Annual Conference 2023

We recently held our annual conference at Swansea Bay Golf Club - a remarkable event that brought together our whole team for the day. This gathering was not merely a showcase of expertise, but a humble congregation of like-minded professionals, each contributing their unique brilliance to a collective vision of excellence.

The day began with an introduction from architect and business owner David Darkin. His thoughtful words served as a gentle reminder that the success of Darkin Architects is not a solitary achievement, but a tapestry woven by every individual's dedication.

Amidst the bustling schedule, a moment was captured in time - a team photo and new professional headshots provided by local photographer Gareth Danks. 

The design review session was an occasion to showcase achievements, fostering an environment of collective growth. Far from seeking applause, each presentation humbly invited constructive insights, embodying the our ethos of continuous improvement and refinement.

Time is a precious resource, especially in the world of architecture. The productivity workshop was a practical nod to this truth, equipping attendees with tools and techniques to enhance efficiency without compromising on the quality sought at Darkin Architects.

Having delivered Building Information Modelling (BIM), within Darkin Architects, this year's BIM workshop not only shared internal best practice, but looked at how we could deliver more BIM projects in collaboration with others to help improve the quality of service to our customers. We're looking at innovative ways to collaborate with more consultants through BIM as we're confident that this will save time, improve quality and save cost.

Amidst the conference's agenda, the pivotal goal-setting session stood out as a reminder that ambition is not about individual accolades, but about collective dreams. Together, the Darkin Architects team charted a course for the future, guided not by grandiosity, but by a shared aspiration for growth.

Darkin Architects' compass has always been its core values. In a touching session, attendees rekindled their commitment to these values. We also collectively agreed to add the value of 'quality' to our core values. Whilst this value has always been at the core of how we deliver our work and the passion behind it, we've never formally written it into our values. Adding the value of quality to our core values further demonstrates our commitment to delivering great architecture.

As the conference drew to an end, it marked not an ending, but a commencement. The insights gained, the bonds forged, and the plans set forth were not boasts of grandeur, but humble acknowledgments that Darkin Architects is a collective force, ready to paint the future's canvas with strokes of brilliance.

Darkin Architects' annual conference was, above all, a gentle nod to the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.