Celebrating 25 Years of RDA Architects: Richard's interview with the NLA
Richard Dudzicki, recently sat down with New London Architecture to discuss 25 years of RDA Architects, innovative home design, and the journey of creating sustainable, adaptable spaces.
Richard caught up with David Taylor, the editor of the New London Quarterly and New London Weekly covering the following topics:
Celebrating 25 Years of RDA Architects
At RDA Architects, we’ve always pushed the boundaries of home design, sustainability, and innovation. As we mark 25 years in business, Richard Dudzicki, our founder and a leading Passivhaus specialist, sat down with David Taylor to reflect on our journey, the future of home design, and some unexpected work environments.
A Journey Through 25 Years of Architecture
Since founding RDA, Richard has been dedicated to creating energy-efficient, forward-thinking homes. As one of the UK’s early adopters of Passivhaus design, RDA has championed sustainability long before it became an industry buzzword. Over the years, our team has tackled everything from ultra-modern city homes to cutting-edge eco-living spaces, constantly reimagining how people live and interact with their environment.
Passivhaus: The Future of Home Design
During the interview, Richard emphasized the importance of Passivhaus principles—airtight construction, high-quality insulation, and energy efficiency. With increasing energy costs and a growing awareness of our environmental impact, designing homes that work with nature rather than against it is more crucial than ever.
Cycling, Creativity, and… Working in an Oven?
Beyond architecture, Richard is an avid cyclist, often finding inspiration while on two wheels. He believes that cycling allows for a fresh perspective—something that has undoubtedly influenced his creative approach over the years.
And as for working inside an oven? Richard recalled a design that involved transforming a former Victorian bakery into a stunning RDA office space. The experience of standing in an old brick oven, envisioning how it could become a comfortable office space, perfectly encapsulates RDA’s philosophy: seeing potential where others see limitations.
RDA Office space in East Dulwich
RDA Office
Vicotrian bakery brick oven
Looking Ahead
As RDA Architects moves into its next chapter, our focus remains the same—creating homes that are not just beautiful but also sustainable, efficient, and built for the future. With ongoing projects that continue to push the limits of design and construction, we’re excited for what’s to come.
Head to the NLA website to read the full interview with Richard Dudzicki here.
Part I: Reflections from the Venice Biennale – Architecture and Dystopian Futures In September, RDA Director Richard attended the Venice Biennale as part of the AMI (Architects Marketing Institute) Mastermind group, led by Richard Petrie and joined by architects from the UK, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. Venice itself, grappling with its own environmental precarity, provided a fitting stage for architectural contemplation. The city heightens awareness: light skips across the water, vaporettos weave through the canals, and conversations spill from pavilions into narrow alleys. It’s a place where architecture feels inseparable from life and culture. This year’s Biennale carried a distinctly dystopian tone. Many exhibitions directly tackled the climate crisis, social instability, and the legacy of colonialism, compelling architects to rethink their roles in shaping the future. Walking the Giardini and Arsenale, Richard noted a striking tension between urgency and care. Projects addressing social transformation and environmental scarcity stood side-by-side with work celebrating patience, craft, and the value of repair. Several national pavilions left a lasting impression. The British Pavilion’s candid exploration of empire and colonisation challenged visitors to consider justice within the built environment. The Spanish Pavilion offered a poetic and emotional counterbalance.
Upgrading a listed home is one of the most rewarding yet challenging projects a homeowner can undertake. Unlike Standard properties, every change must respect strict planning regulations whilst protecting the historic character that makes the building unique. Choices that may seem simple in modern homes such as changing windows, adding insulation, or altering layouts can become complex negotiations between performance, aesthetics and compliance. The key to success lies in working with conservation architects, skilled craftspeople, and heritage professionals who understand both the technical and regulatory landscape. With their guidance, upgrades can be achieved in ways that not only preserve but often enhance the building's long-term performance and beauty. When done right, a listed home can be both energy-efficient and historically authentic, ready to thrive for future generations.
Thinking about renovating your home? Don’t do it alone. We will be explaining how working with an architect rather than just a construction team alone can help you save potential future costs to your project. A big renovation can be exciting, but overwhelming. Costs can spiral, timelines shift and without the right advice, costly mistakes can sneak in. This is where we come in. What is a RIBA Chartered Architect? At RDA Architects, we are RIBA Chartered Architects. RIBA (the Royal Institute of British Architects) is the UK's professional body for architects, setting the gold standard for architectural practice. This means when you work with RDA, you're partnering with professionals who have proven their expertise and commitment to maintaining the highest standards in architecture. But more importantly, we help homeowners like you get the most out of your budget and avoid the kind of problems that can turn a dream project into a nightmare. As shown in the diagram below, RDA (the architect) plays a central role in your project, acting as the hub for information exchange and coordination between the client, design team, and contractor team. We work closely with the specialists, engineers, and contractors to develop and communicate the design, ensuring your vision is realised efficiently and within budget, while helping you avoid the common pitfalls that can derail a project.
Imagine your home as a high-quality flask. When sealed properly, it keeps your drink at the perfect temperature for hours. Airtightness in buildings works similarly: it's about creating a continuous, sealed envelope around your home that prevents unwanted air from leaking in or out. Think of all the tiny gaps around windows, doors, or where pipes enter your house. These seemingly insignificant spaces can add up to the equivalent of leaving a window open all year round. In today's world of rising energy costs, where the average London home loses £400-£500 annually through air leakage alone, airtightness has become increasingly crucial. At RDA Architects, with over 25 years of experience in sustainable home design, we've seen how proper airtightness transforms living spaces, offering benefits that go far beyond energy savings: Enhanced temperature control: No more cold spots or drafts Significantly reduced noise pollution from outside Better air quality through controlled ventilation Protection against moisture issues and mould Reduced dust and allergen infiltration Lower heating and cooling costs (typically 70-90% reduction) Passive Mews II: A Modern Marvel of Efficiency