Architects in Hampshire & the New Forest
ReFrame Studio works with clients across Hampshire and the New Forest. Based in the neighbouring county of Dorset, we are well positioned to work in the area and are only around 15 minutes away, with numerous planning approvals secured locally.
We design well-crafted, sustainable homes for homeowners and self-builders, often within sensitive rural and landscape settings. Our work takes inspiration from the distinctive character of the New Forest and the wider Hampshire countryside, responding carefully to its villages, woodland landscapes, and protected environments.
We support projects at every stage - from early design and planning applications through to building regulations and project coordination - working with a trusted network of locally based consultants. The result is thoughtful architecture that responds carefully to both people and place.
Residential Architects in Hampshire and the New Forest
ReFrame Studio works with homeowners and self-builders across Hampshire and the New Forest, designing carefully considered homes that respond to their setting and the way people live. Our projects range from home extensions and renovations to new-build houses and self-build projects, often within rural landscapes, historic villages and sensitive protected environments.
Hampshire and the New Forest have a distinctive character from traditional forest cottages and historic market towns to contemporary homes set within open countryside. Shaped by ancient woodland, heathland and a rich built heritage, these areas require a thoughtful and context-driven approach. Our work focuses on creating well-crafted homes that balance heritage, landscape and modern living.
Planning Permission in Hampshire and the New Forest
Navigating planning permission in Hampshire and the New Forest can be complex, particularly within the New Forest National Park, conservation areas, and sites with ecological or landscape constraints. As an RIBA Chartered architecture practice, we guide clients through the entire planning process - from early feasibility studies and pre-application advice to preparing and submitting planning applications.
Our understanding of local planning authorities, including the New Forest National Park Authority and surrounding councils in Hampshire, helps us develop proposals that respond sensitively to their context while meeting the needs of homeowners and self-builders. By combining thoughtful design with a clear planning strategy, we help maximise the chances of achieving a successful planning outcome.
Local Projects
A selection of projects in and around Hampshire and the New Forest.
Netley Abbey
Lakeside Home
Located within the Netley Abbey Conservation Area and close to an ancient Scheduled Monument, this Bauhaus-inspired lakeside home required a sensitive architectural response to its historic setting. Early engagement with local planners was key to developing a design that balanced contemporary architecture with the constraints of the conservation context, securing planning approval on the first submission.
The 400 m² home responds closely to its surroundings. The lakeside site informs the architecture, framing views across the water while carefully managing privacy from neighbouring developments and ensuring good daylight throughout the interior spaces.
Sustainability was central to the design. The house is conceived as a low-energy home achieving an A+ SAP rating, incorporating photovoltaic panels with battery storage, a heat pump, MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery), and rainwater harvesting.
ReFrame Studios was commissioned from initial feasibility through to administering the building contract. The studio also developed the interior design and designed bespoke CNC-fabricated furniture, creating a cohesive relationship between the architecture and its interior spaces. The project is currently under construction.
Southern Wood
New Build House
Southern Wood House is a contemporary rural home set within the Dorset countryside, close to both the Cranborne Chase and the New Forest National Park. The project replaces an existing bungalow, with the design developed broadly within the constraints of the original footprint.
The brief called for a contemporary interpretation of a traditional barn. The resulting design combines a simple, agricultural-inspired form with modern detailing, including a black metal roof and natural timber cladding that respond to the surrounding rural character.
An asymmetric roof form helps reduce the building’s apparent height at the front of the site, while two roof terraces provide elevated views across the landscape. The house is being constructed using Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF), creating a highly insulated and robust building envelope suited to a low-energy rural home.
Careful development of the proposal ensured the scale and form remained appropriate to the setting, and planning permission was secured on the first submission. The project demonstrates a contemporary rural architecture that draws on local agricultural forms while creating a modern, light-filled home suited to its landscape setting.
Meet the Team
Our South Coast studio is headed up by Scott, who grew up in the area, returning from London in 2021 to be back by the sea.
The studio works extensively with clients across Hampshire and the New Forest. Located in neighbouring Dorset, we are well positioned to work in the area and regularly undertake projects across the county. Scott has a strong understanding of the planning context across Hampshire and the New Forest National Park, supported by an established network of trusted local consultants and suppliers who assist projects from concept through to completion.
Scott has long-standing links to the region, having attended sixth form in Hampshire and worked for a number of architectural practices across the south coast. This experience brings valuable local insight into the rural villages, woodland landscapes, and protected environments that characterise the New Forest and surrounding countryside.
He is available for face-to-face meetings and regular site visits, guiding clients through each stage with clear, collaborative advice. His design approach is shaped by the character of the New Forest and wider Hampshire landscape, creating architecture that responds thoughtfully to both place and people.
Get in touch
If you are interested in discussing a new house design, self-build project or residential development in Hampshire and the New Forest, please get in touch with Scott. We offer a free initial consultation and can arrange a site visit to discuss your ideas and explore the potential of your project.