About Us
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Based in West London , RDS is a small practice, passionate about residential design and building relationships with clients, contractors, consultants and anyone who is interested in creating exciting buildings.
We are proud to call ourselves a small practice and do not let it shape how we think and design. We believe that the key to a successful project and a happy client is clear communication and trust. Clear communication between designer and client so that the brief is really understood and trust in the designer that they will deliver the project and realise the client's dream.
With over 20 years of experience in the residential sector across Ireland, Australia and London, RDS have seen it all and have the knowledge and the ability to meet all your design needs, whether that be a small renovation or extension to more complex extensions, basements or new builds.
Although primarily based in London, we also have a base in Cork, Ireland. We can carry out work within the M25 in London and in southern Ireland.
RDS have a passion for low energy design and how we can implement this into the retrofit sector especially. So many existing houses are still being renovated and extended currently to the bare minimum standards in terms of energy efficiency and this mind-set needs to change if we are ever to meet our carbon emission targets. 80% of the overall building stock in 2050 will be made up of the existing building stock. We need to be smarter about how we invest in our homes and our planet's health as well as our own.
The practice principle, Stephen O' Leary studied Architectural Technology at CIT in Cork before going on to work in residential practices around Cork. He has worked in Sydney for an architectural practice Mellor-Gray and is now based full-time in London. Having worked for a high-end residential architect HollandGreen for the majority of his time in London he decided to set up his own practice in 2020.
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Stephen is a chartered member of CIAT (Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists) and a Certified Passive House Designer.
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