Michael Swords Studio is a conservation-led architecture and heritage consultancy based in London. We provide expert advice on listed buildings, conservation areas, and historically significant sites across the UK.
Our work brings together deep heritage expertise with contemporary architectural design. We deliver thoughtful, context-driven projects across a range of building types, including private homes, public buildings and places of worship.
The practice is led by Michael Swords, an AABC-accredited conservation architect with extensive experience working on listed and historic buildings. He also serves as inspecting architect to several churches across London.
We offer insight into Quinquennial inspections, reordering, conservation, and phased interventions for places of worship. Michael is currently appointed as inspecting architect to a number of listed churches, and is on the diocesan list for inspecting architects in Southwark, London, Chelmsford and Guildford dioceses.
We help clients understand the architectural, historical and cultural significance of their buildings, and provide clear, strategic advice on how to adapt and manage change with confidence. Our heritage input ensures decisions are informed, balanced and well-supported.
We regularly undertake a range of condition surveys, including Quinquennial inspections of Churches, and Condition Surveys of Listed Buildings. We offer Drone surveying as one of our services.
We guide clients through complex regulatory processes, including listed building consent and DAC faculty approvals. Our role is to ensure proposals are well-prepared, policy-aligned and sensitive to both context and significance, helping reduce risk and secure approvals with confidence.
We design thoughtful new elements within historic settings, from subtle insertions to confident spatial adaptations. Our work includes extensions and alterations to existing buildings, listed or otherwise, with a focus on clarity, contrast and long-term coherence.
We collaborate with skilled craftspeople to deliver small-scale projects rooted in traditional crafts and vernacular skills. From bespoke joinery to lime plasterwork, these collaborations celebrate material integrity, local character and the enduring value of hand-made work.
We work with owners of listed homes and historic estates who wish to adapt, restore, or extend their properties with integrity and long-term vision.
From quinquennial inspections to full reordering, we support clergy, PCCs, and fabric committees with sensitive design, faculty navigation, and practical heritage advice.
We collaborate with other architecture practices and interior designers as heritage consultant or conservation architect, adding value through technical knowledge, report writing, and statutory strategy.
Open today | 09:00 – 17:00 |
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info@swordsstudio.com