Architects in Lewisham: sustainable design for a changing borough
Lewisham is changing. The borough that runs from the dense Victorian terraces of Brockley and Catford down to the riverside at Deptford and Lewisham town centre has been one of south London's most architecturally active places for the last decade, and that shows no sign of slowing. New homes, retrofitted streets, community buildings, cultural venues, ambitious infill development: the architectural agenda in Lewisham is broad, contested and genuinely interesting.
New Makers Bureau is an award-winning RIBA Chartered architecture practice based in south London. We work across Lewisham and the surrounding boroughs on projects that take sustainability seriously, not as a feature to be bolted on, but as the way we make buildings. From home extensions in Forest Hill to cultural buildings in Deptford, we bring the same rigour and the same care to every project.
What we do in Lewisham
Our work in Lewisham spans a range of project types, united by a commitment to low carbon design and creative reuse of what already exists.
Home extensions and retrofits: improving and extending Lewisham's Victorian and Edwardian terraces to make them warmer, more generous and better suited to how people live today
Cultural and community buildings: designing spaces for the arts, education and community use that serve their neighbourhoods well and last
Workspace and commercial: transforming underused commercial and light industrial buildings into flexible, attractive workspaces
Residential retrofit: whole-house improvements that reduce energy use and embodied carbon while enhancing the quality of the home
Blenhiem Grove, RIBA London Award Winner in 2025
Why sustainability matters in Lewisham
Lewisham's housing stock is predominantly Victorian and Edwardian, built to last but not to perform well by modern energy standards. The borough has significant carbon reduction ambitions, and its Local Plan reflects a genuine commitment to sustainable development. That creates an environment where a well-argued sustainable design is not just the right thing to do, it is increasingly the planning-smart thing to do as well.
New Makers Bureau's approach starts with the existing fabric. We look at what is already there, what can be improved, what can be reused, and what genuine value the building already contains. In Lewisham's terraced streets, that philosophy produces buildings that feel rooted in their place, not imposed upon it.
Conservation areas and planning in Lewisham
Lewisham has a number of designated conservation areas including Forest Hill, Hither Green and the edges of Blackheath, as well as significant Article 4 directions affecting permitted development rights in parts of the borough. Working within these areas requires careful material choices and a design approach that is sympathetic to the existing character without being timid or unambitious.
New Makers Bureau has experience navigating Lewisham's planning environment. We understand what conservation officers are looking for and how to make a positive sustainability case within a heritage context. Reclaimed brick, lime mortar and natural materials are not obstacles to approval in Lewisham's sensitive areas, they are frequently the argument for it.
Projects near Lewisham
Our Net Zero Neighbourhood project, a competition-winning masterplan for Convoys Wharf in Deptford on the Lewisham boundary, explored what a genuinely low carbon mixed-use neighbourhood could look like, centred on a shared material store and community fabrication space. It was the winner of the Archiboo and Max Fordham Net Zero Neighbourhood Architects Pitch competition.
Our Blenheim Grove project in nearby Peckham, a RIBA London Award winner in 2025, delivered interior fit-outs for two homes in London's first custom build development, integrating low carbon finishes, MVHR and bespoke birch plywood joinery throughout.
How to start a project with New Makers Bureau in Lewisham
Every project starts with a conversation. We want to understand what you have, what you need, and what matters to you. From that conversation we develop a brief, and from the brief we develop a design. It is a collaborative process and we do not rush it.
If you have a project in Lewisham, whether it is an extension, a retrofit, a community building or something more complex, we would be glad to hear about it.
Talk to us about your Lewisham project
Community and Cultural Buildings in Lewisham
