HEM Architects

HEM Architects Sheffield residential architects specialising in creative, sustainable homes which delight every day.

Our lives are centred around our homes so why shouldn’t they be designed to maximise your happiness and health? HEM Architects specialise in creative, sustainable residential architecture in Sheffield & Oakham. We’re on a mission to help everyone live in beautiful, practical homes that have minimal impact on our planet. Our friendly and highly skilled team are on hand to take inspiration from the

mess and joy of your everyday life to create a beautifully crafted home which will delight you every day. We're looking forward to helping you transform your dream into reality.

We're looking forward to tomorrow's Passivhaus Open Day at Footgate Close, Sheffield.We have a fantastic turnout booked,...
23/06/2026

We're looking forward to tomorrow's Passivhaus Open Day at Footgate Close, Sheffield.

We have a fantastic turnout booked, and we're excited to meet everyone, including some of our current clients.

The event is at Director Paul Testa's own EnerPHit home. Tomorrow's hot weather will be a great test for the house, and we're aiming to keep it under 26°C.

Paul and his house were featured in the Daily Mail back in March. In the article, Paul challenges the view that a renovation project has to add monetary value, describing a different kind of value instead:

✅️ Comfortable inside temperatures all year round
✅️ Better air quality
✅️ No damp or mould
✅️ Lower energy bills
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“We've changed how it feels to live here,” says Paul. “This wasn't about resale; it was about comfort, health, and having control over our bills.”⁠
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Main contractor: Terry Huggett Developments

20/06/2026

How we negotiated a negative pre-app with the local authority ⁠
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Paul Testa, Director at HEM Architects, explains how we shifted the local planning authority’s view and secured approval for two luxury new build homes.⁠
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If you've had bad or unclear feedback from a pre-app and want to get planning approval then send us a message and we will arrange a phone call.

19/06/2026

Why this pre-planning application failed ⁠
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Paul Testa, Director at HEM Architects, shares why understanding site context is crucial at the pre-application stage, and how omitting it led to this proposal to stumble early on.⁠
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If you've had bad or unclear feedback from a pre-app and want to get planning approval then send us a message us and let’s take a look at it together.

We've updated our build rates. We’ve done an annual update of our build rates to reflect the current market build costs....
18/06/2026

We've updated our build rates.

We’ve done an annual update of our build rates to reflect the current market build costs.

Whether you’re building a new home, extending or retrofitting / refurbishing an existing space, knowing your project costs is the key to a successful project.

Here is a quick look at our specific new rates:

New Build: We now use £1998/m² as a starting point, £2471/m² for mid specification and £3155/m² for high specification.

Refurbishment: We now use £684/m² as a starting point, £1052/m² for mid specification and £1420/m² for high specification.

If you want a better performing home add £421/m² to the above rates or for high performance Passivhaus add £841/m².

If you want access to our Free Cost Calculator to map out your project costs comment 'BUILD RATES' and we'll send you the link to sign up to our newsletter and you'll be able to download the cost calculator.

16/06/2026

The most expensive mistake you can make when building or renovating?

Hiring an architect who says "yes" to everything without talking about the money.

At HEM Architects, we don't start with yes. We start with the truth. You might not actually need a big expensive extension, you might just need better space.

Before you risk your budget, book a Project Preparation Workshop with us for just £199+VAT.

We’ll help you find the truth about your project before you spend anything on design.

Click the link in the comments to book your workshop today.

Buying a house you love, but you don't love the look of it? It’s a dilemma: the perfect location, a brilliant garden, bu...
15/06/2026

Buying a house you love, but you don't love the look of it?

It’s a dilemma: the perfect location, a brilliant garden, but the house itself is dark, dated, and completely inefficient.

That is exactly the challenge our Laura and Rupert are facing with this 1980s detached home in Woodnewton, near Peterborough.

It has been sitting empty for over two years, has no connection to the gas network, and looks pretty unattractive.

We're reconfiguring the dark ground floor into a vibrant, sunlit open-plan living space, radically upgrading the building's fabric and mapping out a realistic budget to turn this property into a low-impact dream home.

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Want to kickstart your own transformation? Book a call with us to see if we're a good fit and book a Project Preparation Workshop on our website for just £199 + VAT.

Is your home struggling to stay cool? Our blog post "How good design keeps your home cool.pdf", was incredibly popular ...
12/06/2026

Is your home struggling to stay cool?

Our blog post "How good design keeps your home cool.pdf", was incredibly popular back in May when we had that unseasonably hot weather.

If you have rooms that feel like a greenhouse, or a loft conversion that becomes uninhabitable when temperatures rise, you don't have to just live with it.

There are much better, more natural solutions than relying on fans and expensive air conditioning.

One of the best ways smart design keeps your home cool is through solar shading.

By blocking the sun's heat before it even hits your windows, you can maintain a comfortable temperature without sacrificing your views or natural light.

Want to learn how to beat the heat naturally? Check out the link in our comments.

Getting your dream home, on your budget When Lee and Jaclyn bought a stunning plot near Lincoln, it came with planning p...
10/06/2026

Getting your dream home, on your budget

When Lee and Jaclyn bought a stunning plot near Lincoln, it came with planning permission for a new home.

But the design and layout was impractical, dark and completely bloated, making it way too expensive to build on their budget.

We redesigned the home from first principles and strategically downsized the home to go from inefficient into a beautiful layout.

We managed to save them around £239,000 in construction costs, but giving them a beautiful low energy home and improving how they live.

Get in contact using our website if you want to speak with us about designing your dream home.

Curious about what it’s actually like to live in an ultra-energy-efficient home?As part of the UK-wide Passivhaus Open D...
09/06/2026

Curious about what it’s actually like to live in an ultra-energy-efficient home?

As part of the UK-wide Passivhaus Open Days, Paul Testa and family are opening the doors to Footgate Close in Oughtibridge, Sheffield.

Whether you are planning your own self-build, work in the industry, or are just curious about sustainable design, this is your chance to experience the comfort and quality of a Passivhaus firsthand.

You can meet Paul, tour the space and have your questions answered.

When: Wednesday 24 June 2026

Tour Times: 10:30am and 1:00pm

Spaces are limited. Secure your spot by completing the Google Form linked in comments.

08/06/2026

Here's how we're retrofitted a home in Edgerton, Huddersfield⁠
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Senior Architect Anna Roper shares how we helped transform Alan and Ali’s downsized home to be warmer and more comfortable. ⁠
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Anna explains that the roof was one of the biggest areas of heat loss. So to tackle this, we’re added high-performance insulation, keeping the upstairs really warm in winter and cool in summer. ⁠
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You can watch the full video on our YouTube channel.
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If you don't want another cold winter in your home, then contact us today and talk to the retrofit experts. Link in the comments.

Address

Floor 2 Parkhead House, Carver Street
Sheffield
S14FS

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441144420123

Website

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