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 'life', 'shelter', 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.
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Lucy Furniss
Having grown up in Norfolk, Lucy joined Liv in 2024 after relocating ‘back home’ from rural Somerset where she has worked for over 15 years. Working on mainly residential projects for one-off bespoke clients as well as small scale developers Lucy has experience in seeing projects from inception to completion and thoroughly enjoys seeing her clients dreams coming to life.
She has a deep passion for residential projects with creative and sustainable solutions, but also those that are realistically liveable and most importantly, affordable. In her spare time she can be found renovating a house or flexing her competitive streak on the netball court. And when moments of relaxation are required she will be quietly cruising round the canal system on her narrowboat.
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Jim Turner
Jim joined Liv Architects in 2023 as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant following on from his studies at Nottingham Trent University, gaining professional experience ahead of continuing his professional development towards his RIBA Part 2 qualifications.
Prior to joining Liv, Jim worked for a small Norfolk based practice that specialised primarily in churches and other historical buildings, working alongside local parishes and councils to maintain the vast heritage in and out of the county. This experience has fed Jim's love of Conservation Architecture, a passion he brings with him to Liv. This experience also helped developed his drafting skills by producing solely hand drawn technical and detailed designs for these projects.
Jim is incredibly passionate about history, being involved with the 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum, and is a keen climber and runner, as well as loving to get outside with his two black labs.
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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.
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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.
