29 October 2025
In Newlyn, Cornwall, a derelict Victorian school outbuilding, once the toilets and coal store for a village infants’ school, has been given a new lease of life. Trewarveneth Studios converts this modest structure into three affordable, accessible workspaces that strengthen the town’s long-standing creative community.
Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly) with the Borlase Smart John Wells Trust as client, the project responds to an urgent local need: affordable studios are increasingly scarce in Newlyn. For architect Rolfe Kentish, who brings nearly three decades of Cornish practice to the brief, the task was simple in principle and delicate in execution: conserve the building, adapt it sensitively, and make the spaces inspiring and accessible.
Although not listed, the outbuilding sits within the Newlyn Conservation Area, so the team adopted a conservation-first approach. The original 600mm granite walls were retained; the slate roof was repaired using salvaged and reclaimed materials, and apprentices worked alongside skilled craftspeople to pass on traditional techniques. Behind the scenes, new mass-concrete foundations and structural repairs ensure the building will endure for another century — a quiet intervention that supports the visible conservation work.
Daylight was critical to the studios’ success, but early ideas for ground-level glazing conflicted with privacy and conservation requirements. The solution came from above: high-level rooflights that deliver consistent, controllable daylight — ideal for artists. The team specified VELUX Heritage conservation rooflights, positioned near the top of the roof where they provide excellent “sky factor” illumination without compromising the building’s historic character.
The coastal setting presented a further constraint: salty air can rapidly degrade typical window fittings. According to the team, VELUX was the only manufacturer able to guarantee performance in that environment without resorting to costly stainless-steel frames. With deeper flashing profiles designed to suit the traditional slate roof, the rooflights sit discreetly within the fabric while transforming the interiors below.
The result is modest but meaningful: a small building, saved from dereliction, now provides inclusive creative spaces for Newlyn’s artists.
“It’s not just a building that’s been saved,” Rolfe reflects, “it’s a piece of the area’s story and a foundation for future art to be made.”
The project was commended in the VELUX Daylight from Above Awards 2025, run in partnership with RIBA Journal — recognition of a scheme that balances heritage, sustainability, daylight and community benefit.
To find out more about VELUX Heritage conservation roof window, visit the page here.
