Business Details
21 Years
experience
Award-Winning Architects in Bath | Designscape Architects
Designscape Architects, established in 2005 and based in Bath, specialises in creating ingenious architectural solutions for residential and commercial projects across the UK. Our practice combines a collaborative culture with a commitment to sustainable and elegant design, ensuring each project reflects its unique context. With expertise in listed buildings, greenbelt developments, and contemporary architecture, we prioritise material longevity and environmental responsibility.Our team, led by directors Chris Mackenzie and Spencer Back, brings decades of experience from renowned firms, delivering award-winning designs that balance functionality with aesthetic appeal. Recognised for excellence through multiple RICS and LABC awards, we work closely with clients to transform visions into buildable, innovative spaces that stand the test of time.
Services
Residential Architecture
Commercial Architecture
Sustainable Design
Listed Building Renovation
Big Shed Design
Details
- Year established: 2005
Highlights and features
- We offer over 15 years of experience in residential and commercial architecture.
- Our team holds expertise in designing for listed buildings and greenbelt areas.
- We prioritise sustainable materials and energy-efficient solutions in every project.
- Award-winning practice with multiple RICS and LABC recognitions.
- Collaborative approach ensuring client visions are translated into functional designs.
What people say
Award-winning designs
Collaborative approach
Sustainable solutions
Expertise in listed buildings
Functional spaces
Services
Residential Architecture
We create contemporary, sustainable homes and extensions tailored to individual client needs. Our expertise includes listed building renovations and greenbelt developments, ensuring designs harmonise with their surroundings while maximising functionality and aesthetic appeal. Projects range from private residences to senior living facilities.
Commercial Architecture
We design innovative commercial spaces for businesses, including offices, agricultural buildings, and high-tech manufacturing facilities. Our approach focuses on functionality, sustainability, and contextual integration, delivering environments that enhance productivity and reflect brand identity through modern, buildable solutions.
Sustainable Design
Our sustainable design service prioritises energy efficiency, low-carbon materials, and longevity. We integrate passive design principles and renewable technologies to reduce environmental impact, ensuring buildings meet rigorous sustainability standards while maintaining aesthetic and functional excellence across residential and commercial projects.
Listed Building Renovation
We specialise in renovating listed buildings, balancing preservation with modern functionality. Our approach retains historical character while introducing contemporary elements, ensuring compliance with planning regulations and enhancing usability for modern living or commercial use through meticulous design and craftsmanship.
Big Shed Design
We create functional, aesthetically striking industrial and agricultural buildings, including barns, dairies, and manufacturing facilities. Our designs prioritise practicality, durability, and contextual harmony, using materials like timber and zinc to produce efficient, visually cohesive structures that meet specific operational needs.
People
Chris Mackenzie
Founder, Director
Chris founded Designscape in 2005 after working at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. He leads residential and commercial projects, focusing on sustainable design and contextual integration, with expertise in listed buildings and greenbelt developments.
Spencer Back
Director
Spencer joined Designscape in 2010, bringing experience from Foggo Associates. He oversees complex projects, including award-winning residential extensions and commercial buildings, with a focus on innovative solutions and client collaboration.
James Palmer
Architect
James contributes to residential and commercial projects, specialising in sustainable materials and energy-efficient design. His work includes listed building renovations and new-build homes, ensuring technical precision and aesthetic coherence.
Max Stembridge
Architect
Max focuses on commercial architecture and big shed projects, delivering functional, cost-effective solutions. His expertise includes agricultural buildings and industrial facilities, combining practicality with modern design principles.
Thomas Harvey
Architectural Assistant
Thomas supports design and technical work across projects, with a focus on residential extensions and sustainable detailing. He contributes to BIM modelling and client presentations, ensuring accurate project delivery.
Questions
What architectural services does Designscape offer?
We provide residential and commercial architecture, sustainable design, listed building renovations, and big shed projects, tailored to client needs.
How does Designscape incorporate sustainability into projects?
We prioritise eco-friendly materials, energy efficiency, and longevity, ensuring minimal environmental impact while meeting client requirements.
Can Designscape work on listed buildings or protected areas?
Yes, we specialise in listed buildings and greenbelt developments, balancing preservation with modern functionality.
What awards has Designscape won?
We have received multiple RICS, LABC, and AJ Retrofit awards for residential and commercial excellence.
How does the design process work with Designscape?
We begin with client consultations, followed by concept design, planning, and construction, ensuring clear communication throughout.
Reviews (4)
Mark Raiss
Nov 10, 2020
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We are delighted with how Designscape, and in particular Spencer, guided us in the creation of our new home. We presented him with a challenge to upgrade an existing, but disused, 1930s house, making the best use of the wonderful view to the south, but a difficult plot. He took the original brief, but was not constrained by it - coming up with a very much better solution than we had imagined possible. We have been able to maintain some of the existing structure within the shell of what looks like a new building - hence minimising wastage and the carbon footprint. The result is a thoroughly modern
June Pearce
Oct 23, 2019
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I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Designscape - and have already done so. Their design for our Victorian school conversion has given us a modern house with 3 very large reception rooms that can either be fully open plan or each one separately closed off. We have views to the garden from all three reception rooms which was more than we hoped for and our staircase and hallway was moved to be in the least useful/attractive part of the house. Upstairs had been tiny with 3 small bedrooms and one bathroom and now, thanks to what must be the world's largest dormer window, we've 3 good double bedrooms,
Heidi Thompson
Aug 02, 2019
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We really wouldn't have such a lovely home without such brilliant Architects. They held our hands through the good times and bad! Thank you.
Nathan Ormshaw
Jun 13, 2019
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I find it difficult to find words to praise Spencer and the team highly enough. They really are true professionals by every definition of the word. Spencer listened to my brief and only ever deviated from it in the pursuit for design excellence. Spencer designed an amazing single storey house with flat 'green' Sedum roof, power floated concrete floors with under floor heating throughout and lots of floor to ceiling glass. It is very thermally efficient and requires little in the way of heating. Throughout both the design and build phase Spencer and the team were always on hand to answer any questions
