WHY CHOOSE EYE FOR DETAIL ARCHITECTS?

Choosing a local practice means your project is handled by someone who understands the local character and the specific requirements of the Horsham planning department.

• Architectural Excellence: Award-winning ARB & RIBA expertise across West Sussex and Surrey.
• Deep local Expertise We aren't just based here; we know this area inside and out. From local architectural styles to working relationships with local planning officers, our familiarity with Horsham ensures your project starts on the right foot. 
• Strategic Planning Navigating the planning system can be complex; we are experts at identifying when you can utilise Permitted Development rights. which can often save you time and streamline your project by avoiding the Full Planning application process altogether. 
• A Proven Track Record We have successfully completed hundreds of projects, the vast majority of which are within a 15-minute drive from our practice in North Heath Lane (nearly opposite the Sussex Barn). Our portfolio is built in your/our neighbourhood!  

WHAT SETS US APART - ITS CALLED "ARCHITECTURE IN HARMONY" 

Born Yasuo Ozawa, brought up in Tachikowa, Tokyo, Japan, Paul Bassett brings a unique architectural lineage to the English towns & countryside. We believe a home should breathe.

Drawings on our Japanese roots, we design residences that prioritises natural light, intentional simplicity, and an effortless flow of movement. We don't just design, build extension's or houses; we translate Tokyo mastery of calm spaces into the heart of West Sussex and surrey.

THE ART OF THE SLIDING WALL 

Inspired by the Japanese traditions of Shiji and Fusuma, we design internal and external sliding doors that redefine how you use your home. Our "Fluid Walls" are an architectural feature, to adapt a small space similar to a Snug,  which can be slid open to create new open plan space/ideal for larger special events/gatherings. 

• Dissolve Boundaries: Effortlessly merge your garden with your open plan living space using Garasudo (glass) sliding system.
• Adapt Your Layout: Use internal partitions to instantly switch between private study/separate kitchen space to a grand, open plan entertaining space.
• Soft Surroundings: Diffuse natural light through your home, creating a serene, "breathing" atmosphere even when the doors are closed. 

THE HORSHAM "GABLE ARCHITECTS"

Why settle for a standard extension when you have a signature space?

The Gable Specialists Known locally as "The Gable Architects", we have earned a reputation for creating breathtaking glazed gable ends. While many developers building new homes settle for standard UPVC with stepped thresholds, we are the complete opposite, we deliver premium architectural experience.

By utilising precision-engineered, level-entry bespoke affordable extra head height aluminium sliding doors, we transform ordinary houses into extraordinary living spaces. Fresh off our previous work on a £1.4M residences estate residences in Pulborough, we bring higher developer-spec to every private commission.  The result is a finish reminiscent of a five-star boutique hotel-a home so transformed; you'll  have to pinch yourself to believe its yours!

Specialising In Double-Vaulted Design/Construction We design open-plan sanctuaries, kitchen, dining, lounge, family hubs that seamlessly invite the outside in, but a stunning vison requires a solid background of foundation and knowledge. 

By choosing a Horsham-based RIBA practice, you gain more than a designer-you gain partner who master's the complex technicality of steel framing. Having delivered an extensive portfolio since 2011 of similar high end projects, we know exactly where to optimise construction and identify structural savings. Through our experience, we are now in a position to question the structural engineers over their design, to identify structural savings. We don't just protect your aesthetics,; we protect your investment, ensuring your vision  remains as financially sound as it is architecturally stunning. 

Our Statement Beyond Aesthetics; Flooded With Light - Defined By Volume - Delivered With Vision

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN "ARCHITECT" AND A "DESIGNER"

The Legal Protection of the Title "ARCHITECT"

In the UK, the title "Architect" is legally protected. To use it, an individual must be registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB). You will often see websites promoting "Architectural Services or Design Studio"; this is frequently a clue/sign that they are not qualified architects. 

The Road to Qualification

Becoming an architect is a rigorous, long journey of study. We undergo a minimum of 7 years of training (and often 10/11 years) to reach the final professional standard known as "Part 3."

• Parts 1 & 2 - 5 years of university study covering design, technical building requirements, and structural integrity.
• Part 3 - The final Examination in Professional Practice Management. This stage proves we are competent in contract law, building regulations and project management.  

Unlocking The "Impossible Loft"

Think your ridge height is too low for a conversion? Think again. We specialise in clever design solutions that create sufficient head height for new dormers without the need to raise the roofline

How Do We Do It?

That is our signature secret. We'd love to show you once we've been commissioned for you project. 

Design Quality

We design with a deep understanding of local policy, delivering sophisticated application's that address council concerns and streamlines the approval process.

Local Insight vs. Remote Design

Designing a home in West Sussex and Surrey requires more than just technical skill; it requires local context. While remote designers may struggle with regional nuances, our local expertise ensures:

• Faster Approvals: We design with a "local-first" mindset that aligns with council objectives.
• Technical Accuracy: We use materials and techniques proven to work in this specific climate and landscape.
• Site Certainty: Unlike distant firms, we are physically present to oversee construction and coordinate with local main contractor's/trades, ensuring your project is completed exactly as envisaged as shown in our completed drawings.

You're Thinking About An Extension, Alteration, Internal Remodelling Or New Build - We want you to enjoy the experience our spaces can provide. This must be driven by functionality, the client's requirements & ease of accessibility, especially how different spaces work. The seamless flow between spaces should include natural light, context and aesthetics. Other considerations are the client's preferred styles that respond to their lifestyle and acknowledge the local character and environment, too.

"Building Less Is More" By Retrofitting - Refers to achieving greater value and functionality with fewer resources, limited budgets and with less disruption to existing structures. Prioritising efficiency, sustainability and adaptability, emphasising the reuse and modification of existing buildings rather than new construction.

This is centred around adapting a building to new uses, including increased standards of insulation will ensure increased energy efficiency. Perhaps, involving altering its form, mass, function and even materials.     

So Many Homes, Old/New Lack Character - The entrance doorway is hidden from view, the external fabric looks tired....It doesn't have to be this way; we can transform any property. Our answer is to strategically relocate the entrance door, even to another elevation, hand or relocate the staircase, combined with a porch, will create a welcoming, generous, light airy double vaulted hallway to create that all-important "Kerb Appeal". Updating your façade with other materials for aesthetics or for additional insulation, all the combined changes are a decisive step towards increasing the potential value of your property.

No matter what problems you have with your current design/projects, large or small, we are here to solve and achieve what you thought was impossible, now possible!

How About A Complete New Build House Or Annexe In Your Garden - You need to make a list of priorities to create your "Brief" will drive and achieve the very best from your project. "Design" should be at the very top, followed by - construction of materials (selected for innovation, longevity, cost implications, yet conforming to building regulation standards or higher) and minimum build time on site & within budget.

You need to employ a local expert from the very beginning. Some make the mistake from the outset by cutting corners by looking to design on a low budget, it's prioritising what is important and not important, which will be crucial to the outcome of any project. 

Architects Fee's - A good local architect's fees will pay for themselves, starting with the "Architects Home Visit" by increasing the potential uplift in the value of your home when completed. We are creative in our design from your ideas, this drives the mundane out of your scheme to deliver the extraordinary to create the "Wow".

Since starting our practice in Horsham back in 2011, we have completed hundreds of projects collaborating with contractors and structural engineers. We have learned how to reduce cost in the way we design, in reduced materials, especially steel, compared to other designers/contractors. Collectively, our clients have been astonished by the reduced costs, and the transformation can be seen in our completed galleries of projects; that's the difference we can make in your project.

Using a non-architect/unqualified architect may be cheaper initially, but may have its pitfalls at a later stage on site when the building control officer or a contractor informs you that the design doesn't work, or worse, the design is impossible to construct and now requires redrawing and back to planning submission again. The initial cheap fee doesn't look attractive anymore; it may now cost you thousands of extra pounds since the work they completed is now worthless. 

A Local Architect Can Provide A Service Where Others Can't  - We can meet you for any queries, to deal with any aspect of your project throughout the sketch design period, through to construction. No online company can make this very important commitment to you.

It's not the size of the project that's important, but the quality of design and completed workmanship that can only be achieved and delivered by being local.

While we will listen to your brief, it's our job to interpret the design & most importantly of all, make design decisions for you as well as guide you every step of the way since we are the "professional qualified designers". Learned over the years through our local knowledge, know how to add value to your property. Ensure all statutory approvals are satisfied and ensure that the construction process runs smoothly, reducing the risk at an early stage through detailed construction drawings.

Type Of Work Where We Can Assist  - While we can assist with any domestic/commercial building types, but recently specialised in 4 key areas in our domestic works, including:

"Remodelling - Spatial Design" - In some cases, no extension or planning is required, simply remodelling your existing footprint. It involves creating a new, more functional layout over the existing unworkable layout. Removing walls/doors, replacing rooms for other new uses. Ensuring new rooms/spaces are not thoroughfares/corridors to other rooms to enhance the flow of movement and privacy. 

Maximising/optimising the use of existing available space by working from the inside out, think about how spaces feel and how they can be reorganised. Including formal dimensions, width and height and natural light all help with the quality of the new spaces. 

"Glazed Gable End" - Extensions combined with internal remodelling creating that double vaulted, between 3m -4m high, open plan room with aluminium level threshold & wet underfloor heating.  (dependent on the proposed size, no planning may be required)

"Bungalow Remodelling" - Reorganise the internal layout, combined with a porch, new relocated grand open tread oak staircase with glass balustrade, landing vaulted up to 7-8m high could be achievable. Combined with a loft dormer or second floor with additional loft space, making it a house, the total new gross area could be over 200sqm.

"New Build House/Barn Conversions" - Now is a good time to consider a new build, especially since the "Water Neutrality Regulations" have eased in West Sussex since November 2025. 

Perhaps you're fortunate enough to have a large enough garden to build a new dwelling house or own an existing barn/tractor shed and outhouses.

Alternatively, you've purchased a plot of land at auction and are now looking to increase the value by obtaining planning permission. Whatever your reasons, we may be able to obtain planning approval to create an astonishing double-height, grand, spacious family home for you  - the list is endless, that's where an architect becomes so invaluable!

Other reasons may include - You've just moved, perhaps for work or to access the catchment area for the outstanding schools in your area, now considering making an offer on your new property. This is when you need professional advice on how the property could be adapted/extended/changed to your needs. We can visit the property with you and your estate agents at a very early stage, even before your offer and advise on what changes could be achieved, to make it truly your new "bespoke home".

You've been in your home for many years, and it's looking tired. Now in a position to update/adapt/modernise your home to changing family needs, to finally make it truly "your home". Consider our now favoured stunning "glazed gable end" double vaulted new open plan kitchen, dining, family room for social gatherings for all those "special occasions". 

Enforcement Notice has been served  - "Keep Calm", we can act on your behalf as your agents to deal with the enforcement officer to stop the enforcement notice by submitting an "As Built" application for you.

Your planning application has been refused - We can advise on the whole submission and the management of appointed specialist consultants who will produce essential documents for grounds to appeal, where an independent "Planning Inspectorate" will make a decision, in many cases, overrule the local planning refusal.

As a testament of how good we really are, we will show you our completed works on our 360 virtual reality goggles on our initial meeting.

What's The Next Step - If you can send us an email from our "contact sheet", an email with your email address, contact telephone number and property/project address. We can then call you back for a "free desktop study", a free verbal appraisal of what could be achieved, and if you wish, agree to a suitable date/time for an "architect's home visit". The initial meeting at your home is called the "architect's home visit"; it's so important to meet you and walk around your home to be truly immersed in understanding the changes you’re looking to make. No Zoom call or telephone discussion can compare to this experience between an architect and a potential client. To understand how we can adapt/make changes, take laser measurement and provide verbal advice, even sketch ideas immediately, to what could be achieved. 

What's a Design Team? - Good design will never happen by accident; you need a professional, talented local architect to organise and recommend a tried and tested local design team. Why put your project at risk by making incorrect decisions by randomly selecting your design team from the internet?

The design team may include a planning consultant to work with the architect for new builds or difficult projects that may have been refused planning. Include a topographic surveyor (accurately measure the building plot or building is digitally surveyed for accuracy to build from). Structural engineers to visit the site and meet the client, be available throughout the build for the contractor, advise and amend the drawings/calculations as necessary (some online companies work remotely and will never visit the site or meet the client but rely on video calls).

Introduce you to reliable contractors, subcontractors that have a good track record, view their recent works (preferably working alongside the architect) to complete the works to ensure every aspect of the work is to current building regulations standards.

Additionally, the design team will also have access to water neutrality consultants and other specialist consultants, including discounted suppliers and authorised approved building control officers, to oversee that the works are completed to the current uprated building regulations that came into force in June 2022.

Once we are commissioned as your architects, your property will be digitally surveyed using a Faro 3D laser scanner, providing crucial, accurate information to build from. Only then can we start the sketch design process, leading to planning and finally to the most exciting part of your project - the construction process to deliver your completed project into "Wow".  

"Design & Well Being" are both intertwined, interpreted as beauty and comfort by introducing vaulted rooms, removing ceilings, and even reorienting new rooms relevant to the sun's path, introducing views to your garden, and are some of the major factors we incorporate into our designs that will help you enjoy a healthier way of living indoors.

For a "Complete Piece of Mind” you are welcome to use our in-house preferred local contractor’s, they will provide an estimate to construct your project based on our drawings, there is no additional cost for us to be novated to administer (not project managing) your project while on site 24/7, create a WhatsApp group, so everybody involved keeps up to date. Contractors will have a site manager to deal with the day tasks and can advise you of their services in their contract, before starting the project on site.

Available for site visits with the contractor, dealing with any planning/enforcement officers & building control agents. Generally, the building control certificate is issued shortly after completion, in some cases, a week after the sign-off.

We provide a wide range of high-quality, detailed "planning, construction, scheduled, specification, electrical services design drawings and chartered architect services for residential, commercial clients, including homeowners, builders, and contractors, in providing a partial, full design service to support their clients.

"Sketch-Design-Planning & Build" All under one roof - We are diverse, work differently from other practices or design & build contractors, once commissioned, produce beautiful designs, detailed, construction and scheduled drawings.

Our many years of professional experience ensure every project we work on carries the same hallmark of quality and attention to detail, regardless of size or budget, from simple extensions to building a complete new bespoke building/barn conversion on a plot. Contact us for a feasibility study to assess what could be built.

Whether commissioning Eye For Detail Architects for an individual service or to manage a complete project, you’re assured a first-class service from start to finish. As a trusted, local company, we’re proud of our reputation for innovation, reliability and value for money, which is evident in everything we do.