Designing the future from the past

Held in the newly built Shoemakers Museum, the lead architect will walk you through its design from concept to realisation.

This event is now fully booked. There is another opportunity to find out about Shoemakers Museum at Sole Stories on Thursday 18 September.

Meet the architect behind the Museum and discover how the design of this new landmark building in Street celebrates the rich history of shoemaking.

In this exclusive event for Heritage Open Days, Alasdair Ferguson from Purcell Architects in Bristol, will take you on a journey into the design intent behind the creation of Shoemakers Museum from initial concept to final construction.

Learn how the design blends modern architectural techniques with heritage and sustainable materials to honour the legacy of Streets architectural heritage.

There will be time for questions and discussion after the talk, offering a unique opportunity to explore how history and design can come together in meaningful and inspiring ways.

As a senior Architect at Purcell for nearly four years, Alasdair is comfortable delivering complex projects across all stages—from new builds to Grade I listed conservation, across a range of sectors.

His philosophy emphasizes sensitivity, context, and joyful spaces, particularly thriving when designing within constraints, Alasdair approaches existing buildings as opportunities to reuse and retell, framing history through contemporary design.

The Shoemakers Museum project holds special significance for Alasdair as it celebrates people – the generations of Street families who’ve invested in this 200-year-old brand.