download our free project guides

start with our footsteps guide…

Footsteps guide

This takes you through how we work on each of the RIBA stages, and gives you a good idea of what to expect, from costs to what consultants you might need, and the types of drawings we produce at each stage.

Cover of a book titled 'footsteps: step by step: a client's guide' with a background of a modern kitchen and outdoor patio. The book is published by Barefoot Architects and RIBA Chartered Practice.
Interior of a modern kitchen with brick walls, wooden ceiling, and large window. A man in a blue jacket stands near the window, looking outside. Outside, there is a wooden playhouse with a slide, a picnic table, and a garden. Text overlay promotes sustainability and storytelling in home design.
Two men standing side by side smiling, one with curly blonde hair and a blue sweater, the other with short hair, glasses, and a patterned jacket. Above them is a black wall lamp. To the right of the image is a block of text with quotes about sustainable home building and the work of Rob Totnes and Sam Bristol.

a place to grow

A guide that explores the collaboration between Barefoot Architects and the Bridport Community Land Trust in developing Hazelmead. Through thoughtful design and community-led planning, the project sets a precedent for how housing can promote well-being, foster strong social connections, and minimise environmental impact.

Group of people gardening and planting flowers in a community garden, with a yellow overlay containing the text 'a place to grow' and 'Hazelmead Bridport Cohousing CLT'.

eco homes guide

Our eco homes guide presents case studies of a few of our projects, with summaries of the individual briefs, the RIBA stages undertaken, input from contractors and collaborators, and a guide to the costs that were involved.

Venn diagram with four overlapping circles in brown, blue, green, and yellow. Inside the circles, a white outline of a house contains the words 'eco homes'. The top says 'barefoot architects' in yellow and white. The bottom includes the RIBA logo and awards, such as 'Winner RIBA South West Award 2021', 'Small Project of the Year RIBA South West Award 2021', and 'Project Architect of the Year RIBA South West Award 2021'.
Design presentation for a mid-century house by Barefoot Architects, showing a modern brick house with large windows, a sloped roof, and a landscaped yard, with informational text on the left side about project details, stages, input from consultants, and costs.
Design proposal for a terrace house by Barefoot Architects; includes details on project scope, stages, inputs, costs, and a landscape rendering with trees and green vegetation.

paragraph 84 guide

Our downloadable guide explains what a paragraph 84 project consists of, why it aligns with our regenerative design ethos, and our approach to creating a truly exceptional home!

A yellow background with a white circle in the center containing overlapping multicolored circles. The text at the top reads 'barefoot architects'. Inside the white circle, there is the text 'para 84' with 'para' in white and '84' in yellow, and below, it says 'a client's guide to how we work'. At the bottom, it says 'RIBA Chartered Practice' with a logo.
A graphic from Barefoot Architects showcasing their approach to ecological projects, featuring a circular diagram with sections labeled 'why,' 'who,' 'where,' and 'what,' surrounded by mission statements and a Venn diagram highlighting community values.
Design plans and images of a self-build family house in Sussex, featuring sections of the house, construction stages, and finished external views showing different roofing and facade materials.

affordable housing guide

We have built a reputation for undertaking innovative affordable housing projects across the South West on challenging sites. Our affordable housing guide gives you an idea of how we work to design better futures together.

Construction site with building scaffolding and equipment at sunset. Overlaid infographic shows overlapping circles labeled "clients as collaborators," "vision with values," and "sustainable housing projects," with the central text "affordable housing."
Illustration of a community yard with people, trees, and various buildings, promoting sustainable architecture and landscape design by Barefoot Architects.
A group of people gathered around a table discussing design, with some pointing at a digital tablet, in a workshop setting, in an image promoting co-designed affordable homes by Barefoot Architects.

building community guide

Building community-led homes matters to us. This is how we do it! Download our simple guide and learn how we might help you. It covers what you need to enable the project, how we can support you, who else is likely to be involved and an idea of costs.

A colorful Venn diagram with four circles overlapping, titled 'building community'. The circles are labeled 'co-design process', 'added values', 'community-led affordable housing', and the central overlap features the text 'building community'. The background is yellow, and the diagram is from Barefoot Architects.
A group of older adults standing outside a building, holding signs that say 'BRIDPORT'. They are smiling and appear happy, with some making peace signs. The background features a modern brick building with glass windows. The image is part of an informational graphic about the 'group' stage of a project or community initiative.
Infographic about Barefoot Architects' process for community housing development, featuring steps like resident tours, sharing ideas, exploring issues, participatory design, sustainability, interactive models, creative concepts, 3D tools, and planning.