Get to know us

WP is a contemporary architecture practice based in South-West London that operates both as a design studio and contractor as well as a developer. We bring a unique design pedigree with experience of both large commercial projects and multi-unit residential projects as well as smaller domestic renovations that are linked by a common thread – a design orientated approach, focussed on delivering sustainable development, coupled with a deep and practical understanding of the construction process.

Architects are often criticised for not understanding the cost implications of their designs but as a contractor and developer ourselves, with an in-house cost consultant, we can truly say that we understand all aspects of the construction process and the viability impact of our designs. We know for example the wrestle that exists between the desire to be sustainable and the requirement to make a development viable. The former often comes at a considerable cost which makes it hard to justify economically and we are currently on this journey ourselves. Ultimately we believe sustainable developments are worth more and will command a premium but we are living and breathing this before we expect our clients to do so.

Good quality, practical and beautiful architecture

Working with the existing context and delivering site specific projects

Sustainability and innovation

Working with communities and collaboration

Design process and conceptual thinking

Delivering positive social impact through built environment

Developing our own buildings

Sustainability

In 2019 Wimshurst Pelleriti joined the global declaration of an environment and climate emergency as part of UK Architects Declare. Since then the UK has legislated for a net zero carbon goal across all sectors by 2050. For the construction industry, this means the need to deliver an unprecedented programme of carbon reduction.

Quality

We are dedicated to design and deliver the best quality buildings for our clients. We are also focused on providing exceptional service which is based on collaboration, trust and mutual respect. Our Quality Management System is externally audited to comply with ISO 9001:2015.

RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge

As part of our strongly felt commitment to shoulder responsibility to minimise contributions to climate change and limit global warming, we have adopted the voluntary RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge. This involves aiming for performance targets for operational energy use, water use and embodied carbon now to achieve significant reductions necessary by 2030 in order to have a realistic prospect of achieving net zero carbon by 2050. For design teams of architects, structural and services engineers, the 2030 Climate Challenge means moving beyond design to merely achieve current Building Regulations compliance and a bigger focus on design coordination, quality control and detailed commissioning. At Wimshurst Pelleriti we ensure these desired outcomes are delivered by working with a framework of tried-and-tested consultants, the use of BIM Level 2 protocols for 3D co-ordination and ISO quality management procedures.

Client benefits

For our clients, this means more accurate forecasting of operating costs in face of rising energy prices as the 2030 Climate Challenge targets are performance targets of actual use. Buildings designed accordingly will be more economical and efficient to run and should be cheaper to build as targets for low embodied carbon mean efficient designs that use less material and re-use existing fabric whenever possible. Embedding climate targets in project briefs also reduces the risk of non-compliance with future stricter regulations and/or costly forced retrofitting of sustainability measures – this means protecting our clients’ assets and building capital. Acting as an architect, developer and main contractor on some of our projects, we are perfectly placed to understand the client-side and the financial challenges of incorporating ambitious sustainability targets into business plans. On our own developments we benefit from easy access to current as-built costs as well as actual energy and water usage data and cost. This knowledge and lessons learned inform our decisions for projects at design stage now and in the future.

Retrofit

80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 have already been built. In order to meet the 2030 Climate Challenge, we envisage a considerable percentage of our projects to be retrofit with re-use and a considerable upgrade of existing fabric to create near-passive, zero carbon buildings. Our track record and experience demonstrate that this approach is particularly suited to refurbishments and extensions of existing or historic buildings and is also generally regarded favourably by local authority planners and neighbours. On residential retrofit projects, Wimshurst Pelleriti follow the best practice targets and principles as set out by LETI (London Energy Transformation Initiative). These targets should be achievable in the vast majority of UK dwellings and are based on a combination of improved fabric efficiency and heat pumps to provide heating and hot water. At Wimshurst Pelleriti we place sustainability paired with high-quality design at the very core of our designs. This approach delivers resilient and future-proof buildings that are energy and water efficient as well as comfortable and healthy to live in.