Cupola Design

Business Details

Structural Engineering Solutions for Residential, Commercial & Heritage Projects

We are a structural engineering practice established to deliver innovative and sustainable design solutions for residential, commercial, and heritage projects. With over 20 years of experience, we collaborate closely with clients, architects, and contractors to transform visions into practical, code-compliant structures. Our expertise spans new builds, refurbishments, and conservation projects, utilising advanced engineering software to address site-specific challenges. Sustainability underpins our approach, integrating principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle into every project.

Our team, led by a Chartered Structural Engineer with extensive global experience, ensures precision from concept to completion. We specialise in basement impact assessments, building regulations approvals, and party wall awards, serving London and surrounding areas. Our commitment to quality assurance and client satisfaction has solidified our reputation as a trusted partner in structural design.

Services

Residential structural design Commercial building engineering Heritage conservation Basement impact assessments Building regulations documentation

Highlights and features

We offer 20+ years of structural engineering expertise across diverse project types.
Our team collaborates directly with architects and contractors for seamless integration.
Sustainability principles guide all our design decisions and material selections.
We specialise in heritage conservation and Listed building refurbishments.
Our engineers utilise advanced software to solve complex structural challenges.

Associations and certifications

Institution of Structural Engineers

Website

Update Listing

Services

Residential structural design

We design structural solutions for residential projects including loft conversions, rear extensions, and basements. Our engineers ensure compliance with building regulations while optimising space and aesthetics. Utilising advanced software, we address site constraints to deliver safe, cost-effective designs tailored to client needs.

Heritage conservation

Specialising in heritage structures, we provide structural assessments and refurbishment solutions for Listed buildings. Our expertise includes foundation analysis, seismic-resistant design, and historical material preservation. We balance conservation requirements with modern functionality across residential and public projects.

Building regulations documentation

We prepare comprehensive documentation for Building Regulations Approval, including structural calculations and compliance reports. Our submissions ensure projects meet safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency standards, facilitating smooth approvals for new builds and renovations.

Commercial building engineering

We deliver structural designs for commercial developments, from retail spaces to office complexes. Our approach integrates sustainability with commercial viability, addressing load-bearing requirements, spatial efficiency, and long-term durability for developers and contractors.

Basement impact assessments

Our assessments evaluate structural and environmental impacts of basement construction. We provide detailed reports for planning applications, addressing ground stability, water ingress risks, and party wall considerations to ensure safe, compliant subterranean developments.

People

Adrian Ayora

Company Director

Chartered Structural Engineer with 20+ years' experience in residential, commercial, and heritage projects. Led major schemes including Crossrail Whitechapel Station and The Grove - Eltham. Specialises in conservation and sustainable design methodologies.

Questions

What types of projects does Cupola Design specialise in?

We focus on residential extensions, commercial buildings, and heritage conservation projects, including Listed buildings and transport infrastructure refurbishments.

Do you provide services outside London?

While based in London, we serve clients across the M25 area and undertake projects requiring specialist structural engineering expertise nationwide.

How do you ensure sustainability in your designs?

We integrate reduce, reuse, recycle principles, specify eco-friendly materials, and optimise structural efficiency to minimise environmental impact across all projects.

Can you assist with Listed building refurbishments?

Yes, our director has extensive experience in heritage conservation, including structural assessments and sympathetic refurbishments of historic properties.

What documentation do you provide for planning applications?

We prepare basement impact assessments, building regulations submissions, and party wall award documentation to support planning approvals.

Reviews (3)

Write a Review

Gita Subrahmanyam

Nov 19, 2021 Report

I found Adrian Ayora of Cupola Design to be incompetent and dishonest. He charged me 175+VAT, which had to be paid in advance of his visit to my property, to assess the structure of a two-meter wall - and he managed to misdiagnose one part of the wall. He decided it was brick, rather than a single piece of plywood (!), which he would have been able to ascertain simply by knocking on the wall to check whether it was hollow or solid. Instead he glanced at the wall and determined its structure without a thorough investigation, because he was too busy trying to convince me to hire him to do further

Justin Colley

Aug 22, 2021 Report

Highly recommended - excellent experience, fully happy with the work. Adrian assessed the nature of a load-bearing wall in my flat and produced a report for evidence. He performed the work diligently, efficiently and in a fully professional manner. I initially had reservations stemming from the negative review below - I raised this with Adrian before proceeding with any work and we had an open chat about it, after which I considered it appropriate to disregard the review. I would fully recommend Adrian to anyone looking for any interior design/structural work :)

Sara Milocco

Jan 19, 2021 Report

I used Cupola Design for a substantial loft conversion. I found them very precise and detailed in their calculations and drawings, which I appreciated as the architect I had employed was not particularly experienced and, probably for this reason, lacked the sense of proportions/head space/use of different materials. They always looked at the bigger picture and at safety, which for me was paramount.
Adrian was extremely knowledgeable, very helpful and prompt whenever I emailed or rang.
An excellent service all round.