We are a Suffolk based practice specialising in domestic design and have completed commissions varying in scale and complexity in East Anglia and across the UK. We have worked on new country houses in sensitive locations, as well as the restoration and alteration of listed buildings. We take on landscape proposals and occasionally the design of furniture.
We are a relatively small practice but versatile, and particularly enjoy achieving a careful, respectful sense of place. Whether creating or enhancing high-quality architecture we believe there is strength in finding appropriate traditional, sometimes local, materials and craftsmen. This approach has earned us a reputation for being imaginative and respectful designers. The standards we achieve come from the specific care and attention every project gets, and from listening to the individual aspirations of our clients.
Paul, the leader of the team, has a long-held interest in domestic architecture. He established the practice in 2009 after four years in the Norfolk office of Charles Morris, LVO, FRICS; a renowned designer of country houses. His five years at The Institute of Architecture at The University of Nottingham resulted in a PhD thesis on the country house architect William Burn (1789-1870). It was the first ever study of Burn’s work, whose inspiration we detail here. Burn’s lively, empathetic spirit pervades our own office objectives: achieve and maintain a consistently high output, tailor designs to the specifics of site, and in particular understand how historic styles and details can work today.
We have extensive knowledge of the local and national planning system, having researched and written over 30 Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans for local authorities. We are often asked to work on buildings we locally listed, or those located within Conservation Areas we designated. An understanding of place and community lies beneath everything we do, and informs our style. In 2024 Paul was asked to judge the Conservation category for the East Suffolk Council Quality of Place Awards.
We are perhaps a little unusual in that we choose to produce much of our work on the drawing board, and while we also rely on CAD, we value what we consider to be that essential and direct relationship between the designers hand and eye.
Detail matters, and we are always happy to oversee projects all the way to completion. We particularly enjoy producing construction details and designs for joinery items (doors, windows, skirtings, bookcases, shutters, fire surrounds, kitchens, bathroom fittings, furniture, garden gates, etc).
We are proudly a Suffolk-based firm, and a significant amount of our work has been completed across East Anglia. However, in recent years our reputation for successfully delivering projects means that we are regularly approached – and are happy to accept – commissions for sites located throughout the UK.
A few details from our current project in Suffolk. Bringing together traditional cedar shingles, hand bossed leadwork, and pegged Douglas Fir framing. It’s always great to see our drawings translate to the site with this level of care.
1. Lead valley symmetry, cedar shingles and chimney
2. Lead hip and timber ring beam detail
3. Cedar shingles laid to dimished course
4. Eaves details alongside handmade bricks
@bluedoorconstructionltd
@bulmerbrickandtile
Was fun to design, was probably less fun to make and install, but this plate rack and shelves has tied the kitchen in our Suffolk project together.
A few progress views of a garden loggia we designed for existing clients, now taking shape on site. Beautiful brickwork using lovely handmade 50mm bricks from @bulmerbrickandtile, including special bricks for stout columns. An internal fireplace is in progress including cut @keymertiles detailing - all meticulously executed by @bluedoorconstructionltd
1. Loggia fireplace taking shape
2. Dry setting out of brick column capitals (upside down)
3. View of 50mm English bond brick elevations, with planting scheme by @nursery_cottage_gardening in the planning.
Our Walberswick arts and crafts house has been signed off by @eastsuffolkcouncil Building Control and soon we will hand over to our client. Seeing newly created rooms and joinery come together and look established is so rewarding, as this view of our dining room bay and window seat shows.
@paulbradleyarchitecture @bluedoorconstructionltd @architecturalbronze @farrowandball @johnballblacksmith
One of the joys of the job is seeing elements designed in the office appear on site, particularly when they are then fitted with care and the result is a new and interesting space.
Our arts and crafts project in Walberswick is coming to an end, with each site visit now providing us the reward of seeing our joinery designs full size and finished. Spaces are becoming rooms with character and we are nearly ready to hand the house back to our client.
The Sailor’s Reading Room in Southwold has a calm atmosphere quite unlike anywhere else we have worked. The room, built in 1864 a refuge for sailors to read (as an alternative to drinking in pubs), has changed little since it opened and still provides an inviting environment for quiet moments and reading. Perched high above the beach the building has stood up well to the elements but is now in need of repair and gentle conservation. All at PBA are thrilled to be working to safeguard this important space, and we’d encourage anyone visiting Southwold to pop in and experience the serene qualities of the Reading Room for themselves.
Instant height, framing and screening. Our arts and crafts garden design is starting to take shape, thanks to the magnificently talented @nursery_cottage_gardening
It’s fair to say that we get a lot of pleasure designing joinery, and it’s equally rewarding seeing our designs brought to life by local craftsmen. Seeing this new front door with letter box hatch was a happy moment, and one of the last joinery items to be delivered to our arts and crafts Suffolk house project.
