Heritage
Our heritage work begins with an understanding of what is already there: the character of a building, the way it is used, the stories it holds.
For us, heritage isn’t just about preservation. It’s about finding the balance between what stays and what changes. A new use, better access, improved environmental performance, or simply a more comfortable building can each add another layer to its history.
At Fran Wen, we transformed a redundant 19th-century building into a new home for Welsh-language theatre and a community performance venue for young people, retaining its Victorian character while introducing accessible spaces for performance, making, learning and gathering. The project won the Eisteddfod Gold Medal for Architecture 2025, with judges praising its response to “place and memory” and the contribution its adaptable, well-ventilated spaces make to community resilience.
The best heritage projects leave buildings feeling alive, still in use, still gathering stories. From civic and municipal buildings to homes in conservation areas, we’ve yet to meet a listed building we didn’t like.
