We are Liv, a creative design led Chartered Architects practice, passionate about sustainable design across Norfolk and the surrounding areas.
More than anything, we aim to be friendly and approachable, working collaboratively with our clients, fellow consultants, and contractors to ensure the best outcomes for the projects we work on. We enjoy spending time understanding our client's lives and their aspirations and priorities, to ensure that the design solutions we offer are perfectly tailored to our client’s needs or circumstances.
Within our designs we demonstrate an understanding and reflection of vernacular materials and techniques with a contemporary emphasis to reflect our era, while also highly geared towards the need to lower operational and embodied carbon use across the built environment.
Our design work is highly focussed on the context of each site, and we pride ourselves in delivering beautiful, individual and sometimes surprising buildings that enhance both our client's lives and the built environment.
[Liv: a Nordic female given name, meaning 'shelter', 'protection' and 'warmth'.]
Sasha Edmonds
Sasha studied Architecture at the University of Lincoln whilst working at both Architectural practices and Design & Build Contractors in East Anglia, following an apprenticeship model of study. A Chartered Architect, Sasha’s expertise working for and with contractors manifests as a keen enjoyment of the intricacies of construction; working with clients and builders to achieve the details which elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary.
Prior to founding Liv Architects, Sasha spent six years as an Associate at award-winning Cambridge practice Mole Architects, working on one-off bespoke houses. Several of the houses Sasha has worked on and been project Architect for have won RIBA and other local and national Awards. Sasha is passionate about good quality modern architecture which responds to its context, integrates with its landscape and improves its setting. Sasha has a passion for low energy domestic architecture, seeking to encourage a focus on low operational and embodied carbon in all her built work.
Living in west Norfolk with her husband and young son, Sasha is committed to encouraging and being part of the generation of a better quality of new build housing in the area than the usual models of development. As well as this, Sasha provides mentoring for both part-time and female architecture students, keen to support both new modes of study which can help reduce student debt, and to contribute to closing the gender imbalance in the industry. Sasha is a founding chair of the RIBA East Small Practice Network, brining together like minded architects across the region.
Liz King
Liz studied at the University of Cambridge, graduating with First Class Honours and receiving a nomination for the RIBA President Medals. An RIBA Chartered Architect and a Certified European Passivhaus Designer (CEPH), she has worked at a number of award winning practices including Allies and Morrison and 5th Studio, where she was an Associate for five years.
Liz shares her time between Liv and her own projects in Cambridge, building up a varied portfolio ranging from sustainable retrofit projects, domestic extensions, strategic site planning and school classroom design. She loves working collaboratively, both with the Liv team and Clients and Contractors to deliver high quality and well-crafted projects with enduring value. With particular expertise in Passivhaus and Low Energy building design, and an interest in the health and physiological benefits gained from the use of natural building materials and well-insulated, daylit and ventilated spaces, Liz is profoundly motivated by the relationship between buildings and landscape, and she strives to create buildings that are well-attuned with their environment and physical setting.
Liz has been a Director of Studies for Architecture at two colleges in the University of Cambridge and she has acted as a Design Review Panel co-ordinator on behalf of the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Team. She is engaged in a landscape restoration and management project for her local community, and she is also a Primary School Governor. When Liz is not working, she likes nothing more than to hang out with her family – especially when they are exploring the highlands of Scotland or walking in the Fens closer to home.
Helen Monk
Helen joined Liv Architects in 2023 and brought with her a wealth of knowledge as an experienced Architectural Technician. Helen has worked in a wide variety of fields including bespoke homes and extensions, larger scale housing projects, conservation, healthcare and education throughout her career, and utilizes that breadth of knowledge to ensure that her technical design work is efficient, practical and well considered.
Helen spent her early career in small and medium sized practices working on a variety of building types, following which she spent two years working on Heathrow Terminal 5, utilizing both 2D and BIM software as part of a wider design team. Since having her two children, Helen worked as a self-employed Architectural designer for 12 years, rediscovering her passion for domestic architecture, including getting ‘hands on’ extending and renovating various houses for her own family throughout that time. Having learnt her craft as an apprentice, Helen is currently in the process of applying to become a chartered Architectural Technologist through the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists.
Helen is a keen skier, cyclist, and runner, enjoying getting out into the Norfolk countryside as often as possible.
Tara Smyth
Tara is our office administrator, joining the team in 2020 following relocation to the area. With a wealth of experience in general administrative and secretarial duties, Tara keeps the practice running smoothly, as well as being the first point of contact on the phones and reception.
Alongside her day to day role, Tara has been instrumental in the implementation of new systems within the practice, helping the projects run smoothly and ensuring our clients have a seamless user experience.
Barney
Barney the Goldendoodle is our office dog, having spent his days in the studio since he was a tiny pup. He specialises in snoozes (often on people's feet), staring intently at the team when they are eating, bringing clients his ball in the hope of a game, and providing unconditional affection.
Barney completely understands that not everyone loves big dogs as much as our team, so if you're going to be visiting us and would prefer not to have him close by, just let us know.
