contemporary, creative, caring architecture
The Practice
The practice was set up in 2014 following the completion of Nic and Carolyn’s home in Cyncoed which provided the impetus for them to resign as Directors of their previous large commercial practice and to form the current partnership.
Operating initially from our home at Ty Oriel, the team grew rapidly as a wide range of commissions were awarded to the practice over the first year. In 2016, the practice outgrew the first office and relocated to the town centre in The Creative Quarter, Cardiff at the beginning of 2016.. The development of the practice stabilised during 2017 and gave us the confidence to build our own purpose built offices back at Ty Oriel. This is a separate space, with its own front door and stairs, views over the surrounding hills and a shorter commute! We moved in at the end of 2017.
The practice continues to flourish, with a wide variety of projects which reflect the extensive experience of the two partners. We have a number of high profile projects as well as numerous bespoke one-off houses and significant conversions for individual clients. We continue to work for both commercial developers and private clients as our background ensures a high level of commercial understanding as well as the desire to provide a more personal service on one-off projects.
In 2021 we invited Rob Boltman to become a Partner in recognition of his contribution to the work of the practice.
We have close ties with the Royal Society of Architects in Wales and provide mentoring to students of the Welsh School of Architecture each year. Carolyn is a Past President of the Royal Society of Architects in Wales (RSAW).
How we work
Sustainabilty
We care deeply about the environment, so sustainable construction and a ‘fabric first’ approach provides the guiding hand on our projects. All buildings have a lasting impact on the environment and we are keen to educate our clients on the best options for them which are available and affordable in the long term.
Design Process
Carolyn, Nic and Rob bring a personal service to all of their commissions based on their many years of experience on a wide variety of building types. Their small team ensures this personal touch continues throughout the process through to completion. Our high emphasis on design and the design process ensuring that the client is involved from the outset and ensures the eventual creative solutions exceed client expectations.
Working in 3D
All of our projects from sketch design through construction to completion are built virtually using the computer to ensure our clients can visualise exactly what they are getting. We use both three dimensional computer and physical models to explain our work, including Virtual Reality headsets so our clients can ‘walk’ through the buildings and truly understand the spaces. The designs and details are tested out long virtually before they get to site to try and eliminate later problems
People
Nic Downs
Partner
Elizabeth Hillier
.
Carolyn Merrifield
Partner
Kalina Marinovska
.
Rob Boltman
Partner
The Directors
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