Meet the Team - Sandy Fishpool, Heritage Architect

Today, we are introducing you to Sandy Fishpool one of our architects with a talent for bespoke house design and heritage buildings.

Sandy lives in Skipton with her husband, and Borderdale dog ‘Dogmatix’ who she enjoys walking in the local woods and across the surrounding hills. She also enjoys portraiture and life drawing. Sandy is currently studying part-time for a Master of Science in Building Conservation and Adaptation.

How long have you worked at Rural Solutions?

I joined Rural Solutions five years ago.

What was your background before coming to Rural Solutions?

Brought up in West Africa, and educated in Edinburgh and Manchester, it was perhaps not obvious that my career would be working as an architect in rural Cumbria and then in Yorkshire. However, a visit to Kendal to see my sister over 25 years ago led to a love of the Cumbrian countryside, which reminded me of Scotland.

I was lucky enough to find my first job in Kendal and spent the first few years of my career designing public buildings, while enjoying walking in the hills in my spare time. Later, I moved to Carlisle where I gained experience working with historic buildings and developed a lifelong love for these unique and special places. My time in Cumbria gave me the opportunity to learn about rural house design, diversification schemes and historic buildings, which led to my next role at Rural Solutions.

What team are you a part of and what can you tell me about your team?

I am a member of the Design team. It’s fabulous to work with such a highly skilled group of architects and landscape architects – all with a diverse range of expertise. Our joint passion lies in crafting outstanding buildings and landscapes, while creating amazing spaces to live, work and play.

We collaborate with clients to creatively transform their visions, guiding the design process from concept to completion. We often work the Planning and Consulting teams too. Over the years, we’ve honed our interdisciplinary skills to seamlessly merge architectural and landscape design. This not only brings us joy but also provides significant benefits to our clients.

What does a 'typical' day look like for you?

Living in Skipton means it’s a short commute to the office. I make the most of it by walking my dog in the morning. Skipton is a bustling market town on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. At lunchtime we sometimes visit local cafés or stroll along the canal to the local park. It’s a great place to be located.

My day is an eclectic mix of meetings with clients and our in-house team combined with design sessions, site visits and report writing. Working in architectural and heritage means I’m often poring over old maps, historic photos, and books to gather information about the historic places I'm working on – which I love! Being part of a dynamic team of creative individuals is never boring and keeps me on my toes!

What do you enjoy the most about working at Rural Solutions?

I never stop learning! As an architect, gathering knowledge is essential for new ideas. My love of studying is one of the reasons I decided to embark on a part-time Master of Science in Building Conservation and Adaptation in my spare time. As a flexible employer, Rural Solutions have allowed me the freedom to incorporate this into my working life.

Friday brunch is an office perk that really brightens up my day. We sit around a table and chat whilst wolfing down butties and in some cases, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs! Without doubt, this helps keep the creative juices flowing!

What is the most exciting or unusual project that you have worked on?

The most unusual and exciting project I have worked on is a new individual country home project, also known as a Paragraph 84e house, in Yorkshire.

Is there anything that you have learnt since joining RSL that really stands out to you?

Before joining Rural Solutions, I had never experienced such a strong sense of teamwork. The culture of the company allows us to take on difficult projects with a positive attitude, knowing that we have a supportive team around us. Our team-building activities and office parties, such as the famous 'summer bash', further strengthen the bond.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of joining the RSL team?

Be prepared to think outside the box. We think, design and work differently.

As part of our ‘meet the team’ series we asked Sandy where she liked to visit in the countryside.

Where is your favourite place in the British Countryside and why?

Loch Tay is a wonderful area of Scotland where I used to go on trekking holidays as a child. I have been back many times since, but a particular memory is a long, arduous walk across The Tarmachan Ridge, a Munro in the Southern Highlands.

Which is your favourite country pub and why?

This could take me a long time to decide because I am partial to a country pub! It’s hard to beat The Plough at Wigglesworth, which is surrounded by lovely countryside. I also have fond recollections of The Bluebell Inn at Newbiggin in Cumbria. It’s a wonderful place with a great atmosphere and super food. Perhaps I could write an essay on this subject.

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