Homes of Belonging

On 16th October, Tom joined the Traditional Architecture Group to present “Homes of Belonging: The Vernacular Architecture of South East England,” an exploration of how local tradition, history and landscape continue to shape the way we create homes today.

In his talk, Tom reflected on the journey that has defined both his practice and his personal relationship with the built environment. Beginning with the primitive roundhouses that once dotted the Sussex landscape, he traced the evolution of domestic architecture into the layered, contemporary concerns of the present. Each era, he observed, has left behind not only a visual legacy but also a deeper pattern of cultural memory - one that continues to inform how people feel at home in their surroundings.

Central to the discussion was the idea of belonging. Tom spoke about homes that belong to their place - buildings that seem to have grown from the ground beneath them and homes in which their inhabitants feel they belong. This dual sense of connection, between people and place, lies at the heart of Tom Turner Architects’ ethos. Through examples from recent projects, he demonstrated how traditional forms and materials can be reinterpreted with care and imagination to meet modern needs without losing their rootedness in context.

We’re grateful to the Traditional Architecture Group for hosting such a thoughtful evening, and to all who attended and shared in the discussion. For those who couldn’t join, a recording of the event is available here.