Team

As Head of Architecture, I manage our In-House and Regional Architectural Design team. We have a fantastic range of skillsets and lovely personalities, and together we offer a strong Architectural service, facilitating some incredible designs from Design and Planning, through to Building Regulations and Technical Detailing. I work closely with many of the departments within Oakwrights, and in particular our Sales team, from carrying out initial client and site visits – listening to and understanding our client’s needs and dreams, considering and advising on Planning policy and strategy, and delivering concept design ideas, offering our Architectural services. I oversee the daily running of our In-House Planning and Building Regulations projects, ensuring an outstanding and enjoyable client journey.

I love to meet our clients and see their projects develop – each client and site is unique, and as we have never built the same house twice, each Oakwrights design is bespoke, carefully crafted using thought from making the first drawing line on paper to scribing the carpenter’s marks into the oak! We have a unique product – one that has been tried and tested and pushes boundaries using a stunning natural material, offering style and versatility from traditional to contemporary aesthetics, yet all appearing timeless in character, and that creates quality Architecture. I enjoy leading, coaching, and mentoring our Architectural team members and seeing them grow. The company values drive the Oakwrights ethos, and it is fantastic to work with my fellow colleagues who are passionate about our products and being leaders in the oak-framing industry. We are a work family, working together with the same goal and focus to create homes of Architectural beauty, that will last and be enjoyed for many generations to come.

I have had the privilege of working on hundreds of Oakwrights projects at various stages since 2015. I run the In-House Architectural team as a collaborative design force, which allows a strong concept to begin, and this naturally evolves as we get to know the Client and site more as we work together. We have some fantastic Architectural designers and experience and it’s so exciting to listen to new ideas and see how we can shape a building wonderfully, exceeding a client’s expectations.
I particularly enjoy considering the local vernacular and site, the light, orientation, views, materials, texture and form to create a design, making each tailored to their setting, and seeing the clients bring their own personality to the design ‘melting pot’ is always a pleasure too. The lovely thing is the variety of wonderful briefs we get – we may be working on a modest 100sqm 2-bedroomed cabin set in a woodland, to a 250sqm family home in a coastal town, or a 500sqm home on a rural lakeside – all are attended to carefully – no two days are ever the same, and that is so exciting! We are proud to create dream homes, and that’s an incredibly special thing to be part of!

My role is to support and organise the architectural design team.

I’m fairly new to the company and the role, but from day one I was made to feel so welcome. Quite simply, I love houses, so working at Oakwrights is a dream job for me.
It’s amazing to be involved in the process of designing and building a bespoke oak frame house for a client and so massively exciting.

I love looking through all the different buildings and homes that have been designed and built by Oakwrights. Everything that we build is beautiful – even our offices are filled with oak and fabulous, especially the meeting room. A local chapel that we designed and erected is pretty cool and as it’s a chapel, it seems even more special.

I joined Oakwrights in 2020 as an Architectural Assistant and Team Leader. I studied at the University of the West of England, earning my Undergraduate and Master's degrees in Architecture. Currently, I am balancing work and further studies to complete my Architecture degree. My role involves working closely with clients to craft bespoke designs, ranging from sleek, contemporary homes to charming, traditional oak-framed cottages and farmhouses. My ultimate goal is to create homes that reflect each client's unique lifestyle and vision.

What I love most about my job is the opportunity to collaborate directly with clients. Seeing their ideas evolve into well-developed designs is incredibly rewarding. It's a privilege to tailor each project personally for the client, ensuring their new home perfectly matches their needs and aspirations.

I graduated with my undergraduate degree in Architecture in 2020 and I completed my master’s at UWE in 2023 through the degree apprenticeship program. I have several years’ experience working on a variety of projects across Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and the South West. Currently, I am in the process of completing my Part 3 qualification, the final step in my journey to becoming a fully qualified architect.

What I love most about my job is the opportunity to craft creative planning strategies for challenging plots and collaborate with clients to develop design proposals that bring their visions to life. I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of overcoming constraints and the rewarding process of turning unique requirements into thoughtful, functional designs.

My favourite oak frame project is the contemporary barn-style home in Suffolk, a bespoke self-build home that blended traditional oak construction with modern design. The design features a fully glazed rear gable which takes advantage of the views of the rear garden and floods the inside of the property with daylight.

Working at Oakwrights I have the privilege of bringing client’s visions to life. My role involves designing bespoke oak frame houses and then navigating projects through the planning stages, ensuring our designs meet all necessary requirements.

I find great joy in witnessing the transformation of a client's vision into reality throughout the entire process. From that initial spark of excitement when we deliver the initial drawings all the way through to the finished oak-framed house, it's a journey filled with anticipation and fulfilment. The genuine smiles on our clients' faces, as they see their dreams take shape, is the most rewarding aspect of my job. It's a reminder that what we do at Oakwrights goes beyond architecture; it's about creating homes that inspire happiness and lasting memories.

It's challenging to pick a favourite Oakwrights project because each one carries its unique charm and wow factor. However, I have a particular interest in custom build sites like Webbs Meadow, where custom-built homes come together to form a vibrant community, showcasing a variety of Oakwrights houses.

That being said, I also hold a special fondness for the more compact and thoughtfully designed oak frame houses. These projects prioritize high performance, comfort, and long-term cost-effectiveness, creating homes that stand as testaments to both architectural excellence and practicality. In essence, it's not just about the size or grandeur of a project, but the way it enhances lives and complements the surroundings that truly captures my admiration.

I joined Oakwrights as a member of the Academy, gaining practical experience to help support my design experience. I spent two years within the machine shop and encapsulation workshops and then went on to work within the Estimating department, gaining concept design and pricing experience. I eventually moved to the Architecture department in September 2022.

I enjoy being able to see a project from early concept, through the design process, to the manufacture and construction.

A difficult question! I enjoy projects which offer a high level of contextual detail for me to work with and generate a highly detailed model from. My favourite Projects are those that have a habitable specification as they offer an interesting level of complexity.

I work in the Architecture department helping to design and deliver bespoke Oak Framed Houses. From our base here in Herefordshire, I am fortunate to see design projects from all around the country move through their production to delivery.

Each project presents a unique set of criteria driven by the nature of the project and the clients themselves. This means that each venture is always different to the last and presents a new opportunity to be part of a very special project. I enjoy our set up at Oakwrights, where a number of different professions are all working collaboratively to deliver a beautiful building. To have the production of our designs happening within the company itself is truly unique, as is the ability to show clients this process in the workshops themselves.

Projects that are inspired to work with the local vernacular to shape their form and narrative. This is important in order to complement and enhance the unique context of which our Oakwrights properties will become a part of. Every architectural project has a responsibility to stitch itself into the tapestry of place and it’s our job to make this happen.

I produce building regulation drawings to ensure Oakwrights bespoke projects meet and exceed the requirements for building regulation standards.

I really enjoy detailing and problem-solving for bespoke projects. As our projects are all bespoke they all require unique solutions. I also love communicating with other teams in the business. We have a brilliant collective of individuals, so I really enjoy drawing on them for their input and expertise.

One of my favourites is the Passivhaus Bed & Breakfast in Worcestershire which was the first oak-framed passivhaus in the Country. The design combines both technical design, and traditional oak frame aesthetics with the future of sustainable energy-saving buildings.

I have been undertaking design and planning work for Oakwrights clients since 2002, concentrating on the South East region of the country.

Since I started working with Oakwrights 20 years ago the pleasure of working with a company with so much passion and enthusiasm still exists to this day. It is still very much a team effort and the clients really do feel part of the team.

I cannot say that one particular project stands out. I have been so fortunate to work with so many wonderful clients and to see their dream realised is so rewarding. It is often the case that I first meet such clients at one of Oakwrights many open days. They are at the beginning of their self-build journey and the owners of the Oakwrights home are sharing their experience and offering sound advice to them. Experience tells me that, in the not too distant future they too will be opening their doors to new self-builders who have joined the Oakwrights community.

I have been a member of the Oakwrights design team since 2004 (20 years!!) as a Regional Architectural Designer. My main projects are located in East Anglia, Beds, Bucks, Northants, Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk but I can design anywhere. I often get asked about what I enjoy most about my job. I do not have a job. I have a passion for design which is integral to my existence and I just love sharing that with my clients.

I absolutely love meeting new clients, each of whom will have a story to tell. I relish the thought of a blank canvas and having the opportunity to manifest my client’s dreams into lines on paper which ultimately become beautifully crafted oak framed homes for them to enjoy with their family and friends.

I cannot single out any one project which would be my favourite but if pushed: Favourite most recent project would be Steve and Susanne Clarke because once again, I was lucky enough to find great clients with a great site and PJT Custom Build was awarded the building contract.

I joined the Oakwrights Architectural Design Team in 2014, as part of the Oakwrights Scottish division alongside my colleague Craig. Based in Ayrshire, South of Glasgow, I have 19 year of experience working in practice.

I joined the Oakwrights Architectural Design Team in 2014, as part of the Oakwrights Scottish division alongside my colleague Andrew. Based in Ayrshire, South of Glasgow, I have nearly 40 years of experience in architecture.

I work as part of the Oakwrights team providing the more detailed building regulation drawings, after planning approval has been gained. Guiding our clients through this often complicated process. As part of this service, I assist clients with the more technical details in relation to signing off the Oak frame. I have been working with Oakwrights since I first joined the Oakland Vale team in 2007.

Getting the chance to be part of the friendly team that work on beautiful oak framed homes. I also particularly enjoy it when I get the chance to visit the completed project, particularly when it is one where I have been involved from the conceptual stages, right through to completion.

It is difficult to choose just one. I have worked on a variety of projects, these include a number of oak framed dwellings of various sizes and styles, oak framed extensions of various sizes, and a number of dwellings with indoor swimming pools. One project that does stand out was The Waitrose Farmshop, the café part of this being particularly successful. I was pleased to be able to revisit, after completion and enjoy lunch with my family, under the oak pergola on a warm August day.

I have worked at Apex Architecture for 20 years and a Director and co owner of the practice since 2019. We have been working with Oakwrights since 2022 and have a great understanding of the framing principals to ensure our designs harmonise well into the framing process.

As a Chartered Architectural Technologist and Director of the practice, I have a wide range experience of project delivery on various project types and scales throughout the UK. From our three office locations in Cheltenham, Monmouth and the Forest of Dean, we service a wide area of the south west, typically within Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire and are familiar with the architectural styles which work well in this part of the UK. I have a love of great design and working with clients who wish to create beautiful oak framed homes, partnering with Oakwrights ensures the highest standards of framing and craftsmanship.

Managing a team of skilled Architects, fellow Chartered Architectural Technologists and Architectural Assistants has been and continues to be a rewarding aspect of day to day life at Apex.

I’m immensely proud of the development programmes we have at the practice as we support and develop the skills of the design team.

Client satisfaction coupled with excellent architecture is at the very centre of everything we strive to achieve. All of our design team have a strong ethos for excellent customer service and are committed to the delivery of exciting and interesting architecture coupled with efficient and practical buildings. Focussing on our client’s requirements from the outset ensures their designs are a true reflection of the client needs. As a result, our design led solutions continuously provide buildings and projects which are beautiful, well considered, practical to live with and efficient to build.