A highly creative architect who worked closely with us to produce a stunning, light, contemporary home that is a joy to live in, and which ‘sits’ comfortably in its space and surroundings. Brian clearly understood what we were looking for in our house – and turned our dreams into reality. Fifteen years later, our house still looks beautiful, often evoking admiring comments from passers-by, and from our friends who love to come and stay with us.

Comment from Brian
Thank you for your lovely review Kate. I’m really happy that the house has worked so well for you and that you have been enjoying it with family and friends over the years.

I am a structural engineer and have worked with Brian Hoolahan on various construction projects over the last 20 years. Brian is very well informed and as well as having an eye for contemporary architecture understands the technical detail throughout all aspects of the construction process and ensures delivery of high quality buildings ultimately providing minimal future maintenance for clients.

Brian Hoolahan was the architect and contractor for a modern extension with big windows and external wooden cladding. This doubled the size of our house. We lived in the house for most of the time during the construction. We are delighted with the end result and actually enjoyed the whole design and construction process. The work force were all pleasant and efficient and we are still on good terms with all of them. I strongly recommend Brian Hoolahan Architect.

Comment from Brian
Thank you both so much for your review. I am really pleased that it worked out well and you are enjoying the new spaces. And that you enjoyed the construction process.

Brian was instrumental in the development of our dream home. His work over two phases 10 years apart was sensitive and thoughtful, creating spaces and vistas that continue to delight our family and guests daily. Not only do shapes and flows work so well, but the sensitive choice of materials and finishes continue to give pleasure. Brian worked with both budgetary and planning constraints to make the very best of the opportunity, and we would have no hesitation in recommending him to anyone looking for a sensitive and thoughtful architect to work with.

Comment from Brian
Thank you both for your lovely review. I have really enjoyed revisiting your home for the second phase and am so pleased that it works so well for you and your family and friends.

The house was completed in 2002.
For us at ‘Seagrass’ this remains as a brilliant design and build of a single storey wooden house, work place and home for two practicing artists. It was carried out by a highly imaginative and practical architect despite the local planning restrictions, and he has provided us and our family with a perfect place to live and work in.
It is modern yet it tunes in perfectly to the harbour surroundings and thoroughly deserves the award given it by West Sussex County Council, including the very favourable comments from Chichester Harbour Conservancy.

Comment from Brian
Thank you so much Ron and Willow for your review and kind words. It’s a privilege to have seen Seagrass lived in and appreciated so well over more than twenty years, and particularly to see it fulfill its purpose as a home, working studios and gallery and exhibition space which has seen many wonderful events since 2002.

Brian Hoolahan acted as our principal architect as we embarked on our project to replace our harbour fronted home in Chichester. The location of the property was particularly sensitive as it is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Our brief was for Brian’s practice to design a family home using traditional materials whilst at the same time satisfying some of the highest environmental standards with respect to energy efficiency and material sourcing – including ground source heating and significant reliance on a sustainably sourced oak structure as an alternative to steel. Further, as residents of Bosham we very much required that our new home was to be sympathetic towards the local environment, being close to Bosham village and its grade 1 listed Anglican church.
Brian led all aspects of the design and planning approval process – which included satisfying the requirements of the District and Parish councils as well as other authorities, including Chichester Harbour Conservancy.
Following planning approval, Brian, through his construction company, Harbour Contractors, project managed the build covering all aspects of compliance and certification addressing architectural matters as they arose.
We were delighted in choosing Brian’s organisation for our project and were able to benefit from his many years of professional experience as well as his deep architectural knowledge, having developed many projects throughout West Sussex.

Comment from Brian
Thank you both so much – I really enjoyed working with you as well as the challenges of such a special site. It has been very rewarding to have produced a design and specification which is right for you and also the many people who live in the village and those who visit this beautiful place, all of whom feel protective towards it.