Sarah Makroum

2020 Favourites: Radford Cottage

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“It’s currently on site and we can’t wait to see the finished project! We’ve seen this year in particular how important it is for mental health to have an inspiring working environment. This project will create a bright office with fantastic views over the countryside and features a beautiful oak frame crafted by local carpenter @CarpentersMarkltd.”
— Sarah Makroum, gcp

We asked everyone in the office to name their favourite project of 2020. Sarah’s favourite scheme is a little home office for a longstanding client of gcp.

30 November 2020: Gingerbread Me!

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One day earlier than normal, and still in November at that, team gcp got together on our weekly huddle-zoom to discuss planning for the week. But something was a little bit different this week. Over the weekend beautifully (or creatively!) wrapped boxes had appeared on desks or on doorsteps with this message: bring to huddle.

What followed, in a flurry of tinsel, santa hats, wrapping paper and giggling was the unveiling of the gcp Advent Box: a wrapped gift of goodies, quarantined and ready for a month of fun and challenges.

Box contents as follows: small biscuit tin (not to be opened 10.30 tomorrow), a strangely coloured candy cane, a Baileys miniature, a hot chocolate spoon, a paper plate, a small cardboard house (which rattles when shook, but is not to be open quite yet), a gcp recipe book and the items needed for today’s challenge…

Gingerbread Me

You will need: one gingerbread person & two stars (made by Sarah) and a set of icing tubes

Time: 5 minutes

Challenge: to decorate your gingerbread to look just like you!

Screaming, cursing, giggling, banter, complaining about the limited colour scheme and five minutes was all it took to create this beautiful lot:

gcp appointed to deliver 239 quality sustainable homes in Swindon.

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gcp are thrilled to be part of the team delivering Nationwide’s major new housing scheme in Swindon. The not for profit development will deliver 239 quality sustainable homes. The development has been designed as an intergenerational community with a mix of houses and flats, a community room, shared gardens, green spaces and links to the existing neighbourhood. 30% of the properties will be affordable. gcp are working for contractor Mi-Space, who started on site in April 2020. The first homes will be available to view in autumn 2021.

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CGIs credit to PicturePlane, Metropolitan Workshop and PRP

CGIs credit to PicturePlane, Metropolitan Workshop and PRP

Please take a look at the development website www.oakfieldswindon.co.uk for more information.

Meet the Team: Sarah Makroum

Images from Sarah’s scenery making at church holiday club (left & right), middle is a group shot from the Brecon Beacons hike for Mind

Sarah graduated from the University of Bath with First Class Honours in 2014 and joined gcp shortly after.

Prior to joining gcp, she worked with private clients on one-off houses, often within sensitive contexts such as the Green Belt and Conservation Areas. At gcp, Sarah has primarily been involved in feasibility, design and delivery of residential schemes, including a small award-winning affordable housing development in Mark, Somerset, and a 128-home scheme in Lawrence Weston, Bristol. Additionally, Sarah has worked alongside community organisations to carry out public consultations and develop high level strategic briefs. 

Sarah has worked on the development of gcp's BIM protocols, developing drawing and BIM standards as well as specific components and families for our housing work, enabling gcp to work efficiently and collaboratively with other consultants.   

With the support of gcp, Sarah is currently undertaking an Office-based Part II accreditation with the RIBA Studio, where, as well as obtaining the professional qualification, she is pursuing her interest in the relationship between the built environment and wellbeing. Her present research project focuses on designing places for people with ASD. 

To mark Sarah’s five-year anniversary with gcp, I sat down to ask her a few questions.

Hi Sarah – welcome! – by now you know the format, so lets start with what inspired you to pursue architecture? 

The realisation that I didn't want to be boxed in. Architecture offers so much variety.

And, if you weren’t an architectural assistant, what would you be? 

A psychologist, a set designer, a teacher, an outdoor pursuits instructor, a translator...! All at the same time, preferably 😉 

It’s true you have an amazing variety of interests! How about you tell us a little about what you like to do in your spare time. 

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Well, I'm currently studying for my RIBA Part II alongside working in the office, so spare time feels hard to come by!  Having said that, I prioritise spending time with my church family in various ways, e.g. Sunday services, by helping at youth group, by designing and making scenery for our church holiday clubs etc.

Once I've finished the Part II, I'm hoping to be out and about much more - I love most things outdoorsy! 

Sounds lovely, but exhausting! What has been your proudest personal achievement? 

I really enjoy seeing the kids' reactions to the scenery at church holiday clubs. Really makes you smile. 

I think it’s fair to say it’s been a busy year in the office. What’s been your best moment at gcp in the last year? 

My favourite moments in the office are those times when, maybe just for a few minutes, the stress of deadlines and difficult relationships (yes, it's all not hunky-dory in the world of architecture!) eases and the whole office engages in good-humoured chatter, or a little game. We haven't done so many recently, but I do really enjoy our five-to-four quiz slots.   

If I had to pick just one thing, then it would be managing to get a good gang of us hiking through the Brecon Beacons back in August, in support of Mind. 

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Such a fantastic achievement for everyone involved, for a brilliant cause. I’m sure you and the events team have lots more fun (!) things planned for us next year. 

Before we finish up, perhaps you could tell me a bit about a favourite project that you’ve worked on to date? 

This would have to be the affordable homes we designed at Northwick Road, Mark. We had a great client, South Western Housing Society, who is really serious about social responsibility and open-minded as to how we can create places that meet the needs of communities.  I was given a level of responsibility which would be hard to come by at my age in other practices; I did spend most of the time feeling completely out of my depth! It was a fantastic project for me and I am thrilled with the result.  

Thanks Sarah. One last thing I always like to ask is can you tell me something people might not know about you … 

Mmmh, this is tricky. I like to think I'm quite open? Or maybe just quite boring. I am a serial sleeptalker/walker, and my right ear is 5mm longer than my left!

Gets me every time! Though, as to why you have measured your ears … perhaps we should leave that until the next interview!

Sarah has worked on a wide range of housing jobs whilst with gcp including Northwick Road, Mark, Henacre and Clover Place a private family home designed to passivhaus principles. She is currently preparing a planning application for a tennis pavilion for a local club. 

Outside of her architectural work, Sarah is a prominent member of the events team and, along with Esther Brown, instigator of weekly volleyball matches and daily five-to-four quizzes! 

If you haven’t already, why not check out more staff interviews in our meet-the-team series.