Architect & Interior Designer in Dorset.
ZAHRADA is an architecture and interiors practice led by Tim and Zofia, working across Dorset on renovations, extensions, new homes and boutique hotels.
We begin every project with an initial feasibility study, exploring design options, identifying planning risks and outlining likely project costs so you can make an informed decision about how to proceed
Our work ranges from the careful renovation of period and listed buildings to contemporary extensions, new homes and boutique hotels.
Dorset can change considerably from one site to the next. A home might sit within the Green Belt, Dorset National Landscape or a conservation area, while elsewhere the important considerations could be a sensitive coastal setting, dark skies, ecology or the relationship with a historic village.
We start by understanding which local planning policy applies to your property. From there, we can make informed decisions about how much to add, where additional height should sit, how a house opens towards its landscape and even where larger areas of glazing are appropriate after dark.
We guide homeowners through the complexities of building in Dorset's most beautiful & protected areas.
Renovations.
Reconsider an existing home from the overall plan to the finishes. We identify what is worth retaining and where changes to circulation, light and interiors would make the house more comfortable and useful.
Extensions.
Understand your scope to extend, including how previous additions affect your options. We design extra space around your needs, considering its scale, views across the landscape and light spill after dark.
New Homes.
Establish what’s possible before committing to a plot or detailed design. We explore the planning context and shape your home around the site’s contours, views and local character, with interiors considered from the outset.
Why zahrada?
We are a small studio with direct involvement.
Our practice is just us, Tim & Zofia – you can probably work out who’s who from the photograph. You’ll work directly with the two of us from start to finish. Combined, we’re registered with the Royal Institute of Architects (RIBA) & British Institute of Interior Designers (BIID).
We begin by listening to what you want to change, what you love already and how you want your home to feel. From there, we establish the brief, test the options and guide you through the decisions ahead.
Some of our work.
We’re experienced in working within protected landscapes, and country homes are a particular focus of the practice. Our current work in Dorset includes a Grade II listed substantial eight-bedroom home in a sensitive rural setting, alongside projects elsewhere across the south of England.
Explore a selection of our work to get a feel for the practice, our approach and the kinds of spaces we enjoy making.
explore the area
Places in Dorset we love working in.
We'd love to hear about your ambitions.
We begin with a relaxed video or phone call to hear your vision, your goals, and your budget. No charge or obligations.
We then visit your home for an in-depth consultation – listening, understanding how you live, and seeing the building for ourselves.
We’ll follow up with a detailed proposal with a clear roadmap for your project – the stages, the approach, and the fees – from first drawings to post-completion celebrations.