Celebrating Cultural Heritage

We believe that the stories and traditions of our past should be celebrated and preserved for future generations.

Spaces for Everyone

We believe in creating memorable, welcoming spaces, that are accessible to people of all ages and ability, to enhance their experience and connection with culture.

Innovation and Viability

Whilst bringing a creative and innovative design approach, we also understand the importance of ensuring a project’s viability and safeguarding its future.

Focussing on place, people and positive social impact we strive to design buildings and spaces that create a sense of wonder and discovery, inspire curiosity and engage the senses. We remain focused on designing places based on human experience, inclusivity and learning, whether working to upgrade and remodel existing spaces or creating something entirely new.

Drawing on our 50 years’ experience in this sector, ranging from a single museum exhibit up to large scale cultural places and sites, we believe that the experience should be immersive and memorable.

We are proud to work with a range of charities and other organisations dedicated to social causes. As designers we are naturally drawn to those organisations that preserve, promote and protect our cultural heritage and support the arts, creative expression and storytelling.

With our specialist expertise we collaborate with others to resolve complex design challenges, enabling enjoyment and interaction in spaces that support cultural and creative endeavour.

Meet our Arts and Culture Experts

Senior Architect
Emma Hosking
BA (Hons)  BArch (Hons)  ARB  RIBA  CA Emma studied at the Canterbury School of... Read More

BA (Hons)  BArch (Hons)  ARB  RIBA  CA

Emma studied at the Canterbury School of Architecture before joining Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole Architects in July 2000 and completing her training with Plymouth University in 2003.  She has a wide range of experience leading on projects encompassing public buildings, schools, community buildings and historic properties with diverse and complex client groups ranging from local authorities to charity-based community groups and the private sector. 

With a keen interest and extensive experience in conservation architecture and historic buildings, Emma was formally recognised with entry onto the RIBA Conservation Register at the Conservation Architect level. Emma is a regular speaker for the Firm Foundations Programme provided by Cornwall Museums Partnership.

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Director
Laura Highton
BSc(Hons)  MArch  ARB  RIBA-SCA Laura joined Poynton Bradbury Architects in... Read More

BSc(Hons)  MArch  ARB  RIBA-SCA

Laura joined Poynton Bradbury Architects in 2023 and brings a wealth of experience to the practice. Her passion for architecture is focussed on creating sustainable, adaptable, and vibrant spaces thar respond to their surroundings and context. She has skills in contemporary design and has developed an architectural sensitivity in her approach to working in historic settings.

Registered as a RIBA Specialist Conservation Architect, Laura’s expertise lies in the adaptive re-use of existing buildings, and she is particularly skilled at bringing new life and contemporary design into historic buildings and settings. She has a comprehensive knowledge of conservation practice and extensive experience of applying this within historic buildings.

Laura’s portfolio is varied and includes large scale community and public buildings such as museums, visitor centres and libraries up to the value of £25m. Alongside this she has worked on intricate and smaller scale developments including bespoke new-build residential projects and one-off house renovations.

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Director
Cian Spowart
BSc  BArch  PgDip  ARB  ARB With over 20 years experience at Poynton Bradbury... Read More

BSc  BArch  PgDip  ARB  ARB

With over 20 years experience at Poynton Bradbury Architects Cian has an extensive portfolio of completed projects that range from a £30 million re-development of the Callywith College campus in Bodmin to the sensitive intervention of Lizard Lifeboat station, Lizard Peninsula. Cian works with a variety of public and private clients and is currently the design lead for a £60m Estates Transformation Programme with Cornwall Council to support the delivery of post-Covid workspace facilities and public-facing services across the County.

In 2018 Cian also started providing Design Manager support to MWJV, the consultant consortium delivering building and professional services to Cornwall Council, coordinating all design aspects from the supply chain across a wide range of sectors including Housing, Economic growth, Education, Estates Transformation, Placeshaping and Regeneration for circa £250m of construction value per year.

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Senior Architect
Paul Perry
BA(Hons)  DipArch  DipCons  ARB  RIBA-SCA  AABC Paul qualified from Bristol... Read More

BA(Hons)  DipArch  DipCons  ARB  RIBA-SCA  AABC

Paul qualified from Bristol University in 1981 and, after four years working for a broad-based practice in Birmingham, he set up a small practice which grew and developed for fourteen years.  A move to the Cotswolds brought increased interest in building conservation and in 2001 a Postgraduate Diploma in Building Conservation from the Architectural Association, London came from two years of hard study.  In 2003 a long-standing desire to move to Cornwall was fulfilled by joining PBWC Architects.  His continued work in the field of building conservation was recognised by inclusion on both the registers of Architects Accredited in Building Conservation and RIBA Accredited Specialist Conservation Architects, both at the highest level.  

As well as a passion for the sensitive conservation of historic buildings, Paul relishes the challenges of managing change in heritage settings which good conservation often involves.

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Architect
Jacob Down
BA (Hons)  MArch  PgCert  ARB  RIBA Jacob joined the practice in 2014 shortly... Read More

BA (Hons)  MArch  PgCert  ARB  RIBA

Jacob joined the practice in 2014 shortly after graduating from the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL. Since then, he led a diverse range of projects for a number of private and commercial clients across Cornwall alongside his Associate Lecturer role held at Falmouth School of Architecture. 

Jacob has in-depth experience in digital technologies including 3D lidar scanning and BIM and has written extensively for AEC magazine. He is currently managing the practice’s transition to B-Corp certification which will assess the practice’s business impact on people and the planet alongside profit.

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Arts and Culture

With a legacy spanning over five decades, our commitment to creating thriving environments for arts and culture stands as a testament to our success. Whether revitalizing and enhancing existing spaces or embarking on the creation of innovative venues, our unwavering dedication revolves around the meticulous design of places that prioritise human experiences, inclusivity, and learning.

Our architectural endeavours extend beyond structures; we aspire to conceive buildings and spaces that serve as catalysts for inspiration, education, and entertainment, catering to individuals from diverse backgrounds and walks of life. Through a harmonious blend of creativity and functionality, we persistently strive to create environments that transcend the ordinary, fostering a profound connection between people and the cultural experiences our spaces encapsulate.

If you have a specific enquiry or if there's anything further you'd like to explore with us, please contact our team – we’re here to assist in every aspect of your project.