About Composition Design
Behind every successful project is an architect who understands not just how a building should look, but how it should be designed, planned and constructed in practice — and who stays with you from the first idea to the finished result.
Discuss Your ProjectArchitecture designed around your property, your plans, and your future
Reshaping a property is one of the biggest things most people take on. You want more space, a better layout, or a building that finally works the way you live or work – and you want it done well, without the budget running away or the project stalling halfway through.
That takes an architect who listens first, designs around you, and understands how a building is actually built. Someone who is there from the first conversation to the day the work is finished. That is what Composition Design exists to do.
Meet Jonathan Woodcock
Composition Design is my RIBA chartered architecture practice. I'm Jonathan Woodcock, and I've spent thirty years in design and construction – across residential, commercial and leisure projects, including time as a director of a design-and-build practice.
That background shapes how I work. Because I've seen projects through on site as well as at the drawing board, I understand not only how a building should look, but how it is genuinely put together, what it will cost, and where things tend to go wrong. So the design I create for you is one that can actually be built – ambitious where it should be, grounded in reality, and considered against budget from the very beginning.
I'm also a chartered member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB). In short: "architect" is a protected title in the UK, and only those registered with the ARB – the body set up by Parliament to regulate the profession – can use it. RIBA chartered status goes a step further, reflecting a recognised standard of training, professional conduct and ongoing development. For you, it's a simple assurance that your project is in qualified, accountable hands.
A collaborative approach, built around you
Every project is different, so I start with an open mind. The best solutions come from the site itself and from your brief – not from a house style imposed on top. I listen, absorb what matters to you, and design around how you want to live or work.
Throughout, I keep things clear. You'll always understand what's happening, why it matters, and what comes next – no jargon, no surprises. The aim is simple: inventive, practical design that makes the very most of your property's potential, delivered with care for both budget and timescale.
- I listen first. Your brief and your property lead the design, not the other way around.
- I design to be built. Ideas that are imaginative but always grounded in construction reality.
- I keep you informed. Clear communication at every stage, so you're never left guessing.
- I stay involved. From the first sketch to completion on site, not just to the point of planning.
What I can help you with
From a single extension to a complete new home, my work is broad – spanning new apartment developments, bespoke home extensions, and plenty in between, with a little furniture design along the way.
Residential architecture
New build homes, extensions, loft and basement conversions, and full house refurbishments – from contemporary family spaces to luxury homes.
Commercial & developments
New apartment developments and commercial schemes, designed around how the space needs to work and what planners will support.
Period & listed buildings
Sensitive work to listed buildings and properties in conservation areas, blending period character with the comfort of a modern home.
From first sketch to finished build
I work to the RIBA Plan of Work, taking your project through all seven stages. You can have my help across the whole journey, or tailored to the parts you need.
We start with you
I listen to your brief and study the property and its context, so the design is rooted in what you want and what the site allows.
We design and plan
I develop the design, navigate planning, and prepare the detailed drawings needed to build it properly – keeping you informed throughout.
We see it through
I stay involved on site, coordinating the team and monitoring cost and programme, so the finished result is what we set out to create.
Serving Surrey and South West London
Based in Surbiton, I work with homeowners and developers throughout Surrey and South West London, as well as further across the capital. A selection of the areas I cover:
Surrey
Let's discuss what your property could become
If you are considering an extension, a new build or a thoughtful refurbishment, send an enquiry through the form. I will review your property and come back to you with how I can help and the sensible next steps – the easiest way to get your project moving.