House Extension Ashover Chesterfield Front
MAD Architects Chesterfield - New Build House Holmesfield near Sheffield
House Extension Ashover Chesterfield Kitchen
MAD Architects Chesterfield - Contemporary House Extension Ranmoor Sheffield
MAD Architects Chesterfield House Extension Whirlow Sheffield Kitchen
MAD Architects Chesterfield - Passive New Build House
MAD Architects Chesterfield House Extension Whirlow Sheffield Hall
MAD Architects Chesterfield House Extension Whirlow Sheffield Living Area

Sheffield Architects

RIBA Chartered Practice for Modern Extensions & Sustainable Homes

MAD Architects LLP is a RIBA Chartered architectural practice based in Chesterfield, with a long track record of transforming homes across Sheffield.

Led by partners Martin Rix, trained at the University of Sheffield, and Eliza Sophocleous we bring nearly 20 years of hands-on design and technical expertise to every project in the city.

We serve clients right across Sheffield. Whether you are in an established suburb like Dore, Totley, Fulwood, or Ranmoor, or in a vibrant neighbourhood such as Ecclesall, Nether Edge, Crosspool, Whirlow, or Lodge Moor, you will receive the same rigorous standard of design and care on every project.

Modern kitchen and dining area opening to an outdoor backyard with green lawn, patio furniture, and trees.
A modern house with wooden and brick exterior located near a pond and surrounded by trees and grass with flowers, under a partly cloudy sky.
RIBA Chartered Practice logo with a crest symbol and text.

Bespoke Architectural Services Across Sheffield

Whether you need a creative house extension architect to reimagine your current home or a specialist for a Passivhaus-standard new build, we work across the full spectrum of residential projects: extensions, full renovations, bungalow transformations, barn conversions, and bespoke new builds.

Sheffield's distinctive topography: the sloped sites, the generous Victorian plots, the mix of red-brick terraces in Nether Edge and stone-built villas in Ranmoor, presents both challenges and extraordinary opportunities.

We are experienced in maximising light, privacy, and volume on constrained and sloping urban sites, and in gaining planning permission for contemporary designs in areas where it is not straightforward.

Artist's impression of a modern building with a brick and wooden exterior, large glass windows, and a black metal roof, surrounded by greenery and trees.
Stone house with white door, black roof, several windows, and a small attached garage, surrounded by a field of colorful flowers.
Modern two-story house with black wooden siding and stone accents, surrounded by a garden with colorful flowers and trees, under a blue sky.

Creating Space for Modern Family Life

Families grow, and traditional Sheffield house layouts, such as the Victorian through-terrace and the 1930s semi, can begin to feel cramped and disconnected. Our clients typically come to us wanting more space, but what they really need is a better flow. There is a strong and growing desire for open-plan living, and we specialise in designing seamless kitchen, dining, and family living spaces that dissolve the boundaries between separate rooms.

By carefully removing internal walls and creating a strong visual connection to the garden, we create a light-filled central hub where the whole family can live together comfortably, without losing the character that makes Sheffield homes distinctive.

Check out our Parkhead Road Project in Whilrow with a modern extension creating a family area
Empty modern kitchen with white cabinets, wooden countertops, a large window, and a skylight, with appliances and a black range hood.
Modern dining area and kitchen with large sliding glass doors opening to a backyard with trees and greenery, decorated with flowers in vases.
A watercolor painting of a large house with multiple gabled roofs, stone siding, and several windows, surrounded by trees and a landscaped yard with three people standing near the house.

Bungalow Renovations:
Unlocking Hidden Potential

Bungalows are one of Sheffield's most underrated property types. They often occupy generous plots and offer incredible potential for contemporary redesign. We have extensive experience in breathing new life into single-storey homes by reconfiguring disjointed rooms into seamless open-plan spaces, introducing vaulted ceilings and dramatic roof lights, and extending outwards into large gardens.

Whether you want to extend at ground level or explore a loft conversion above, we can help you unlock the full potential of your bungalow in areas like Lodge Moor, Crosspool, and Totley.

Explore our bungalow renovation at Parkhead Road in Whirlow
A house with brick walls, large windows, and a roof fitted with solar panels. The yard is paved, and trees are visible in the background on a cloudy day.
A modern two-story house with beige brick exterior, large windows, and a glass enclosed patio area with white furniture, set on a green lawn under a clear blue sky.
A stone house with a pitched roof next to a stone fence and a garage, surrounded by trees and a clear blue sky.

Sustainable Design:
The "Fabric First" Approach

As certified Passivhaus architects, sustainable design sits at the core of everything we do. Our "Fabric First" approach means we prioritise upgrading the building itself: insulation, high-performance glazing, and rigorous airtightness, rather than relying solely on bolt-on technology.

What does that mean in practice? Imagine sitting right next to your large glass windows in mid-January, watching the frost settle over the Sheffield skyline, without feeling a single cold draught. It means a home that is naturally warm, exceptionally quiet, and remarkably cheap to run.

Where appropriate, we also integrate:

Solar PV and battery storage,
Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP),
Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP), and
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR).

We tailor every system to the specific building and site.

Open-concept kitchen and living room with large sliding glass doors overlooking a patio and green field, furnished with a beige sectional sofa, glass coffee table, dark armchairs with teal pillows, dining table with chairs, and kitchen island with barstools.
Architectural rendering of a modern building with a brick facade, glass entry, and surrounding green landscape with trees and rocks.
Outdoor patio with wooden table and chairs, large sliding glass door showing interior dining area, garden with potted plants, and a blue sky with scattered clouds.

The Benefits of a Fabric First Approach in Sheffield

  • Beat the Sheffield Chill: The city's hills expose homes to biting winds. Continuous insulation and strict airtightness eliminate freezing hallways and cold spots.

  • Tame Heating Bills in Older Homes: Trapping warmth inside dramatically reduces your reliance on central heating in Victorian and 1930s properties.

  • A Healthier, Condensation-Free Home: Advanced moisture management drastically reduces condensation and promotes excellent indoor air quality.

  • A Quiet Escape from City Noise: High-performance glazing and insulation naturally block out street noise, even near busy routes.

  • Future-Proof Your Property: Upgrading core fabric ensures your home exceeds modern standards, adding lasting value in sought-after postcodes.

A modern house with a large glass porch overlooking a well-maintained green lawn and garden. The house has a flat roof, black-framed windows, and a brick foundation. The sky is partly cloudy.
Front entrance of a modern house with a pathway leading to a gray door, brick and wood exterior, and large windows, under a clear blue sky.
Modern white two-story house with dark gray window frames and a gray garage door, decorative potted plants near the entrance, and a paved driveway in front.
Modern white two-story house with dark gray window frames and a gray garage door, decorative potted plants near the entrance, and a paved driveway in front.

Sheffield Planning:
An Exceptional Track Record

Navigating Sheffield City Council planning can be daunting, particularly in Conservation Areas. Our track record speaks for itself; across our entire Sheffield portfolio, we have experienced only a single planning refusal, and that was a specific test case for a client. Every other project has been approved.

We engage with planning officers early, produce clear and persuasive planning statements, and understand the local policy framework inside out.

An aerial view of a modern two-story house with a stone exterior, black roof, and multiple white-framed windows. The house features a small covered porch at the front entrance and a paved driveway with a two-car garage. There is a garden area with a wooden fence, trees, and grass in the backyard, along with a neighboring brick building to the left and open green fields surrounding the property.
Modern kitchen with a view of an outdoor patio and garden. The kitchen features white cabinetry, a central island with dark wood accents, and three silver pendant lights. Large glass doors open to a patio with outdoor seating, a table with an umbrella, green grass, and trees.
A modern house with large glass windows and a patio area. The house has a dark gray metal exterior, wooden accents, and a brick chimney. There are potted plants and flowers on the patio, under a partly cloudy sky.

Start with a Conversation

Every great project begins with a conversation. If you are planning an extension, renovation, eco-retrofit, or new build in Sheffield, we would love to hear your ideas.

  1. Complete our simple online form

  2. Discovery Call:
    We will arrange a complimentary 15-minute call to discuss your vision.

  3. Feasibility & Concept Session:
    A dedicated workshop where we explore the full potential of your property, producing initial sketches and a clear project roadmap.

LET US KNOW ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
A hallway with wood flooring and white walls, featuring built-in cabinets with open and closed wooden and white sections, decorated with a modern flower-shaped mirror on the left wall, leading to a room with a table lamp and closed wooden doors at the end.
Open-concept modern kitchen and dining area with large windows and scenic green landscape outside, featuring a dining table with six chairs, a kitchen island with bar stools, and a living space with a sofa, TV, and shelves.
Modern house with large glass windows and wooden accents on a grassy hill, under a blue sky with some clouds.