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Who are we?
Flourish is a small, personable practice that provides thoughtful, sustainable design and building services. We are driven by innovation and a deep passion for environmental sustainability. We are committed to crafting natural spaces that foster the growth and well-being of individuals and communities. Our approach revolves around utilising straightforward, locally sourced, and available materials and methods in our holistic designs. We strongly believe that truly effective sustainable design must integrate the social, geographical, environmental, material, and historical elements of a project at every stage of the design process, ensuring a truly holistic design.
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"Sophie and Tom developed more detailed plans and sourced everything needed as locally as possible, working to a careful budget and being as environmentally responsible as possible. They overcame many challenges and persevered through the various ups and downs. Sophie and Tom were scrupulously honest, precise and diligent with accounts and careful to keep us informed throughout the work which they finished within the agreed timeframe through an extraordinary outlay of grit and determination.
They were a pleasure to deal with as we discussed various options during the building process, always polite and cheerful, full of ideas yet very much wanting the shed extension to fit in with the local environment and sympathetic to the original antique character of the caravan. When the extension was finished and we saw it for the first time we were thrilled! There were little artistic touches everywhere we looked and playful imaginative solutions, such as a tea urn shower! It was clear that they had enjoyed bringing joy to us and deeply cared about the quality and integrity of the project.
We recommend Sophie and Tom wholeheartedly, we love their work, love our new space and look forward to the next generation of our family enjoying more comfortable camping holidays."
Felicity & Mark - The Bezza - Cabin
Services
Sustainable Architectural Design Services
Natural Building & Carpentry
Holistic Project Management
Building Repair & Maintenance
Sustainable Material Enthusiasm & Knowledge
Shire Coffee at the Bookshop
Llanelli
Our clients Shire Coffee successfully applied for and received a UK Shared Prosperity (SPF) Vacant Property Fund, to bring their vision to life—revitalising a beloved, decades old café and bookshop that had fallen into disrepair. Their goal was to transform it into a vibrant, central hub in the heart of Llanelli, offering a warm welcome and a quiet retreat, all while serving specialty coffee.
This project spoke to us and aligned with Flourish’s ethos of utilising something existing and seeing its potential before disregarding it before building something new. The power of envisioning projects in this way is so important as we look at the existing building stock in the UK and decide how we are going to better it in order to ensure a more sustainable future for us all.
The initial design, created by Madison Osborne, was inspired by the clients' vision for a modern, cozy, and thoughtfully curated transformation—one that would elevate the space to reflect the quality of its offerings. While on site, we used this design as our foundation, but it took close collaboration and our design expertise to truly bring it to life. The design preserved and celebrated key features, including the expansive glazed façade that opens the café to Spring Gardens, with views of Llanelli Town Hall.
The wedge-shaped layout was cleverly utilised to provide ample space for browsing books, placing orders, and sitting in various settings—whether in a booth designed for solitude or work, or around a long, accommodating bench for socialising. Every element of the space was custom-curated to align with the brief’s style and design.
Shire Coffee is now a thriving hub for the community, a space to enjoy both coffee and quiet moments. Visit their website for more details: https://shire.coffee Instagram (@hwyl.shire)
Photo credit: Celyn Mor Photography @celynmorphotography
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About Flourish
Flourish is a sustainable design and build practice founded by Sophie Zara James and Tomas Connolly. Together, we offer a holistic approach to architecture, rooted in environmental responsibility, craftsmanship, and thoughtful design.
Sophie has gained an Architecture Bachelor degree at London Metropolitan University, and a Masters in Sustainable Architecture at the Centre for Alternative Technology Most recently, she completed her Diploma in Professional Practice (DPP) at The Welsh School of Architecture at Cardiff University. Before establishing Flourish, she worked as a Project Manager, overseeing the delivery of multiple bespoke cabin projects across West Wales. Her hands-on experience in building these cabins, along with prior construction roles and architectural assistant positions across various UK practices (2016–2023), has deeply informed her practical and design sensibilities.
Tomas is an experienced and highly skilled builder who co-led all cabin projects with Sophie prior to establishing Flourish. Before that, he spent two years as a builder's mate, gaining extensive experience in timber frame construction in West Wales. His passion for learning continues to drive him, whether through self-directed study, material workshops, or exploring sustainable and experimental building methods.
At Flourish, we’re inspired by practices that challenge conventional approaches to architecture and building. Our focus is on creating spaces using simple, locally sourced, and accessible materials and methods. We believe there is a better, more environmentally conscious way to build—and we aim to offer that alternative to local clients. Our mission is to demonstrate that design and construction can be tailored to suit the tools and materials available within a locality, without compromising on quality or integrity.
We approach each project—whether architectural, design, or build—as a whole, with the belief that sustainability must go hand in hand with functionality, adaptability, and care. Our work is driven by the responsibility to create environments that are not only resilient and practical, but also nurturing and enjoyable to inhabit.
We are especially passionate about supporting individuals with residential projects and working on community-led initiatives. We see the home as a vital sanctuary, fundamental to one’s mental and physical well-being. Likewise, we believe that well-designed community spaces are essential for fostering strong, supportive local networks. While these areas are of particular interest to us, we are always open to discussing projects across a range of sectors.
The Annex
Lords Parc Farm, Llansteffan
Lords Parc Farm, located in Llansteffan, is a National Trust property set on a 134-acre working farm with sweeping views over the River Towy and Carmarthen Bay. The site offers a stunning panorama of the surrounding countryside and coastline. The farmstead is a fine and relatively unaltered example of 19th-century rural Welsh vernacular architecture, featuring a symmetrical farmhouse and a cluster of barns arranged in a traditional courtyard layout. The building’s proportions and arrangement are characteristic of the mid-19th century, with rare surviving features such as original fittings in the rear service wing and the pantry located in the outshut. The farm is oriented northeast, looking out over a valley, with fields surrounding the heart of the property on all sides.
Glasbren, a local Community Interest Company (CIC) focused on permaculture and local food production, took over as tenant farmers of the property in 2023. They are reimagining the traditionally and modernly farmed land, creating spaces that foster community engagement, while cultivating food in harmony with nature to establish a local and sustainable food supply. The tenure with Glasbren is expected to bring about significant transformations as they manage the land sustainably and responsibly. Additionally, Glasbren has a compelling vision for repurposing and utilizing the on-site buildings to align with their goals for land use, food security, and community enrichment.
As part of this vision, one of the key steps is the renovation of a small barn, known as the Laundry and Bakehouse, which is physically connected to Lords Parc Farmhouse. This part of the farm has been unused for many years, yet still retains original features such as slate trays and various ovens, offering a glimpse into the past. To generate a new income stream and welcome visitors to the farm, the clients developed a brief to transform the space into self-sufficient accommodation.
Being a Grade II listed building, the renovation had to be both considerate and sensitive to the building’s existing structure, materials and character, while celebrating the historical features that tell the story of this space and activity that once inhabited the barn. The project includes a small extension to house a toilet and shower room, ensuring the accommodation is fully independent from the main farmhouse and providing guests with a beautiful, traditional, and rural experience at Lords Parc Farm. This extension is situated on the site of an old external agricultural shed, as depicted in historical photos of the farm. By optimising the brownfield site, the new structure uses materials that echo the shed’s original corrugated cladding, maintaining a connection to the farm’s past.
In collaboration with Gould Ecology, we developed a plan to enhance the local environment. This includes expanding the hedgerow in the garden, adding bat and bird boxes, and ensuring minimal external lighting to reduce disturbance and support local wildlife surrounding the Bakehouse and Laundry.
To learn more about Glasbren, follow their journey, and watch their story unfold, visit their website here: https://www.glasbren.org.uk/ Instagram (@glasbren)
Photo credit: A Great Alternative @agreatalternative
