Folia Architects are award winning sustainable architects and passivhaus designers based in a woodland studio in Devon.
-
![Folia Architects - A Woodland hill passivhaus - A landscaped yard with a winding driveway, green grass, and trees, with a modern house in the background amid a lush, wooded area.]()
Bickleigh Barn Passivhaus
A barn conversion designed to passivhaus EnerPHit levels of performance. The clients wanted a space full of light and joy that connected to the surrounding woodland and expansive Devon views.
We achieved a class Q planning permission on the site near Exeter in 2024 and then a subsequent betterment planning permission with construction work starting in 2025.
-
![Folia Architects framing views to trees - Living room with open sliding glass door leading to a deck and a view of trees outside, beige sofa with throw blanket and a small wooden table with cups in the foreground.]()
Garden room at Cwm Barn
This RIBA award winning project encapsulates a low-carbon, energy-efficient and adaptable approach to family living in a rural context. The clients wanted a building that connected with the beautiful rural landscape and reflected their love of Japanese art and culture; particularly the Wabi Sabi philosophy, which celebrates the beauty of imperfections in the natural world and in the patina of a materials use. Completed whilst Directors at Arbor Architects.
-
![Folia Architects - Fields with tall green grass, yellow wildflowers, a wooden fence, trees, and houses with stone and metal roofs in the background.]()
Tin Barn Passivhaus
Our clients wanted to turn a derelict set of barns into an exemplary Passivhaus home. On a rural plot on the outskirts of Bath, they wanted a home that would be more manageable in scale and more cost-effective to run, allowing them to live more sustainably. They also needed space to work from home and let a vegetable plot flow between the wildflower meadows into the rolling countryside beyond. Completed whilst Directors at Arbor Architects.
-
![Folia Architects - Modern house with a metal roof and stone exterior, green lawn, and a partly cloudy blue sky.]()
Jalan Passivhaus Plus
The client’s aspiration was to create a home with an exemplary level of energy performance that achieves the Passivhaus quality assurance standard. Retrofitting the building fabric of the existing 1960’s dwelling on the site to this standard would not be financially viable or physically feasible, so the clients chose to replace the dwelling with a new built form that is orientated to optimise solar gain and designed with an optimal massing and layout to achieve Passivhaus Plus. Completed whilst Directors at Arbor Architects.
-
![Folia Architects - Rendering of barns as holiday accommodation farm diversification - homes with wooden and metal facades, stone accents, and landscaped surroundings.]()
Penymoor Regenerative Farm
The site is a working uplands farm, set on the border between England and Wales in area rich in history and folk law. The farm comprises of a Grade II listed farmhouse and a number of curtilage listed barns and outbuildings to the west of the farmhouse. We achieved planning in 2025, providing stunning holiday accommodation as part of a wider farm diversification and modernisation. Completed whilst Directors at Arbor Architects.
-
![Folia Architects - A community garden with people engaging in gardening, walking, cycling, and socializing near a modern wooden building surrounded by lush green trees and plants.]()
The Southside Farm
Lately we’ve had the privilege of working alongside Growing Local CIC, a community farm, a field-to-fork initiative. The client group at Growing Local wanted a showcase cook studio and indoor learning space designed to be low energy, durable and comfortable.
When local voices guide design, something special happens. Places begin to carry identity. They feel lived-in, loved, and lasting. Completed whilst Directors at Arbor Architects.
-
![Folia Architects - Modern stone house with a black metal roof, large glass windows, and a water feature in the backyard, under a partly cloudy sky.]()
Long Barn
A beautiful vernacular example of a threshing barn on the border of Wales and England. We achieved planning permission for the eco/low energy barn conversion for a family home and off-grid cabin as a studio office. Long Barn's design is essential to achieve the occupiers' goals of living sustainably and in harmony with the land. Enhancing the local environment and managing the site in a sensitive manner were core parts of the brief. Completed whilst Directors at Arbor Architects.
-
![Folia Architects - Rendering of a modern community hub building called Skills Hub, surrounded by a brick fence, with people riding bikes and walking on the sidewalk in front, trees and cloudy sky overhead.]()
NMITE University Skills Hub
This new facility will be based on the Blackfriars campus in the centre of Hereford. The existing building on the site is a former Edwardian Boys School and is rich in character and architectural merit. As such, the site is a distinctive landmark in Hereford and makes a valuable contribution to the character of the city centre Conservation Area. Completed whilst Directors at Arbor Architects.
-
![Folia Architects - A modern two-story house with wood siding, surrounded by trees and dense greenery, with a small window and a balcony.]()
Fishleys Woodland Passivhaus
At the base of the stunning hills of the Malvern Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), this timber frame Passivhaus nestles into its unique woodland setting. The house sits on the site of an old barn and was certified as a Passivhaus on its completion in 2017. Completed as Project Architect at Architype.
-
![Folia Architects - A digital rendering of a community park with people walking and biking in front of a green building labeled 'The Southside.' There are trees, flowers, a paved walkway, and a cloudy sky.]()
Belmont Wanderers FC Clubhouse
At the core of The Southside Project there is a clubhouse for Belmont Wanderers FC. In addition to a community function room, a 3G sports pitch with associated changing rooms and facilities are found. It's a place designed to cater to diverse needs and interests within the community. Completed whilst Directors at Arbor Architects.
-
![A modern architectural rendering of a residential property with a combination of stone and wood exterior, surrounded by lush greenery, trees, and a landscaped garden with flower beds. A person is walking on a paved pathway near the house, and the sky is light blue with a few clouds and birds flying.]()
Buskwood Farm Eco Self Build
We achieved planning permission for a replacement dwelling on a derelict farmhouse. The client wanted to create a low energy, self build house for his family. The building embraces its agricultural history and setting with a gabled form perpendicularly meeting another smaller extruded gabled. The single storey form takes inspiration from shelter shed’s found on farmsteads locally with exposed timber posts and large openings. Completed whilst Directors at Arbor Architects.
-
![Folia Architects Eco Barn Church Stile Barn]()
Church Stile Barn
A replacement dwelling in a agricultural setting adjacent to a listed farmhouse. The clients wanted to achieve a beautiful passivhaus low energy home that nestled into its rural setting. The clients enjoy being surrounded by nature and woodland and so want to create a home that compliments and frames views of the surrounding habitat. Completed whilst Directors at Arbor Architects.
We’re hands-on environmental architects.
We love helping people create sustainable, comfortable, and future-ready architecture
-
![Folia Architects - A rural landscape with grassy fields and yellow wildflowers, old stone and modern wooden houses, trees, and a cloudy sky.]()
Tin Barn Passivhaus - Chris & Rich
We first met Matt at the very start of our house building journey. We were immediately impressed by his thoughtfulness and interpretation of our half-baked aspirations into tangible considerations as we looked at prospective locations. Building a home is a stressful business and having Matt help us through the journey from start to finish was invaluable and a lifesaver. In addition to the practicalities of design, construction and certification, Matt & Rachel bought inspiration, innovation and design flair to the project with additions and ideas we would have never thought of include use of materials, design and use of spaces and the finishing touches. We are so pleased with the final result, and it would not have been possible without their support, help and friendship.
We would absolutely recommend Folia to anyone embarking on their own project – their experience, design ethos and friendly, thoughtful approach is outstanding.
-
![Folia Architects - Modern house with brick and dark panel exterior, metal roof, and landscaped yard under a clear blue sky.]()
Jalan Passivhaus - Lucy & Nick
We worked with Matt and Rachel when they were directors at their previous practice, prior to Folia Architects. We had bought a wreck of a house in the AONB of Goodrich in the Wye Valley.
We wanted to create a new sustainable home, use local materials, be energy efficient and have plenty of wow factor. We were looking for architects who shared the same enthusiasm and vision for our project.
Matt and Rachel were the right architects for us and roll on nearly 4.5 years, we are now living in our Certified Passive House Plus that is without doubt all the above (and more) and the WOW factor is second to none!
Without hesitation, I would recommend Matt and Rachel Hayes, now of Folia Architects in Tiverton, if you want a passive house of your own. -
![Folia Architects - A community garden scene with people walking, gardening, riding a bicycle, and socializing outside a modern barn-style building surrounded by trees and lush greenery.]()
Southside Farm - Growing Local CIC
Matt and Rachel worked with us on a complicated community build project in Hereford. Complicated in the sense of changes in funding and building design, but we are extremely pleased to now have planning permission for the project.
We cannot thank Matt and Rachel enough for their exceptional sustainable design skills, tireless patience and enthusiasm, and excellent collaborative working with our staff team and the wider design team. We felt they truly listened to our project and the tricky brief - and the finished building design is a 100% reflection of our project, our values and ethos, and the community it will serve for many happy decades to come.
At all stages sustainable solutions and energy cost neutrality were offered and we are really happy with the Passifhaus design. We cannot thank you enough! Louisa, Growing Local CIC
-
![Folia Architects - A modern rural house with a red roof, wooden exterior, and large glass windows, surrounded by trees and greenery, with a person riding a bike in the driveway.]()
Church Stile Barn - Rory & Lara
We have worked with Matt Hayes on a self build project in the Malvern Hills National Landscape. From the outset we were immediately drawn to Matt's client focussed approach and commitment to low impact principles both in terms of energy usage and material consideration.
Matt fully embraced and understood our desire to build a living and working home that was directly connected to the land and a self-sufficient lifestyle. His support and knowledge has enabled us to use self-sourced timber and he has guided us through this process and managed interactions with the local sawmill.
Working with Matt has been an enjoyable and positive experience and we regard him with trust and respect.
Without hesitation we would recommend Matt, now of Folia Architects, if you are also looking to build a fully holistic low impact but high quality home fit for the future.
-
![Folia Architects - Digital rendering of a modern house with a stone and wood facade, surrounded by trees and a landscaped garden with flowering plants, outdoor seating area, and a person walking on a paved path. Birds flying in the sky.]()
Buskwood Eco Self Build - Omar
Matt worked with me to design a new home in Herefordshire and the process of working with him has been a genuine pleasure. He integrated my ideas and needs into his own frameworks and we arrived at a beautiful low energy design which really works well for the plot and its surroundings.
We're now at the stage where we've just received planning permission, and without his excellent knowledge of process and commitment to sustainable practices I just don't think we'd have got there. I feel really lucky to be working with such a talented architect.
-
![A spacious indoor area with high ceilings, wooden beams, and modern furniture. Two men are sitting at a small round table with a laptop, engaged in conversation. The room features colorful chairs, a red booth seat, and large windows allowing natural light.]()
Bicester Passivhaus Plus - Sam Lewis
Matt is a highly motivated and knowledgeable architect, always going the extra mile to help keep the project on track. Working with him to deliver the UK’s first Passivhaus Plus Building at Bicester Eco Centre was an enjoyable learning curve for all involved, Matt was able to offer professional help and guidance throughout the process.
On site, he was knowledgeable in terms of Passivhaus construction and detailing, quick to respond to queries and always conscious of the time and cost implications of the the design decisions he made. His use of 3D BIM was integral in creating a collaborative way in solving problems.
Overall, Matt was a pleasure to work with and I would recommend him and his company to anyone looking at starting a Fabric-first / Zero-Carbon building project.
RIBA award-winning sustainable architects based in Tiverton, Devon. We specialise in bespoke Passivhaus new builds, eco-friendly barn conversions, and EnerPHit retrofits. Focussed on crafting beautiful, energy efficient spaces that bring everyday life to the fore.
From the journal…
Highlights from our travels, current sketches and news and updates.
