RRA Architects

18/06/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟭𝟱 𝗼𝗳 𝟰𝟬 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝟰𝟬 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀: 𝗨𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗟𝗲𝗱𝗯𝘂𝗿𝘆, 𝗔 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀.

Exactly 107 years after Upper Hall was sold at auction in June 1919 resulting in decades of it being a school, we revisit the stunning estate.

Manor house. Family residence. Wartime hospital. Secondary school. Now homes again.

This Grade II listed estate has been adapting for centuries and RRA Architects played a part in its latest chapter, converting the former school into distinctive residential apartments.

Read the story at https://rraarchitects.com/upper-hall-ledbury-heritage-conversion/

With thanks to Taylor Clarke Estate Agents for use of their photo.

11/06/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟭𝟰 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟰𝟬 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟰𝟬 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗹𝗶 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗺

Tivoli Street was not a grand country house or a huge commercial project. It was a complicated, awkward, much-altered building in Cheltenham that many people would probably have walked past without a second glance.

But it had history, character and potential.

From a former watch repair shop and residential property to two contemporary terraced homes, this project shows how even small buildings can have big stories. We also found an old well beneath the floorboards, because older buildings do enjoy keeping things interesting.

Very proud that 54 Tivoli Street later received a Cheltenham Civic Award for Renovation and Refurbishment.

You can read the full story here:
https://rraarchitects.com/tivoli-street-residential-conversion-cheltenham/

A residential conversion in Cheltenham with a former watch repair shop, an old well and two new homes. Week 14 of RRA Architects’ 40 projects series.

08/06/2026

Another 6 hampers ready to hand out as part of our 40 Hampers for 40 Charities initiative, celebrating RRA Architects' 40th anniversary.

We try to include a little something for everyone:
🍪 Nice things to nibble
🌶️ A bit of spice for those who like it hot, and 🍬 sweet treats for those who don't
🐾 Something for our four-legged friends
🌾 Something gluten-free so nobody misses out
🥫 A few useful cupboard staples
☕ And a good cup of tea, of course

We also try to use recycled packaging wherever possible and would like to say a huge thank you to M&M for generously providing much of the packaging used for the hampers so far.

04/06/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟭𝟯 𝗼𝗳 𝟰𝟬 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝟰𝟬 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀: 𝗖𝗼𝘁𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲.. and this one began with a fruitless search for a new house.

Rather than settling for something that was not quite right, RRA Architects suggested exploring ideas for the house they already had. The result was a full remodel and extension that created more space, better flow, improved views and a much stronger connection to its Cotswolds setting.

The project was completed in 2022, after a slightly more “character-building” construction period thanks to Covid restrictions and the global material delays.

The clients enjoyed four wonderful years there and the house is now ready for its next chapter with new owners.

Proof that sometimes the right move is not moving at all.

Read the blog:
https://rraarchitects.com/cotswolds-architects-country-house-remodelling/

28/05/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟭𝟮 𝗼𝗳 𝟰𝟬 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝟰𝟬 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀: 𝗘𝗱𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗔 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
A tiny riverside cottage, a childhood memory, a possible smuggling past and some very well-looked-after bats.

RRA Architects helped bring this tired rural cottage back to life, adding more space while keeping the stone, character and connection to the surrounding landscape.

Small project. Interesting story. Excellent bat accommodation.

The full story and before and after photos at https://rraarchitects.com/herefordshire-architects-edw-cottage-riverside-renovation/

Herefordshire architects RRA revisit Edw Cottage, a riverside Welsh cottage transformed with heritage repair, ecology and family memories.

22/05/2026

For 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟭𝟭 of our 𝟰𝟬 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝟰𝟬 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 series, we are throwing it back to one of RRA’s more unusual creations: the Hereford Eco-Pavilion.

Part ticket office, part festival teaser and part sustainable construction showcase, the pavilion was designed with Oakwrights and GreenRoofTops to promote Hay Festival in 2010.

It was built in Hereford High Town City Centre, then dismantled and rebuilt at Hay Festival as a small venue.

Not every project has to be permanent to leave an impression.

See more (including the timelapse) here
https://rraarchitects.com/hereford-architects-hay-festival-eco-pavilion/

RRA Architects revisit the Hereford Eco-Pavilion, a temporary oak-framed Hay Festival ticket office created by the Herefordshire architects.

22/05/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟭𝟬 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟰𝟬 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟰𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗥𝗔 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀.

Balcarras School in Charlton Kings already had an impressive musical reputation, with talented pupils, a thriving music department and Balcajazz performing as part of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival.

What they needed was a building to match that ambition.

The new Music School created dedicated teaching, rehearsal and performance spaces, helping support a culture where music is clearly much more than an extra-curricular activity.

As part of RRA’s commitment to CSR, our services were provided on a not-for-profit basis to help make the project possible. The building was officially opened in May 2018 by Jo Whiley and Julian Dunkerton, whose generous support helped fund a significant proportion of the project.

Eight years on, Balcarras Music is still sounding brilliant.

Read full story at https://rraarchitects.com/balcarras-music-school-cheltenham-school-architect-gloucestershire/

School architect Gloucestershire project at Balcarras Music School in Cheltenham, creating dedicated music teaching, rehearsal and performance spaces.

07/05/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟵 𝗼𝗳

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗮𝘁𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗺, 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀.

Originally built as a pair of Victorian villas and later used as a care home, the building was carefully transformed into 13 luxury apartments.

The challenge wasn’t just the design. It was everything hidden behind the walls:
✔ drainage
✔ fire protection
✔ acoustic upgrades
✔ protected historic fabric
✔ layouts that actually work as homes

A huge technical puzzle… inside a listed building.

And when it was complete, the project received a Cheltenham Civic Award 🏆

👉 Read the full story here:
https://rraarchitects.com/lypiatt-lodge-cheltenham-listed-building-conversion/

Week 9 of RRA Architects’ 40 Projects for 40 Years series explores the conversion of Lypiatt Lodge in Cheltenham from a former care home into luxury apartments.

30/04/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟴 𝗼𝗳 #𝟰𝟬𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀𝟰𝟬𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀... 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝟯,𝟱𝟬𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 📞

A client in Abu Dhabi spotted a derelict building going up for auction in Hereford and asked us… should I buy it?

She hadn’t seen it.
We visited, filmed it, talked it through… and then went to the auction to bid on her behalf.

No pressure.

Fast forward and that ‘shed’ is now a contemporary micro home and successful Airbnb.

Proof that sometimes great projects start with a bit of trust (and a leap of faith).

👉 Full story at https://rraarchitects.com/micro-coach-house-hereford-residential-architect/

Residential architect Hereford: how RRA Architects helped a client buy and transform a derelict coach house into a contemporary micro home and Airbnb.

24/04/2026

Week 7 of our 40 projects celebrating 40 years of RRA Architects… and this one might look familiar 👀

Back in 2006, Hillcot Barn in Herefordshire featured on Grand Designs. What started as a dream to convert a field barn into a home quickly became one of those projects people still talk about nearly 20 years later.

It had all the ingredients… ambition, challenges, tight budgets and a few unexpected twists along the way, but, of course, there’s always more to the story behind the scenes.

From our perspective, it was an eye-opening experience and a great reminder of just how important clear planning and professional guidance can be from day one.

Still one of our most talked-about projects to this day.

👉 Full story at https://rraarchitects.com/projects/grand-designs-hillcot-barn/