About Scenario Architecture in Islington
Scenario Architecture has enjoyed collaborative relationships with homeowners in Islington since long before we moved to our current offices on the Regent’s Canal. Over the past decade, we’ve completed a wide range of projects across Islington, allowing our portfolio to grow and diversify. This experience has helped us build strong connections in the area becoming the architects of choice in Islington. We founded Scenario Architects in 2007 with the vision of creating a uniquely collaborative practice in Islington. Our approach is thoughtful and client-focused, translating each client’s aspirations for a new, architect-designed home into a clear and considered design. The needs and goals of our clients remain at the heart of every project we undertake. Early on as a boutique residential architecture practice, we relied on direct referrals from happy clients more than any other form of marketing. Now as Islington architects, this positive word-of-mouth has come largely from our neighbours within Islington and Hackney. A beautiful, highly functional home is the product of a deep understanding and precise analysis of each homeowner’s unique lifestyle, which shows in our work. Scenario’s tailor-made homes tell the story of our clients, not ourselves.
Expert Islington Architects for Every Project
Our Islington architects combine creativity with practical expertise to bring every property to life. As a RIBA Chartered practice, we specialise in housing, heritage, and listed buildings — including Grade II listed homes, Victorian and Georgian terraces, and projects within conservation areas such as Canonbury, Barnsbury, Highbury, and Clerkenwell. Whether it’s a carefully considered extension, a rear addition, a loft conversion, or a full refurbishment, we guide each project from initial concept through to planning permission and completion, ensuring every detail reflects our clients’ vision in all of our Islington projects. From sustainable house extension schemes to interior and exterior renovations, glazing additions, and regeneration projects, our architectural practice works closely with every client, contractor, and planning officer to deliver a successful project which fully respects the neighbourhood’s unique character and aesthetic appeal. With our design studio experienced in projects across the UK and internationally, we create beautiful homes that balance heritage conservation, sustainability, and contemporary design. Every project is approached with care and precision, ensuring proposals meet the highest standards of aesthetics, construction quality, and client satisfaction. Ready for your dream home?
Projects
Starting your Islington project
If you’re considering hiring Islington architects for your residential project, we’re here to help, whether it’s a renovation, extension or a new-build. We’ve created a brief illustrated overview to help you understand every stage of the process, whether you’re planning a home extension, renovation or new-build in Islington. Most architecture projects in Islington require planning permission from the Islington Council. With our successful record of securing planning permission on behalf of our clients, we’ve worked collaboratively with Islington Council to realise some ambitious and daring schemes.
Our boutique studio specialises in residential architecture, offering bespoke services for home additions, renovations and new-builds. Based in Wandsworth, we practice across London and beyond.
A RIBA Chartered Practice, Scenario complies with the UK’s strict health and safety criteria. We collaborate closely with our clients throughout every stage of the process, from the design phase, through planning and construction. We aim to deliver every project on time and on budget.
Our skilled team works with the latest 3D design technology: real-time digital visualisations and virtual reality. We feel they are the most effective and efficient tools for seeing through our work, choosing fittings and simulating natural light.
This Chartered Institute of Building case study features a recent Scenario project, demonstrating the benefits of advanced technologies in designing for the domestic sphere.
Scenario is an established architecture practice focusing on contemporary residential design. We take on projects of every scale and scope, from home refurbishment, renovation and expansions to new-builds.
Our boutique studio specialises in residential architecture, offering bespoke services for home additions, renovations and new-builds. Based in Wandsworth, we practice across London and beyond.
A RIBA Chartered Practice, Scenario complies with the UK’s strict health and safety criteria. We collaborate closely with our clients throughout every stage of the process, from the design phase, through planning and construction. We aim to deliver every project on time and on budget.
Our skilled team works with the latest 3D design technology: real-time digital visualisations and virtual reality. We feel they are the most effective and efficient tools for seeing through our work, choosing fittings and simulating natural light.
This Chartered Institute of Building case study features a recent Scenario project, demonstrating the benefits of advanced technologies in designing for the domestic sphere.
Established in 2007, Scenario Architecture is a boutique architecture studio focused on the high-end residential sector, working extensively throughout and around London. We specialise in every scale and type of domestic project, from interior alterations, through full renovations and refurbishments to new build homes. We offer a full bespoke architecture service tailored to fit your requirements and aspirations.
Our friendly and highly skilled team has the knowledge, experience and expertise necessary to take you step-by-step through the challenging and exciting journey of creating your new home. We will work together with you in close collaboration from initial design, through detail design and planning all the way to tender, construction and successful completion of your project on time and within budget.
Scenario Architecture is an RIBA Chartered Practice, which essentially means that we are compliant with the RIBA (Royal Institute of Chartered Architects) strict criteria, covering insurance, health and safety and quality management systems.
As early adopters of latest technology, we use as a standard for all projects a verity of innovative 3D design and visualisation tools to create and communicate design with our clients. Our experience shows that Real-Time visualisations and Virtual Reality tours are extremely powerful tools to streamline the process of choosing material finishes fixtures and fittings as well as simulating realistic natural light conditions.
When we produce accurate and reliable construction information we use the latest 3D BIM technology, (BIM stands for Building Information Modelling) which means that all project information is derived from a single accurate and coordinated 3D model. Using this cutting-edge technology collaboratively with other consultants as well as contractors has proven to save time and cost for our clients.
A case study featuring one of our projects was published by the Chartered Institute of Building, demonstrating the great benefits of this advanced technology specifically with domestic projects.
Scenario Architecture in London deliver design and architectural expertise for residential projects. We were established in 2007 by Ran Ankory and Maya Carni who both trained with the AA School of Architecture. Scenario have grown to an award-winning team of nine. We have been featured in Dezeen and Elle Decoration UK.
Our highly experienced team of architects Stoke Newington work with clients using innovative 3D and Virtual Reality technology that simulates your new home before the first brick is even laid. This simulation technique allows you to see beautiful scenarios, designed to fit your life. An organic process, it often influences the choice of materials and design methods.
If you are looking for a top architects Islington, we can help with your project. We are a RIBA Chartered Practice and we operate across the following areas and postal districts: Camden, Dalston, Hackney, Hampstead, Highgate, Haringey, Islington, East London, Knightsbridge, Kensington and Chelsea, Mayfair, Notting Hill, North London, West London, West Hampstead, Shoreditch, Southwark, Stoke Newington, N1, N6, NW3, N16 and E5.
Islington Architects
Scenario is an established architecture practice focusing on contemporary residential design. We take on projects of every scale and scope, from home refurbishment, renovation and expansions to new-builds.
Victorian renovations are more compassionate today than they’ve ever been, with homeowners striving to preserve architectural elements like decorative cornicing, ceiling roses, skirting boards and dada rails. Sash windows are being replaced by specially made wood reproductions and wood-burning fireplaces recouped after being sealed off for decades. Paint companies like Farrow & Ball have built multinationals out of replicating the de rigueur colours of Victorian times. And new tile ceramicists are bringing back traditional motifs with contemporary silhouettes, for front gardens and foyers. Hardwood floors have made a comeback, with timber salvage and reproduction going strong.
Most renovations focus on transforming the core of the home, and revolutionise the kitchen and bathrooms in the process. To recoup the extra floor area today’s families have become accustomed to, Islington architects are extending into voids in the lofts and side returns common in Victorians. Small period kitchens can open up into the side return without eradicating period features; in the recovered space, a corner can be reserved for a powder room or utility room. Ditto the loft: pushing up the ceiling and pushing out dormer windows can make new space available for an en suite bathroom.
With extending out into dead space comes the welcoming in of natural light. Upward-facing Velux windows become possible once the upper floor is properly extended and the main floor pushed out beyond the confines of the original footprint. If a second-storey extension is permitted in your plans, an internal void can bring natural light from the top floor downwards, and vice versa.
In our client's words
We wanted to renovate our house in a conservation area in central London. Given this involved a complete demolition and new build with an extra floor on top, getting planning approval was always going to be tricky. Scenario did an amazing job on the new house 'envelope' and throughout the planning phase. We couldn't have wished for better from them and having succeeded in gaining planning approval owe them a very big 'thank you'.
Scenario designed a kitchen extension for us, and we are delighted with the results. The process was well organised, planned and delivered, and the whole team were a pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend them for their design, planning and project management skills.
Worked with these guys on the internal development of our office. From start to finish they were great. They got what we wanted first time and really made working with them very easy. Their aftercare has been great too helping us deal with something that they were not involved with in the first place. Will highly recommend them to anyone.
Further Reading
From our Islington studio, we specialise in luxury residential projects across London. Whether you’re planning interior alterations, complete renovations, or building from the ground up, our expertise brings your vision to life. With our bespoke architecture service, our experienced team of architects guide you through every phase of your project; from the initial concepts and planning to the construction and completion. We pride ourselves in delivering exceptional results while respecting the timelines and budgets. As a RIBA Chartered Practice, we uphold the highest professional standards in safety, insurance, and quality management. We are pioneers in architectural technology, integrating advanced 3D design and virtual reality tools throughout our entire process. These innovations make it possible for clients to experience spaces before they’re built, and make informed decisions about finishes and materials. Furthermore, these innovations also help clients to understand how the natural light will flow throughout their home.Our use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) ensures a precise coordination between all of our project stakeholders, leading to a smoother execution and savings in the cost of the project. The effectiveness of our cutting-edge approach has been recognised in our Islington case study by the Chartered Institute of Building, highlighting how modern technology can transform residential architecture.
Islington’s Architectural Legacy And Future
Islington, one of London’s smallest boroughs, stretches gracefully from the historic heart of the City to the leafy parks of Highgate. Its neighbourhoods follow the Northern Line, providing easy connections to Moorgate and London Bridge, and making it a favourite for professionals working in the financial district. Unsurprisingly, with such a rich architectural heritage, our Islington architects are constantly in demand. Islington’s built fabric spans more than 500 years, encompassing some of the oldest surviving buildings in London. The gates of St John’s in Clerkenwell, first constructed by the Knights of St John in the early 16th century, still stand on Clerkenwell Road, opening onto cobbled streets lined with renowned pubs and restaurants near Farringdon. Nearby, the medieval Charterhouse, once a monastic enclave, remains largely intact behind wrought-iron gates beside Smithfield Market.In Canonbury, Tudor Tower rises above a cluster of Henry VIII-era houses that were once home to figures such as Thomas Cromwell, Francis Bacon, and Oliver Goldsmith. In the centuries that followed, Islington architects designed some of the capital’s most gracious residential streets and squares, often arranged around private gardens.
Today, nearly 40 per cent of the borough’s architecture predates 1900, a striking testament to its enduring architectural heritage.Yet Islington was not always the refined community it is today. Its central location and proximity to the Thames made it vulnerable during the Second World War, when bombing destroyed pockets of historic streets and prompted many established residents to move to the suburbs along new rail lines. Large areas were flattened, and much of the replacement council housing and schools later fell into decline.
In recent decades, however, Islington’s proximity to the City has been its saving grace. As social housing was sold off, Georgian terraces were carefully refurbished, and the Regent’s Canal was restored as a vibrant leisure space. Upper Street, stretching from Angel to Highbury & Islington station, has become one of the borough’s most popular destinations, celebrated for its lively dining scene and bustling streets. Highbury is centred around Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and framed by the expansive green lawns of Highbury Fields. Canonbury, with the New River meandering through it, is characterised by quiet, leafy streets and elegant grey-brick homes. Angel blends some of the borough’s oldest residences with striking contemporary developments, many of which line the scenic Regent’s Canal. Once overlooked, Holloway and Archway have emerged as lively hubs for food, drink, and local culture. For those seeking value, Victorian terraces and semi-detached homes in Tufnell Park and around Finsbury Park station often offer the best opportunities. These neighbourhoods are further enhanced by some of the most convenient Tube connections in North London, making them highly desirable for commuters and families alike.
