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CERTIFIED PASSIVE HOUSE TRADESPERSONTRADESPERSON

About Us

Better living, by design

What we stand for

We’re on a mission to help everyone live in beautiful, practical homes that have minimal impact on our planet.

Our lives are centred around our homes so why shouldn’t they be designed to maximise your happiness and health?

Who are we?

We live to create.
We are families and communities

We’re active, outdoor people with a passion for architecture. We’re fascinated with the way buildings are made; the nuts and bolts of the process.


our work

Based in Sheffield, but we work all over.

We work with lots of clients in Sheffield and Rotherham, Doncaster, Barnsley, Wakefield and Leeds. We also work outside of Yorkshire, particularly in Nottingham, Lincolnshire and Rutland.

In short, wherever you are. If you’ve got a great project we’d love to hear from you.

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Alan MacDonaldDirector

Alan loves problem-solving and working with clients to generate maximum value by designing beautiful buildings with challenging briefs. He’s a passionate mountain biker and committed skier who even braves Scottish conditions to get his fix.

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Paul TestaDirector

Paul’s vision when he founded HEM was to bring together his passion for sustainability and architecture to create beautiful and practical homes. He’s also a connoisseur of Sheffield’s finest coffee shops.

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Josh RollinStudio Lead

Josh has a wealth of experience delivering diverse and challenging residential projects in Sheffield, Manchester and London, as well as previously running his own practice. He’s passionate about improving quality of living; applying creative design to enhance the connection between people, homes and nature. He spends most of his spare time exploring the Peak District on bike or foot, indoor climbing or planning the next camping trip to the coast. 

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Anna RoperSenior Architect and certified Passivhaus Tradesperson

Anna loves to create excellent homes tailored to the people who live in them. She is also passionate about guiding and supporting our clients through the building process. Outside of work, you’ll find Anna reading or planning her next long-distance walking trail. Her favourite walk so far has been the West Highland Way, and she’d love to complete all of the UK national trails one day.

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Kate DuckhamSenior Architect

Kate’s passion lies in user-centred design and she looks to create clever, surprising yet delightful spaces. Outside of work she attempts to tick items off her list of DIY tasks, ongoing from her own home renovation. But when that all gets too much you’ll find her practicing yoga or hiking in the Peaks with her family.

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Henry McBrienProject Architect

Henry has a passion for sustainability and looks to deliver creative solutions. His experiences studying at the University of Sheffield and in the Netherlands have given him a rich experience of the built environment. 
Away from the office, Henry is a keen traveller and enjoys documenting his experiences through photography. He also enjoys walking in the Peak District and the music scene in Sheffield.

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Elena QuattriProject Lead

Elena has a strong academic background, having studied in both the UK and the Netherlands. Her love for architecture has taken her across Europe and the UK, gaining valuable insights from projects in Luxembourg and Italy. With a particular passion for retrofit, Elena is driven to contribute to sustainable and efficient building solutions.
Outside of work, Elena enjoys baking cakes, reading and DIY.

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Nathan StocksProject Architect

Nathan has a track record of delivering high-quality projects. He enjoys overcoming technical and planning challenges and has a passion for retrofit and reuse. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking in the Peak District, playing badminton, and occasionally indulging in single-malt whisky.

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Mami Masuda BackPart II Architectural Assistant

Mami has experience in Japan and the UK and has delivered multi-scale projects, focusing on creating better environments for people. She loves pottery and occasionally organises Japanese tea ceremonies with the pottery from her home region.

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Yarni ChohanPart II Architectural Assistant

Yarni recently finished his masters in architecture. He loves to study and write about architectural theory but in his spare time, he will be found filming mountain biking videos in various places around the UK. 

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Liam SeamanArchitectural Technologist

Liam joined the practice in 2017 and has been developing his expertise in sustainable design and detailing since then. He’s especially interested in retrofitting older buildings to make them warmer and much more sustainable. When he’s not at work, you’re likely to find Liam either supporting his beloved Leeds United football team, with his head in a book (the older, the better) or watching a film you’ve never heard of at the cinema.

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George RidgewayArchitectural Technologist

George has a Masters in Sustainable Architecture and a keen interest in Passivhaus and retrofit projects, and all the technical challenges that may arise. 
Outside of work, George enjoys cycling into the peaks (despite all of the up-hill climbs!) and playing for his charity football team ‘Football for Foodbanks’.

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Steve SmithOffice & Projects Manager

Steve is responsible for streamlining the way we operate in the practice. He’s always had a keen interest in creative projects and a fascination with how each stage of the process unfolds. Outside of office life, you will usually find Steve running, cycling or walking his dogs through the peaks. He’s also a passionate supporter of Everton FC, but sometimes doesn’t like to admit it.

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Jacob Godfrey-HolmesMarketing Manager

Jacob is responsible for our sales and marketing. He wants to make sure all our customers have a brilliant experience with us. Jacob likes to keep up with films, music, sport and culture when he’s not working.

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