We are Silvan, down to earth architects who support you to be sustainable through sufficiency, act kindly and build mindfully. We don’t want your project to cost the earth or your wellbeing.
Based in Bath, we help homeowners, builders, and commercial and third sector organisations to re-imagine existing spaces, extend or craft completely new builds at all scales.
We’d love to hear more about you and your project and see if we are a good fit for one another.
Jenny Carlin
Director
Architect ARB RIBA
Certified Passive House Designer
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Jenny qualified as an Architect in 2013 and has over 20 years’ experience working in the profession. She obtained First Class Honours for her RIBA Part I from Manchester School of Architecture, followed by a Distinction at Part II from the University of Westminster. Throughout her training Jenny worked in Manchester and London, including Sheppard Robson, Newtecnic, and Pascall+Watson.
She relocated to Bath in 2015 to work for award winning practice Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios. During her time there she had the privilege of working on the regeneration of the East Wing of Alexandra Palace, including a proposed museum for the BBC and completed Victorian Theatre.
“After 15 years in commercial architecture, I decided to go it alone and founded Silvan to work a bit differently. I wanted to explore alternative ways to measure the success of my business, principally not targeting growth.
I love working directly with the end users of my projects and finding real success in the impact that we have on you and your family, and how we all fit into and connect with our environment.
Combining my patience and empathy with expertise in sustainable construction gives me the edge when working with one of your biggest assets, both emotionally and financially.”
In 2022 Jenny qualified as a Passive House Certified Designer.
Teaching
Associate Lecturer: Bath Spa University, BA (Hons) Architecture
Guest Critic: University of Westminster, University of Bath
Schools: Forest of Imagination workshops with local primary schools
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Architects Registration Board (ARB), No. 080685D
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), No. 11627778
Passive House Certified Designer
Advanced Diploma in Professional Practice in Architecture (RIBA Part II), RIBA North West, Distinction
Graduate Diploma, Architecture (RIBA Part II), University of Westminster, Distinction
Bachelor of Architecture with Honors (RIBA Part I), Manchester School of Architecture, First Class Honors
Pui-see Man
Architect
Jess Wheeler
Architect
Cam Dempster
Studio manager + Architectural Assistant
What do we mean by sustainable?
First, sufficient
We know the word sustainable gets overused, but to us it simply means using and doing less to live within our means: building just enough, with a focus on lifestyle rather than floor space.
Then, efficient
Then what we do add is smart: passive, resilient and rigorously designed so it will see us through. We choose materials carefully and ensure they are put together robustly.
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The construction industry is unsustainable as a massive consumer of raw materials and natural resources. It is globally responsible for 35% of energy consumption, 38% of energy related carbon emissions, 50% of resource consumption, and expected to double in total footprint by 2060, according to the World Green Building Council.
We recognise this and are determined to change how we operate within the industry by using mindful design to reduce consumption and promote social change.
Our values
Collaboration
We’ll help guide you through the woods
You are at the heart of the design process, however sometimes you can’t see the wood for the trees.
Underpinned by the principles of low carbon design we hold your hand through the whole process. There is likely to be a low branch or two on the journey (maybe a sizable log to jump over) and sometimes you might wish you had never set off in the first place, but with confidence we emerge blinking into the sunlight.
Navigating the path through differences of opinion are eased as we enable your decision making.
We help you gather your team around you from our trusted local contacts, sourcing and vetting the right professionals who share your values and vision.
Ecological mindset and technical rigour
We have our heads in the treetops, but our feet firmly planted in the ground.
Rooted in evidence-based thinking we bring a scientific approach to creativity, reconnecting you to your ecosystems with imagination, empathy, and warmth.
Specialising in low carbon construction, we advocate the use of timber and natural petrochemical-free materials wherever technically viable, promoting healthy architecture to maximise space and minimise footprint. Wood stores carbon, and it is our preferred option for cladding and framing.
We build with resources that don’t cost the earth. Some obvious, and others not so much:
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We make the most of natural light. Optimising both daylighting as well as sunlight can create moments of joy in your home.
We also take advantage of passive heating, for example using the heat from the low sun to warm your rooms in winter. This can be cleverly shaded to avoid overheating in summer using structures or deciduous planting.
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We love a misty morning, but unfortunately here in the UK our big battle is damp. We have a rigorous understanding of construction technology and standards to design your project to control moisture. Natural ventilation is key, we ensure good airflow to remove moisture that could compromise your insulation.
Airflow is also key for passive ventilation during hot summer days and ensuring healthy indoor air quality throughout the year.
We prioritise internal air quality when choosing finishes to create a healthy environment.
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Whether subtle or bold, light or dark, calm or invigorating, colour can make an enormous impact on the feel of a room. Through natural materials, paint, or pattern, your choices are infinite and personal.
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By focusing on who you are and what you need from your space enables us to design sustainably. Costs of building materials and energy are climbing, and design is cheaper than inefficient square footage.
We have a mindful approach to consumption and strongly advocate for a less is more attitude. We work with what you already have and help you to decide if you need more, maybe less, or sometimes something different. We discover the stories in your house to create a home, rather than designing unnecessary and costly space for you to fill with stuff. Interrogating early on what your space needs to do for you means we can suggest options for reducing the scale of your project from the beginning.
We’ve witnessed the cost of construction double in the last few years, and the cost of living including energy is currently in crises, with millions of UK households in fuel poverty. By questioning the quantity raw materials used and building less, and minimising the amount of energy used in your home by retaining the heat you pay for, we can save you money.
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We are fascinated by the psychology of the home and believe that to create a home from a house requires an emotional connection and a sense of belonging, not physical things or space.
Who you share your space with is equally important. You want opportunities to spend time together but also need privacy and quiet moments. We promote active lifestyles with our work and understand the impact your surroundings have on both your physical and mental health.
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We choose the materials we use carefully to maximise durability and longevity, and thinking about how they are put together to ensure quality, creating a building that lasts and is sustainable. We care a lot (much more than most) about how things are built and getting the construction details right.
Our interiors celebrate hard wearing, timeless materials, which can be refurbished or will wear with a pleasing patina. These materials serve as a canvas for trend led furnishings and accessories which may be more frequently updated.
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We interrogate the cost of imperfection on happiness, and whether ‘flaws’ and tricky design problems in our homes can actually lead to personality and joyful moments. Often interesting moments happen when we are trying to solve something and can’t be replicated on other projects.
Our Ethics
Who cares wins
Our humility makes us stand out, and our ethical business values are at the core of everything we do. Success is measured by the time we spend outside our practice rather than profits and the life that unfurls inside your space instead of pursuing awards.
Having said that, money doesn’t grow on trees, and we always provide a highly professional service with honesty and transparency. The old project management chestnuts of cost, time and quality takes careful management and clients enjoy working with us because they trust us.
