VESP Architects

We bought this house in 2016 and approached Van Ellen Sheryn because we wanted to extend the living room. The drawings for the new room were stunning. However, when the builders began work, they discovered wet rot throughout the house. Eventually, it was decided that the house would need to be demolished and rebuilt. VES dealt with all the necessary paperwork, applied for the original planning permission, the permission to demolish the building, then the new planning permission. They kept us informed at every step of the way, and they redesigned the internal space of the house. We were extremely pleased with the way that VES reimagined both the internal layout and the outside terracing. Work began on the house in October 2018 and was completed in October 2019. My husband passed away in April 2019, so never got to see the finished house. VES and the wonderful builders (Kesterbrook) could not have been kinder – in fact, when I took over the house upon completion, the builders presented me with an oak plaque to remember Roy, which is now fixed to the external apex of the living room, which faces Burgh Island. I can highly recommend Van Ellen Sheryn, not only for the beautiful design of the house, but also for their attention to detail and monthly progress reports (which was an additional service). Everyone who has visited the house is blown away by the imaginative use of space and light. VES have ensured that from the moment you enter the house, the views are spectacular. It is now a much loved family holiday home and we look forward to being able to use it again once pandemic restrictions are eased.

We were extremely happy with the service we received from Van Ellen + Sheryn in extending our home. The team were very helpful and friendly throughout the process. Their plans were sympathetic to the existing building and worked very well with our limited budget. We were particularly impressed with the way in which they enabled us to alter the configuration of our existing space, to maximise natural light. I would definitely recommend them to anyone considering altering or extending their home.

We enlisted van Ellen + Sheryn to renovate our cottage in Scotland. After visiting the place twice with Frederieke and Eilir, they started working and interchanging ideas, always taking our concepts as a base. They came up with some pretty original ideas, which we were very happy with. They sensitively transformed this old stone cottage into a house suitable for modern living, while maintaining many of the characteristics. We were particularly pleased with how the new window openings changed our dark living room into a bright space. They dealt with the local authorities, consultants and contractors and made sure the project was delivered on budget and within our set time frame. The communication during all the project phases was excellent. It was a pleasure working with you. Wishing you all the best!

Broadhempston Village Hall was completed in December 2015 and is now an outstanding feature of our vibrant rural community. Our CIO's project panel chose VE&S out of a number of interested architects and our choice was entirely justified. The architect's brief was fulfilled with imagination, precision of design and to budget. We now have a carbon-neutral hall which serves the community extremely well and we would not hesitate to recommend the VE&S team for its responsiveness, the quality of its work, the value for money (important to our charity where every penny counts!) and just the great pleasure of working with them. Peter Sheridan

Van Ellen + Sheryn gave their time and work for free to design an outstanding shelter for Ashburton Swimming Pool CIO to encourage more users to the pool and to improve the pool experience for all. Van Ellen + Sheryn worked closely with the trustees, assisted with the planning consent process and held numerous free on-site meetings and inspections both prior to and during the build. The result has transformed the pool and the build process was incredibly smooth and efficient as a result of the Van + Ellen team's work.

West yard farm (another VES project) inspired our own project, merging the old and new together. Eilir took initial oversight for the scheme and its direction including the required bat loft! Ian, ably assisted by Chris completed all the planning and full scheme details including the impressively helpful 3D iPad model to visualise the whole scheme. Results are impressive and we are delighted with it and the reality matches the concept brilliantly, another exceptional job by the VES team.

First class service! We chose van Ellen & Sheryn after seeing examples of the work in the area. Ian Phillips worked hard to understand our needs and preferences before coming up with his exciting design, which we loved. They guided us through all aspects of the project, from getting planning permission (within Dartmoor National Park!), through to appointing a builder. They managed all aspects of the project and we are delighted with the final result. They provided much more than just a design service. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

Van Ellen + Sheryn did a fantastic job putting a modern extension onto a thatched cottage. After a couple of false starts the final agreed lan was exactly what we wanted linking the House with its surroundings. The specifications of the glass and cladding lifted the build even further into something truly wonderful. Without exception everybody we had dealings with at the firm were polite helpful and at all times professional. I can’t recommend them highly enough.

Van Ellen and Sheryn always deliver a friendly, professional, service and do their upmost to see away through the demands of their clients, the natural constraints of any particular site, the budget constraints that may exist, and the expectations of the relevant Local Authority. It can be the case that the desires of a client are not matched by a Local Authority, this can result in adaptations to enable planning permission, Van Ellen and Sheryn always show patience and creativity in trying to overcome such problems. As a planning consultant and historic building consultant I have always enjoyed working alongside Van Ellen and Sheryn and found them efficient and reliable in delivering projects for their clients. My observation is that their clients also have enjoyed working with them and this is best substantiated by the repeat business and positive recommendations I have witnessed them receive. They create attractive solutions and have a sound appreciation of the hurdles often faced in securing planning permission and delivering a scheme, to aid this they have contact with an array of consultants who provide associated services to support development, this includes practices and professionals in the fields of planning, ecology, engineering, ground surveying, drainage etc.

We have commissioned van Ellen & Sheryn to design a new purpose built cookery school building in Ashburton which was opened in 2010 along with subsequent extensions to the building in more recent years. As a customer facing business we welcome thousands of people from around the world to spend large amounts of time (up to 6 months) within our building, so it is imperative that it is welcoming and attractive from the outside and a light and enjoyable space to work in. van Ellen & Sheryn showed an excellent understanding of the brief and gave us multiple, well-visualised concepts to help us focus towards a finished concept and plans. We are sited within Dartmoor Park conservation area which brings with it special considerations of materials and design, and much time was saved by having architects experienced of working within these parameters. There were no issues gaining planning permission. The finished build is exactly as visualised and designed by the architects - an outstanding building to look at and work in that makes the most of the site within which it sits and is a delight to work in. Several years later the business needed to expand and we commissioned van Ellen & Sheryn for the extensions. This was a tricky brief, adding on two new dining rooms to the existing facade and had the potential of spoiling the strength of the original design. Their design has actually strengthened the impact of the facade of the building which is quite an achievement. I would recommend van Ellen & Sheryn architects for projects of all sizes. They are a modern architect studio, small enough to care about all their projects, but experienced enough to cope with projects of all sizes. I feel they offer extremely good value. The work they have executed for us is contemporary yet looks better as time moves on - the sign of a great architect.

We were delighted to hire van Ellen and Sheryn architects for work at two Dartmoor National Park Visitor Centres. Whilst relatively small contracts they had important stakeholders and the team listened to us to fully understand and deliver the plans that were asked for.

Eilir and Ian have been really impressive. They are both very creative, proactive and responsive and were able to obtain planning permission for a contemporary house in Salcombe. We are now progressing with the construction.