Houses

Yacht

Interiors

Landscapes

Urban

Conservation

Sustainability

Awards

Artworks

Contact us

About us

Home

ABOUT US

The practice is headed by Rodney Black who studied architecture at the University of Auckland under Professor Richard Toy and qualified at the University of Liverpool. He has worked for some of the most prominent architects of the 20^th century including Abdul-Wahid El Wakil, foremost exponent of Islamic architecture and one time pupil of Hassan Fathy; for Quinlan Terry, a contemporary classicist and pupil, later partner, of Raymond Erith; and for Ronald Geary Associates becoming a partner in 1990. Ronald Geary had studied under such modernist luminaries as Walter Gropius and worked for Erno Goldfinger and Raymond Erith. Raymond Erith, a lover of Sir John Soane's work, had worked for Morley Horder, himself a co-pupil of George Devey with R.N. Shaw and Charles Voysey. The practice is therefore heir to a remarkable direct line of architectural influence from one of the foremost modern masters to architects from the foundations of the Arts and Crafts Movement.

It is in this spirit that the practice continues today: roots in the arts and crafts and early 20th century modernism, pushing classicism forward with style and conviction.

Our aim is to design sustainable and energy efficient buildings with a very low carbon footprint.  We use traditional crafts and materials in a fresh way ensuring the finished projects are tailored to suit our clients and the context in which we are building.  Our interior designs create a unique atmosphere for the individual client and explore the spatial potential of the whole design, whether for a house or superyacht. Our vision for the total concept of the house in its context extends to gardens and parkland, outbuildings, follies, pool houses, pools and cartlodges. 

Rodney Black Design Studios Limited was originally established in 1995 as Geary and Black Limited in order to carry out specialist reconstruction work in Japan following the Kobe earthquake – the only British company appointed.  At the same time, the sister practice, Ronald Geary Associates became Geary and Black.  This practice was absorbed into Rodney Black Design Studios Limited following the retirement of Ronald Geary.

Rodney Black Design Studios is an ISO 9001:2008 registered company which means our procedures are monitored. The process helps us to maintain an efficient office environment.

The practice is an RIBA Chartered Practice. Chartered practices undertake to adhere to a set of professional requirements in addition to those of individual members.

The practice is a Limited Company, Registered in England No. 3161218, Registered address Gun Hill House, Dedham and registered for VAT No. 665 9458 79.