By Doug Hughes, Principal Architect and Managing Director
Place matters. It influences how people live, work and interact with their surroundings. It also shapes how architects think.
Shrewsbury, with its layered history, incredible townscape and relationship with the surrounding landscape, has had a profound influence on how we approach our work.
“Working in a town like Shrewsbury reinforces the importance of context. Every decision has an impact beyond a site’s boundary,” says Doug Hughes.
Learning from historic environments
Shrewsbury is defined by its historic fabric, from medieval street patterns to listed buildings and conservation areas. Designing within that context demands care, understanding and respect.
That does not mean avoiding contemporary design. It means ensuring that new work responds intelligently to what already exists.
Working regularly with historic buildings has sharpened our understanding of proportion, materiality and detail. These lessons carry through into all types of projects, including new builds and commercial work.
A grounded, collaborative approach
Being based in Shrewsbury (11 Wyle Cop) keeps our work rooted in real communities rather than abstract ideas. Clients here expect honesty, clarity and practical and cost effective solutions.
That has shaped a collaborative way of working in which listening is just as important as designing. It encourages long-term thinking and discourages short-term fixes.
“Our work here reminds us that architecture is about people first, buildings second,” Doug explains.
Taking local values elsewhere
Although Shrewsbury is an important base, the influence extends far beyond the town itself. The principles learned here inform projects across the region and beyond.
Respect for context, careful use of resources and a commitment to quality are not location-specific values. They are habits developed through experience.
“Shrewsbury has taught us to design with care and responsibility. That mindset travels with us wherever we work,” says Doug.
It is not just where we are based. It is part of how we think.
