As 2024 draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on a year filled with innovation, collaboration, and community spirit. From transformative projects to exciting team milestones, this has been a year to remember. Here’s a look back at what we’ve achieved together.
This year brought new opportunities and challenges, with the government’s Levelling Up fund opening doors to projects that truly matter. We’ve been delighted to contribute to several community-driven initiatives, making a tangible difference across Cornwall. Plans for renovating Budock Water’s village hall will revitalised this beloved space, ensuring it remains the heart of the local community. At the same time, we’ve partnered with Gwennap Council to reimagine and redevelop the Gwennap Parish Rooms into a vibrant, multifunctional space. Our work with Stithians Council to create a local community hub further underscored our commitment to designing places that bring people together.
On the residential front, 2024 marked a record year for new builds. A single-story dwelling designed for a client looking to downsize within their current garden has been a rewarding project, balancing simplicity with elegance. Another new home, nestled in a tree-lined plot just outside a nearby village, captures the serenity of its surroundings while providing a modern sanctuary for its owners. We’ve also had the privilege of designing a substantial sustainable home, where the client’s meticulous attention to detail guided every step of the design process.
In addition to new builds, we’ve worked on an array of extensions and full-house renovations, tackling projects across all stages of the RIBA framework. With 25 projects submitted for planning this year, it’s been a dynamic and rewarding period for the team. Among the highlights have been major renovations to period properties, where history and contemporary design are perfectly balanced. We’ve also seen the completion of full-house refurbishments on coastal homes, tailored to embrace Cornwall’s stunning vistas, and crafted “forever homes” for families, ensuring they have spaces that truly reflect their stories and aspirations.
This year, our point cloud scanner has continued to revolutionise the way we approach projects. The scanner’s ability to capture fine details, from leaning walls and bowing floors to breathtaking views, has significantly enhanced our designs and decision-making processes. This has also gained external recognition, with Leica — the company behind the scanner — sending their team to Cornwall to learn more about how we integrate this tool into our Virtual Reality software.
This year we welcomed Molly, Meg and Peta back from maternity leave, with Peta embracing a new role as an architectural assistant and exploring fresh aspects of Marraum’s workload. While we said a fond farewell to Amelia, who is pursuing her Part II studies full-time, we’re excited to see her grow in the next stage of her architectural journey.
This year, we continued to support causes close to our hearts, particularly the Cornwall Wildlife Trust (CWT) and their Seaquest Southwest project. From attending the annual marine recorders’ evening at Tremough to enjoying a summer snorkelling adventure on the Helford, it’s been inspiring to see the dedication of volunteers working to protect our natural world.
Our team days have been a highlight, offering a chance to get out of the office and see things from a different perspective. Combining team training with pottery workshops at Clay Trapp in Helston to a thrilling escape room challenge in Falmouth, our team days are important and much enjoyed events in the diary.
As we close out 2024, we’re filled with gratitude for our clients, consultants and communities we work with. Each project, conversation, and collaboration has brought us closer to our vision of creating spaces that inspire and connect.
Here’s to an even brighter 2025, where we’ll continue crafting meaningful designs and building stronger communities. Get in touch with us today if you have a project in mind for the coming year.
Happy New Year from all of us at Marraum!