what we do

architecture, design & Landscape design

For the past 15 years, Martin has produced some of the most outstanding building designs in the County and the South West as director of his former company, Arco2 Architecture Ltd. He now is the founder and and sole Director of Penk Architecture Ltd and his work can be found here www.penkarchitecture.com Many of his designs have been publicly applauded and awards have been numerous from the international RICS award in 2004 to more recent RIBA regional award in 2016.
The quality of the questions and challenges presented at the design stage have a direct relationship to the quality of the emerging design. In some cases simplicity, economy and elegance are required and in other cases flair, complexity and art takeover. In all cases, design is client led and it is the importance of listening and interpretation that is essential.
At Ecofab design, we pride ourselves on meeting the needs and aspirations of our clients through innovation, artistic flair and experience.
The secret to success has been to carefully analyse what is required and to develop designs accordingly and as many of the constraints and opportunities within the site and the brief that can shape the outcome.
We can also offer landscape design through our associate Landscape Architect, Patrick Collins whose work can be found at http://www.patrickcollins-design.co.uk/

Construction

Ecofab was initially set up to provide a construction outlet for the innovative, prefabricated straw Bale building system developed at Arco2 by Martin and the team: the ecofab system. Martin, as sole director of Ecofab Ltd, now oversees the continued development of the system but crucially offers a complete range of construction services from project management, on site design and execution across a range of construction methods through a team of dedicated, skilled craftsmen and women. The team share a passion for high quality workmanship and innovation and can tackle the most complicated designs meeting the highest standards of construction across a wide range of building types. With the collective experience of developing some of the most innovative buildings in the region, Ecofab can also be considered a great asset and partner to other architects and their clients attempting to achieve their own aspirational buildings.

the ecofab system

Developed by Martin in 2005 as a director of his former architectural practice, the system evolved from an innovative use of strawbale on site through several stick build projects such as the new classroom at HighHam in Somerset, an extension for Padstow Primary School and the award-winning preschool at Bishop Cornish School in Saltash which has found its way into a place in history in the Pevsner guide to Architecture in Cornwall, latest edition. The system is simple and elegantly combines the module of strawbale with standard building industry materials and dimensions to form a strong, durable, fast building method easily applied by general builders and carpenters alike. Built within the local workshops, the system constitutes what is probably one of the most sustainable prefabricated building systems within the UK and one of the only strawbale building systems in the world.