Business Details
16 Years
experience
Your Trusted Architect in Southampton for Home Extensions & Renovations
Hampshire Architect, established in 2010, is a RIBA Chartered Practice led by Carrie Lowe, an ARB-registered architect with over two decades of industry experience. Our collaborative approach prioritises client needs, offering tailored design solutions for residential projects across southern Hampshire. We specialise in extensions, renovations, and sustainable design, combining technical expertise with a personal touch to ensure projects meet both practical and aesthetic goals. Our services include commitment-free consultations, detailed budgeting, and 3D visualisations, supported by a network of trusted local professionals.With a background spanning commercial and domestic projects, including work in London, New Zealand, and as a homeowner renovator, we bring practical insight to every brief. Client testimonials highlight our ability to translate ideas into functional spaces while maintaining transparency in costs and processes. We adhere to strict professional standards, ensuring compliance with planning, building regulations, and sustainability best practices.
Services
Design Consultations
Home Extensions
Loft Conversions
Sustainability Assessments
Planning Applications
Building Regulations
3D Visualisations
Budget Costings
Project Feasibility
Client Collaboration
Details
- Year established: 2010
Highlights and features
- We offer 14+ years of architectural expertise in residential design and renovation.
- Our collaborative approach includes on-site sketching and real-time budgeting.
- RIBA Chartered Practice ensuring adherence to professional and insurance standards.
- Detailed 3D visualisations and clear technical drawings for informed decision-making.
- Connections with vetted local professionals for seamless project execution.
Associations and certifications
- RIBA
- ARB
What people say
Excellent service
Friendly and cost-effective
Accurate budget estimates
Clear technical drawings
Helped set project in motion
Services
Design Consultations
Our commitment-free Design, Budget & Sustainability Consultations explore project feasibility, costs, and regulatory requirements. We provide on-site sketching, budget estimates, and guidance on planning permissions and building regulations. This service ensures clients make informed decisions before proceeding with renovations or extensions.
Home Extensions
Specialising in single and two-storey extensions, we create functional spaces tailored to family needs. Services include feasibility studies, 3D visualisations, and coordination with structural engineers. Our designs prioritise natural light, energy efficiency, and seamless integration with existing architecture.
Loft Conversions
Transform underused loft space into habitable rooms with our bespoke conversion service. We assess structural viability, design layouts, and manage planning applications. Projects include dormer extensions, staircase integration, and insulation solutions for year-round comfort.
Sustainability Assessments
We incorporate sustainable practices into residential projects, advising on insulation, renewable energy systems, and passive solar design. Our assessments help reduce energy bills and environmental impact while maintaining compliance with current building standards.
Planning Applications
From permitted development checks to full planning submissions, we manage all documentation and liaise with local authorities. Our expertise ensures applications meet regulatory requirements, maximising approval chances for extensions, renovations, or new builds.
People
Carrie Lowe
Chartered Architect
Carrie Lowe, BA Hons DipArch RIBA ARB, established Hampshire Architect in 2010. With 20+ years' experience across domestic and commercial projects, she specialises in collaborative residential design. Her background includes work in London, New Zealand, and personal home renovations, ensuring practical, client-focused solutions.
Questions
What areas do you cover?
We serve Southampton, Winchester, Bishop's Waltham, Wickham, Titchfield, Fareham, New Forest, and surrounding Hampshire areas.
Are you RIBA Chartered?
Yes, Hampshire Architect is a RIBA Chartered Practice, ensuring adherence to professional standards and insurance requirements.
How do you charge for services?
Our fees are time-based rather than a percentage of build costs, offering transparency and flexibility for clients.
Can you help with planning applications?
Yes, we manage full planning submissions, including permitted development checks and liaison with local authorities.
Do you offer sustainability advice?
We integrate eco-friendly design principles, advising on insulation, renewable energy, and energy-efficient layouts.
What's included in the free guide?
Our free Home Improvement Guide offers tips on project planning, budgeting, and navigating planning regulations.
Reviews (6)
Hilary Platt
Apr 16, 2021
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A loft conversion of our bungalow a few years ago left us with an awkward lounge layout and we needed some help to explore what could be done. We booked an initial consultation with Carrie. Carrie helped us to explore exactly what wasn't working for us now and options to consider for alternatives. Carrie was professional, approachable, a good listener and her drawings and advice have given us the springboard to move forward with our plans.
Rebekah Keeler
Apr 13, 2021
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Positive:Professionalism
Carrie at Hampshire Architect has been extremely helpful in taking us through the process for our kitchen redesign. The process has been informative, friendly and professional. I am confident we will have support all the way through to final project delivery. We would recommend Carrie for home improvements large or small.
Carrie at Hampshire Architect has been extremely helpful in taking us through the process for our kitchen redesign. The process has been informative, friendly and professional. I am confident we will have support all the way through to final project delivery. We would recommend Carrie for home improvements large or small.
Tim Liu
Jan 06, 2021
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Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Responsiveness,Value
Carolyn provided an easy path to get our extension project off the ground. Giving good advice and constructive suggestions. Also giving a helpful guide to the process involved. We look forward to taking the project forward.
Carolyn provided an easy path to get our extension project off the ground. Giving good advice and constructive suggestions. Also giving a helpful guide to the process involved. We look forward to taking the project forward.
Trish Leonard
Jul 24, 2020
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Really useful, we were given some great ideas and together formed a plan to move forward with our project. On our own we were frustratingly going round in circles, with the Architect's collaboration it was fun to come up with a plan.
Alexandra Mant
Jul 10, 2020
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I recommend Carolyn without hesitation. We re-visited some old plans for a single-storey extension that had never been carried out. Carolyn was very helpful, looking at these with fresh eyes and bringing them up to date, listening and responding to various worries I had about the build. I particularly liked the fact that we could carry out the process in stages and also well-adapted to social distancing requirements.
Marie-Claire Stanmore
Dec 08, 2019
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I cannot stress enough, how important my initial appointment with Carolyn was. It's easy to to be swayed by companies offering 'free' consultations but they don't really 'do' the job. Carolyn came up with ideas I hadn't considered, opened my eyes to alternative possibilities, created a visual both for my extension and it's impact on the house as a whole. It was like seeing its evolution occur before my eyes. I had initially only planned to pay for the first hour, but it was clear how valuable her service was even after 10 minutes! We spent a couple of hours creating the perfect space to compliment
