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Cornwall site visit
Cornwall site visit

Saturday, 15 March 2025

This spring, our studio took part in a memorable site visit to Cornwall, organised and led by HE Architects. The trip provided a refreshing break from the studio, giving our team a chance to explore the region’s rich architectural landscape and natural beauty together. It was a valuable opportunity to reflect on place, materiality, and context—key themes in our ongoing design work.

Over the course of the visit, we explored a range of historic and contemporary sites. Our journey began in St Ives, where we visited the Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. These spaces offered inspiration through their integration of art, architecture, and the dramatic Cornish coastline. We also made a stop at the Leach Pottery studio, where craft and tradition continue to shape the local creative identity.

We then travelled further south to explore vernacular architecture across the Cornish countryside, from granite farmhouses to fishermen’s cottages nestled in coastal villages like Mousehole and Porthleven. Each site offered insights into the use of local materials, passive environmental strategies, and the relationship between buildings and landscape.

A highlight of the trip was our group walk along the South West Coast Path near Zennor. With panoramic views and fresh sea air, the walk sparked meaningful conversations about our own design processes, sustainable practice, and the importance of grounding architecture in its environment.

Throughout the visit, HE Architects facilitated thoughtful discussions, encouraging us to critically engage with what we observed and to draw connections between the built and natural world. The Cornwall site visit not only deepened our collective understanding of regional character but also strengthened the bonds within our team. We returned to the studio recharged, inspired, and ready to apply these reflections to our own design work.

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