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DRIFT Journal
DRIFT ABODE
DRIFT Abode
There is a moment, standing before a building that has been conceived with genuine care, when you sense that something larger than aesthetics is at work. The structure reads as inevitable rather than imposed, as though the architect’s first instinct was to listen rather than to assert. This quality, rare and recognisable, is what separates architecture that endures from architecture that merely exists, and it begins with a single discipline: the willingness to let the landscape set the terms. To build with sustainability at the fore is not merely a technical decision. Moreover, it’s a philosophical acknowledgement that we are temporary custodians of the land and that what we raise upon it carries an obligation to the future as much as the present.
Designed for life
Words by Hannah Tapping With a new home of its own in Ashburton and a decade of exceptional work, architectural practice VESP designs high-quality architecture that roots itself in the sensitive landscapes of coast and moorland. Labrador Bay There is a house above the Shaldon coastline in South Devon where the building seems to have grown out of the hillside itself. Seen from the sea, it emerges as a bold two-storey statement of glass and dark timber; from the lane behind, it
4 min read
A reimagination of space
Words by Hannah Tapping Celebrating Frances Healy’s rich and varied contribution to interiors and exploring why the decoration of interior space is as significant as its structure. Frances Healy has always been artistic, something which she believes informs her design in a way that allows her to have an unashamed and strong sense of colour alongside an understanding of the necessity for good proportion. Having honed her interior design skills at Charles Hammond on Sloane Stre
4 min read
The heart of the matter
Words by Hannah Tapping Designing from the inside out and building from the ground up. There is a question that Kyle and the team behind Keynvor Kitchens ask every new client before anything else is committed to paper. Not what they want, but what they don’t like about their current kitchen. It sounds disarmingly simple, but it is precisely this inversion – beginning with frustration rather than aspiration that defines the Keynvor offer. Before a line is drawn or a finish sel
5 min read
Shaped by the landscape
Words by Hannah Tapping A design philosophy and aesthetic identity in response to Cornwall. Above: Uneeka interiors take inspiration from Cornish shores Few places shape a creative perspective quite like Cornwall. For Uneeka, the family-run brand known for its handcrafted furniture, distinctive homewares and tailored design services, the county’s rugged coastline, shifting light and untamed landscape have long been a source of inspiration. “It really does shape how we see thi
2 min read
So niche, so stylish
Words by Jamie Crocker In a world led by conventional uniformity, it’s refreshing to come across a company that is bucking that trend. When it comes to window dressing, there is a certain conservatism that often stifles originality. For generations in the UK, curtains have remained the default choice, more through habit than necessity. Yet there are alternatives that offer a more practical and versatile solution, providing privacy after dark while allowing far greater control
3 min read
New chapters
Words by Hannah Tapping Creators of layered and timeless designs, for Thirty Stories no two briefs lead to the same page. The first time I met Frankie Pritchard and Indie Robinson of Thirty Stories, I was struck by a passion and enthusiasm for design that was as refreshing as it was infectious. Meeting them again to talk about some new projects, they are no less fervent. Thirty Stories’ approach is rooted in personality and character: “We love sourcing antiques and unique pie
5 min read
Integrated from the begging
Words by Jamie Crocker Home technology that’s planned early mitigates against unnecessary disruption later. At some stage in the making of a house, there comes a moment when someone, standing in a freshly finished room, begins to wonder where the wiring is supposed to live. It is an awkward pause, usually followed by the slow realisation that the question has arrived too late. What follows is disruption: surfaces reopened, plans revisited, and a sense that something avoidable
2 min read
A natural immersion
Words by Hannah Tapping Combing the benefits of cold water with a sustainable build, a natural swimming pool is a choice that is good for both the environment and your garden aesthetic. Having heard of the myriad benefits a natural swimming pool brings, not least of which is a light touch on nature and excellent quality of water, I was intrigued to learn more. In conversation with Declan Hassall, owner of Cornwall Ponds, I was educated in the art of achieving a pool requiring
7 min read
Fired with passion
Words by Jamie Crocker The glass artist whose Cornish work refuses to become moribund. There are days when Jo knows exactly what she needs to achieve. A commission has a deadline, a client is expecting samples or a gallery requires stock. Then there are days when the work begins with little more than an idea and a willingness to experiment. It is this uncertainty, inherent within the nature of the process, that still excites her. After more than 30 years working with glass, J
5 min read
Enduring appeal
Words by Jamie Crocker Evolving architecture shaped by landscape and sustainability. Halswell ©Stil Studio For Nicholas James, founding director of KAST Architects, the story of the practice is inseparable from the life that shaped it. What began as a necessary recalibration during a period of personal upheaval has evolved into an influential studio rooted in Cornwall’s landscape and communities. Over the past decade, KAST has grown in both scale and reputation, yet its guidi
9 min read
The honest market
Words by Hannah Tapping Why Cornwall remains one of the most compelling places in the country to put down roots. If you’ve been paying attention to property headlines lately, you could be forgiven for feeling uncertain. There’s plenty of noise in the market: talk of nervousness, of rising mortgage rates, of a budget that briefly froze buyers in their tracks. But spend time with the team at Jackson-Stops’ Cornwall office and a rather different picture emerges. “It’s not as bad
7 min read
Measure to measure
Words by Jamie Crocker Two practices shape Cornwall’s built landscape through meticulous research and collaboration. Count House There is an enforced discipline in working along the Cornish coast, where land, weather and history press in like the rush of the tide, and where the margin for error is negligible. For Ian Chalk of Ian Chalk Architects and Robert Atkinson of RA Studio, that discipline has been refined through a decade of collaboration, a working relationship that d
5 min read
From one small rock pool
Words by Jamie Crocker Tucked away in the fishing village of Newlyn sits a gallery that is becoming something of a destination. Gyotaku inspired fabrics At first glance, Sea Moor Cornwall appears to be a small, quirky gallery on the Cornish coast. Yet, there’s something quite appealing, like the call of the sea enticing you to step inside. It quickly becomes clear that this is something rather different. Visitors arrive expecting artwork and often leave having experienced a s
4 min read
Building trust in Cornwall
Words by Jamie Crocker Construction shaped by communication and lasting relationships. In construction, reputation is earned through the quality of workmanship and the meeting of those all-important deadlines. Across Cornwall, J B Construction has built its rising reputation on precisely those foundations, creating a business that has expanded steadily while retaining the personal approach that first attracted clients to its door. Founded by Jamie Barratt and built with an em
5 min read
The place of Comfort
Words by Jamie Crocker From Dartmoor wool to hand stitching, every detail has a purpose. There aren’t many household purchases that influence daily life as profoundly as a bed, yet it remains one of the most neglected. People will spend months researching a car, scrutinising every specification and optional extra, while giving far less thought to the place where they spend a third of their lives. Is it because our senses aren’t so active when we engage with it? Therein lies a
5 min read
Organic by design
Words by Jamie Crocker Natural swimming ponds that merge wellbeing and ecology with interpretative landscape design. Cornwall has long drawn swimmers outdoors, especially along its shoreline. However, a growing interest in natural swimming ponds is bringing a familiar experience into a carefully designed setting. At the forefront of this movement is Natural Pools Cornwall, a company shaped by a lifelong appreciation of swimming in ‘living’ water and a belief that recreation a
2 min read
The art of delivery
Words by Jamie Crocker Guiding complex builds, from aspiration to completion. The construction of a private home frequently starts with a vision of how life might unfold within a set of walls not yet built. Between the first sketch and the day a client turns a key in the front door lies a process of extraordinary complexity. Each project depends upon the careful orchestration of countless moving parts. Decisions must be made, specialists coordinated, budgets monitored and exp
6 min read
Method and memory
Words by Jamie Crocker The creative force behind Alchemy Tiles inhabits a world informed by the supple compliance of her chosen material and a centuries-old technique. Mel Chambers is that force. But before delving further, it is worth pausing to consider the history and technique that underpin this craft. Carving its way along ancient paths, from the 13th century onwards, through France, across the channel and into England, the art of encaustic tile making has had mixed fort
4 min read
Achieving a balance
Words by Jamie Crocker A practical approach to disputes that doesnt always need litigation At Stutt Associates, they want to resolve things. As the only law firm in Cornwall focusing exclusively on disputes, that is what the partnership of Lisa Haywood and Lee Stutt does. Their goal is to find a solution to a dispute that works for their client, using every tool available, to ensure clients are protected, advocated for and ultimately receive a result that represents the most
5 min read
Beyond the brief
Words by Hannah Tapping The thoughtful impact of positive design. Sanctuary House Barc Architects approaches every project as a careful response to both the people who will inhabit a building and the landscape that surrounds it. From contemporary coastal homes to ambitious conversions, their work combines thoughtful design, environmental responsibility and a deep understanding of how architecture can enrich everyday life. Can you walk us through how a project begins, from tha
5 min read
Best-laid plans
Presenting the case for a planning consultant: why they should be your first call.
Planning a development project can feel deceptively straightforward at the outset. Whether it’s extending a home, converting a rural building or bringing forward a larger scheme, the instinct is often to focus on design first. But in reality, the success of any project is determined much earlier – at the point where risk, policy and feasibility are properly understood.
4 min read
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