“2025 was a year of tremendous challenge and loss for us as a practice. During this time, our team showed remarkable togetherness, care, and compassion, supporting each other in ways that humbled and inspired us. As Directors, we wanted to thank our staff with some well-deserved fun and the chance to enjoy some truly awe-inspiring architecture.”

SRA Directors

We carry on - despite the weather

After a muddy winter on UK sites, we’d hoped for some late-winter sun. Barcelona had other plans. With a weather warning in place, we stepped out into a city soaked by heavy rain and strong winds. Undeterred, we zipped our coats, opened umbrellas, and set off to find Gaudí’s masterpieces.

Our first stop required no searching: La Sagrada Família, its spires rising through the stormy grey sky, the 140‑year‑in‑construction basilica was breathtaking.

This was the change of scenery we all needed. It offered us a much-needed pause and, in doing so, reminded us why we create spaces that lift people up and bring them together.

La Sagrada Família: awe, quiet, and shifting hues

Stepping over the threshold of the basilica really did invite a moment of reflection. The sheer immensity of the interior seemed to hold the power to change your sense of direction. The tall, tree-like columns, the high-reaching vaults, and the flowing shapes all pull your gaze upwards. Even without sunlight streaming through the stained glass, the space had a sacred - and to some a spiritual - calm.

Whether architecture students, experienced designers, technical specialists, or support staff, we all found ourselves reflecting on what it felt like to be small in something so vast. It reminded us of what architecture can do when it goes beyond just function and becomes a mix of emotion, space, light, art, and purpose.

Park Güell: colour returns

As the weather started to clear, Barcelona showed us a brighter side. We took a walk through Park Güell. The gardens were just waking up from winter, with flowers showing small bursts of colour. The winding benches, playful buildings, and Gaudí’s famous colourful ceramic mosaics brought joy, even under a cloudy sky.

The gift of time

Although we were only out of the office for one day, the trip gave us something precious: time.

Time to talk, reflect, laugh, and create shared memories; to step outside our routine and gather new ideas. These may inspire us personally, collectively, or professionally, perhaps next week or in years to come.

At SRA, every team member brings their own perspective, creativity, and way of seeing things. Trips like this help support that diversity of thought. They strengthen us, enabling us to design buildings that are innovative, purposeful, and beautiful.

Standing in the rain in a beautiful city reminded us that our work is about building strong relationships, inspiring others, and finding meaning together. Oh, and having fun along the way!