Studio HAB
Thoughtful design, rooted in place.
Based in Cornwall, Studio HAB is an architectural and interior design practice founded in 2012, working across Cornwall and Devon on contemporary homes, new builds, refurbishments and coastal extensions. We bring a bespoke, considered approach to every project, working closely with clients to resolve complex design challenges through sustainable, place-sensitive solutions. Our work responds to its setting, respects its surroundings and combines thoughtful design with careful craftsmanship to create buildings that are beautiful to live in, built to endure and bring genuine delight to the people who inhabit them. With a strong track record of successful first-time planning applications, we bring experience and clarity to every stage of the design process.
Philosophy
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Every project begins with a story — the site's history, the client's aspirations, the relationship between structure and landscape. That narrative becomes the compass for every decision, from the first drawing to the finished building.
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Cornwall is not just a backdrop — it's a material. Light, tide, wind, and landscape all inform our designs. Our buildings feel like they have always been there, because they're designed to belong here.
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Sustainability is not an added feature — it's the framework we design within. Natural materials, passive performance, and long-term thinking are embedded from the very first sketch.
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We believe the most responsible architecture is also the most considered: buildings that perform well, age well, and sit lightly on the land. Sustainability isn't a checklist we apply at the end of a project: it shapes how we think from day one.
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Local stone, timber, and natural finishes that connect buildings to their context and age with beauty rather than obsolescence.
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Orientation, massing, and fabric-first design that reduce energy demand at source, before any technology is added.
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Buildings designed to adapt, endure, and serve successive generations — architecture as an investment in place, not just property.
Team
Karen Harding
Co-Founder & Partner
Karen brings experience from practising in London and Australia across a broad range of commercial, mixed-use, and private residential projects. Her commitment to craft and her instinct for the emotional qualities of space underpin every Studio HAB project. She has also volunteered on charity building projects overseas, bringing architectural expertise where it is most needed.
Jeb Beresford
Co-Founder & Partner
After seven years in Asia and the Middle East as a director at Alsop Design and Spark Architects, Jeb returned to the UK with a wide portfolio of commercial, residential, and educational projects. His global perspective informs a design sensibility that is both rigorous and inventive-always in service to the specific place and people a building is made for. Jeb is also an Associate Lecturer at Falmouth University, sharing that perspective with the next generation of designers.
Cat Charman
Architect
Cat adds a layer of artistry to the practice. Her sketches and 3D modelling are a delight, allowing clients to quickly understand even the most complex design solutions. Beyond her visual talent, she is a thoughtful and highly capable designer, bringing care, insight and creativity to every project she works on. She’s a real asset to the practice.
James Sexton
Architect
With a background in Architecture and Engineering, James brings technical experience and expertise to the practice.
Project in mind?
Thinking about starting a new build, extending your home or transforming an existing space? We'd love to hear about your ideas.
