connecting, sharing, learning

A couple of weeks ago we had our quarterly away day - a chance for the Totnes and Bristol teams to come together, reflect on the work we’ve been doing and how we can improve the service we are delivering - as well as visit a new place and get some inspiration!

This quarter we hopped on the train to Exeter, and after a bit of a wander around the city, we gathered at a co-working space in the city centre.

The day was a great opportunity for each member of the team to present a project they have been working on. We always work collaboratively within the office, sharing ideas and feedback on current projects as well as drawing on the expertise of particular members of the team. However, it was a valuable exercise to step back and share an overview of our latest projects and learnings with everybody together in the same room (you can meet the team here!).

Adam shared with us a residential conversion of a Grade II listed building on Queen Square in Bristol which recently achieved planning.

Julian presented a new build eco home on a suburban back garden site.

Maria talked about two deep eco-retrofit projects which have been on site this year - a family home, and a youth centre in Bristol (above).

Jess presented a 26 home affordable housing scheme for Bristol City Council which will start on site next year.

David has recently been working on the Wapan Houses project, which has started on site with the stripping back of an existing 16th century farmhouse.

Dave shared an extensive retrofit in Old Sneed Park.

Ashley, Will and Rob presented a series of extensions and retrofit projects in rural settings, some at the early stages and some now complete.

Finally Sam shared Bridport Cohousing, a pioneering project of 53 affordable ecohomes in an AONB, which we’ve been involved in since 2014 - and which is now a thriving community.

It was great to reflect on the range of projects we get involved in - from small extensions, the ecological retrofit of existing homes, new family or multi-family houses, up to large community led or affordable housing projects - in a range of contexts across the south-west from tight urban contexts, to tricky rural sites. Despite the range of scales and contexts, all our projects (and the team) always have a focus on sustainability and on transforming how our clients live.