It's very rewarding to have a client who is dedicated to bringing old buildings back to life. Not only does Read more
Our hempcrete house near Dunbar is going up much faster than we expected. In fact, the construction process is quicker Read more
Our client has moved into her new, four-bedroom Passivhaus in central Edinburgh. It was quite a journey, through Covid and Read more
Originally, the intention was to raise the roof of this modest Georgian home – a converted barn on a steading Read more
Halvorsen Architects are lucky enough to have water features going into two current projects. Last week I visited one that’s going Read more
Halvorsen Architects have just finished an extension to and remodelling of a house in Winchburgh, West Lothian. The core of Read more
I went on my first ever tour of a working quarry last week. Given my main focus is on ecological Read more
Mass housing developments are the scourge of the countryside. They’re often built without any infrastructure and there has typically been Read more
Retrofitting our existing housing stock to make it fit for 21st century living is a win-win. Though not cheap, it Read more
The train pulled into the small station of Dunkeld alongside an abandoned station building. I had arrived in rural Perthshire Read more
The nineteenth century prime minister Benjamin Disraeli proposed publicly hanging architects for designing boring buildings. I found this out from Read more
Halvorsen Architects was recently commissioned to design a forest school nursery, which will have a ‘playful’ natural water-treatment system at its Read more
ECAN’s (Edinburgh Chartered Architects Network) visit to High Sunderland near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders was a timely reminder that Read more
Is this the dawn of the ‘wood age’? The stone, iron, bronze, glass and steel ages all benefited from wood Read more
This project transformed the interior, and especially the lower-ground floor, of a three-storey, grade II Georgian house in Warriston Crescent Read more
Another Passivhaus building designed by Halvorsen Architects is currently under construction in western Edinburgh. Edinburgh City Council granted planning permission Read more
I was entranced by this simple but elegant roof from London-based Tsuruta Architects. Responding to a north facing and sunken site Read more
Planning permission has been approved for a new building at Happy Days nursery Hardengreen branch in Midlothian. It is located Read more
SEDA's Report 'A New Vision for Land Use in Scotland: 6 Conversations' was released on Monday. It summarises the key Read more
Concrete accounts for 8% of CO2 emissions, far higher than aviation at 2.5%. So if we are to help stop Read more
With one of my other hats on I am an events organiser for The Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA). Since Read more
The new community centre in Gorebridge – The Beacon – came into its own during lockdown. While central and local Read more
It was with great joy that I received some photos from an Edinburgh client of their wild flower garden blooming Read more
Covid-19 update As the coronavirus outbreak continues, Halvorsen Architects' thoughts are with our customers and friends at this challenging time. Read more
Halvorsen Architects have just finished major works to a house in the Grange, a conservation area on Edinburgh's south side which Read more
Last night I helped organise a Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA) event about the harmful effects of the fast fashion Read more
Last week Gorebridge Community Development Trust held a party to celebrate the opening of the Gorebridge Beacon, our new community Read more
Halvorsen Architects recently finished an extension to and remodelling of a 1970s house in Dunbar, East Lothian. A sun room, Read more
Last month I visited Shepherd House, Inveresk, where I have carried out several small projects and was delighted to see Read more
A group of ecologically-minded people gathered in Forres to visit a collection of inspiring sustainable enterprises, hear some stimulating talks Read more
The venue was more Bohemian than most - the top floor of a celebrated French restaurant in Soho. I had Read more
The children of Happy Days nursery, Dalkeith, wait with anticipation while they watch their handmade pizzas cook in their new Read more
Last Wednesday I organised the latest community workshop at Newbyres castle - a 16th century ruin in the heart of Read more
Earlier this month I organised a CPD to unravel the complexities - claims and counterclaims - around the renewable energy Read more
I recently attended the book launch of "100 Sustainable Scottish Buildings" by SEDA (Scottish Ecological Design Association). I strongly recommend Read more
Last week I was in Slovenia for a tour of Riko’s timber factory in Ribnica, about an hour’s drive south Read more
Horntails, or wood wasps, have made their nests in the internal oak trees supporting the roof of Halvorsen Architects' recently completed Happy Read more
At last a skyscraper that is not yet another phallic symbol. Herzog & de Meuron, architects of Tate Modern, have designed Read more
Good article about new ways of looking at classroom design by John McDermott of the Economist. Just what I am doing for Read more
Planning permission has now been granted for a new nursery building that we have designed for Happy Days, in Eskbank, Read more