of this landlocked site—surrounded by gardens with many large mature trees—previous attempts to purchase the land for redevelopment have been unsuccessful, as tree protection zones would leave little space for any type of dwelling.

The intention of the feasibility study is to review the possibility of creating a small dwelling at the end of the client’s garden and incorporating the adjacent land to form a new garden for the proposed dwelling. No development would take place within the new garden due to the presence of mature trees. The client enjoys the “meadow” and “wild” qualities of the landlocked garden.

The intention is to create a low-level building clad in wood, oriented towards the new mature garden, with living spaces positioned to maximise views of it. The internal layout aims to optimise views onto the mature garden through a diagonal alignment, with a concealed external lightwell/courtyard serving the private bedroom.

The feasibility studies is also examining the possibility that the neighbouring land may not become available, and instead the option of creating a small basement, similar to those in the adjacent properties, is also being considered.

Hopefully the project is deemed viable as we would love to build it.

22/04/2026

To take advantage of the lovely weather last weekend, we decided to head to Margate to enjoy the sandy beach, some fish and chips, and a visit to the Turner Contemporary designed by David Chipperfield .

During my architectural degree in the late 1990s, our final project in Year 2 was to design a Turner art gallery on the very site where the Turner Contemporary now stands. As a result, I have maintained a long-standing interest in the building.

Perched right on the edge of the seafront at the end of the main boardwalk, the Turner Contemporary is a quiet yet powerful piece of architecture. The gallery is composed of a series of simple pitched-roof volumes, which read as a cluster of soft, angular forms. The exterior is wrapped in translucent, acid-etched glass that diffuses light rather than reflecting it sharply.

Inside, the approach remains consistent. The gallery spaces are open and evenly lit from above, creating neutral conditions for displaying art. The interiors are minimal, with little visual distraction, aside from glimpses of the North Sea visible from the main lobby and in the transitions between galleries.

The building is slightly elevated on a plinth, giving it a clear sense of definition without overwhelming the shoreline. Overall, the Turner Contemporary is shaped by its context—light, weather, and location—without relying on overt architectural gestures.

19/04/2026

✨ New Contemporary Extension by MWA+D ✨
Our latest project reimagines the ground floor of a 1930s suburban home. Rather than contrast the original building, we took cues from its existing architecture—most notably the iconic three-sided bay windows. The new extension echoes their geometry, projecting into the garden with a striking, full-height glazed form angled at 30 degrees.

This reinterpretation reinstates the presence of the original bay while celebrating it in a bold, modern way.

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16/04/2026

We spent a wonderful weekend in Rome, enjoying great food, long walks, and incredible architecture. On a quiet Sunday morning, we took a short tram ride from Piazza del Popolo to visit the Auditorium Parco della Musica, designed by Renzo Piano.

Completed in 2002, the complex comprises three striking, sculptural concert halls arranged around a central open-air amphitheatre known as the Cavea—together forming a true “city of music.” Each hall is conceived as a distinct acoustic shell, carefully optimised for sound, yet visually unified by dark lead cladding, often likened to beetles or tortoises.

During construction, ancient Roman ruins were discovered and thoughtfully integrated into the design, now visible beneath walkways and throughout the public spaces. This blends of past and present gives the project its unique character.

More than just a performance venue, the complex functions as a vibrant public space where contemporary architecture, archaeology, and music come together.

15/04/2026

If you're dreaming about a new home, planning a renovation, or simply looking for inspiration, we’d love to chat. Bring your ideas, plans, sketches-or just your vision- and let’s talk about how we can bring it to life.

Come and see us at Stand A20 at Grand Designs Live, Excel London between 1–4 May 2026.

Plus, we have free tickets available to claim – send us a message to get yours!

You can also use our exclusive promo code to claim two complimentarty tickets to the show - just go to the link
🔗 https://gdllondon.seetickets.com/tour/grand-designs-live-excel?OfferCode=130771

We look forward to seeing you there!
Stand A20!

🎟️ Claim your free tickets and come say hello!

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13/04/2026

A modern interior characterised by dramatic geometry, natural light, and minimalist aesthetics. The sharply angled ceiling that converges toward a large skylight, flooding the space with daylight and emphasizing the sculptural quality of the roof form. The white surfaces amplify the diffuse light, creating a serene, contemplative atmosphere. The combination of light, form, and minimal ornamentation reflects a refined modernist approach—where geometry and natural illumination become the primary design elements defining the space’s character.

10/04/2026

Japan truly takes public toilets/restrooms to an entirely new level.

On our return to our amazing hotel near Tokyo Stadium after a lovely evening at the Rooftop Bar Andaz Tokyo — perched on the 52nd floor with incredible nighttime views across the city — we stopped by what might sound like an unlikely destination: the public toilet outside Sendagaya Station. It is a must visit….I know that sounds odd but it’s true.

Designed by the Japanese architectural firm Suppose Design Office, this restroom is far from ordinary. The building is a striking concrete cube that seems to hover above the ground, creating the illusion of floating in midair. By night, the subtle interior lighting enhances its sculptural presence, being lit from low level and visible below the ‘floating’ external walls.

Internally, the massive concrete columns support a flat concrete roof and the exterior “floating” walls continue the materiality and scale of the external form. The double-height space accentuates the building’s volume, with expansive skylights fill the interior with natural light. Within this concrete volume sit a series of restroom pods crafted from warm Akoya wood, beautifully detailed and human in scale. The contrast between the monolithic concrete shell and the intimate wooden interiors is masterfully balanced.
I am pretty sure this is not in any Tokyo tour guide……..

09/04/2026

New Contemporary Extension by MWA+D
The proposed project involves the refurbishment of a single private residential townhouse, including the construction of a two-storey extension to the rear of the house.
The design strategy emphasizes optimizing the dual-level courtyard arrangement approach, improving spatial functionality, and enhancing daylight pe*******on. The proposed scheme reconfigures the external spaces to create two distinct yet interconnected courtyards: a lower ground courtyard accessible from the new kitchen, and a raised ground floor courtyard situated between the new ground floor extension and the adjoining property. This ground floor courtyard has been elevated by approximately three metres, enabling it to receive sunlight throughout the day. Both courtyards are directly accessed to the primary family and entertainment spaces.
The new extension will be clad in reclaimed grey bricks, which continue across the façade, wrapping up and around the sliding doors openings at both lower ground and ground levels. In addition to the masonry, pre-cast concrete elements will form the corner window reveals, lintels, and integrated bench plinth on the ground courtyard. These robust yet refined elements give the rear façade a cohesive and contemporary architectural expression.
The proposed scheme achieves a considered and functional transformation of the lower ground and ground floor areas, fulfilling the client’s brief. Through the creation of well-connected indoor and outdoor spaces, improved daylight/sunlight, and enhanced functionality, the refurbishment will significantly improve the family’s quality of life and unlock the full potential of this traditional terraced home.

08/04/2026

I was thrilled to finally visit one of the most iconic works of 20th-century architecture, first encountered in my university lectures over 25 years ago—though my three children were far less enthusiastic as we detoured home from our half-term break in the French Alps.

Set on a steep hillside near Lyon, Sainte-Marie de La Tourette (1953–60) is a Dominican convent designed by Le Corbusier. The project consolidates monastic functions—cells, church, refectory, chapter room, and study spaces—within a compact rectilinear volume that negotiates the sharply sloping site.

Organized as a near-rectangular block partially lifted on pilotis, the building alternates between embedded and elevated conditions, creating a shaded undercroft and a sense of the main volume hovering above the landscape. A clear structural grid orders the façades: repetitive bays define the monks’ cells, expressed through deep loggias and brise-soleil. This cellular rhythm conveys equality and enclosure, while continuous horizontal bands establish a strong datum against the irregular terrain.

Executed in béton brut, the exposed concrete retains the imprint of timber formwork. With no applied ornament, articulation arises from massing, proportion, and the modulation of openings. Projecting frames and thick wall sections emphasize depth, while a sculptural vertical chapel element counterbalances the horizontal wings.

Internally, rational circulation reinforces communal order. Spatial intensity culminates in the chapel, where calibrated apertures, vertical slots, and roof monitors admit controlled shafts of colored light. Subtle planes of yellow and red animate the grey concrete, heightening spatial perception.

MWA+D Maxwell Ward Architecture and Design

27/05/2026

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22/04/2026

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