Frank joined our successful Soho based London office in 1989, bringing with him a much needed team of architects from the successful practice of Chamberlin Powell Bon & Woods (CPBW).  As the sole remaining Partner at CPBW, Frank was free to bring his whole team and portfolio of work with him. This was a great benefit to both firms as A-S:L’s London office had an over reliance on office interior fit-out work at that time and needed to grow and diversify its Architectural work.  Frank played a pivotal role in achieving this with the other London Partners and his most notable projects were New Hall Cambridge and Bousfield Nursery School for the Royal Borough Kensington & Chelsea.

Chamberlin Powell Bon & Woods were very successful in the late 60’s through 70’s and into the late 80’s with the renowned Barbican Centre in the City of London being their best known project.

Frank was architect for the Kaetsu Centre at Cambridge University which was one of Austin-Smith:Lord’s signature projects of that era that became synonymous with the practice as it featured on our letterhead and marketing material in the 1990s and early 2000s. This project secured recognition with a Civic Trust Award and Frank’s career portfolio received further recognition with other RIBA and Civic Trust Awards.

Frank also served as Chairman for the RIBA Journal and the Association of Consultant Architects. He taught at London South Bank University in Professional Practice and Dispute Resolution and was an external examiner at Westminster and Bath Universities.

Frank was a talented, gentle and even tempered architect who was highly respected by his clients, partners and staff. Aside from his passion for architecture he was an accomplished photographer with a keen interest in both music and art. He is fondly remembered by those of us fortunate enough to have met or worked with him.

 

Frank Woods: Oct 1933 – Dec 2021

Partner at Austin-Smith:Lord 1989 to 2000

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Obituary written by Richard Pullen, former Partner at Austin-Smith:Lord

Austin-Smith:Lord’s proposals for the refurbishment and redevelopment of the Ayrshire Hospice have now been formally submitted for planning permission to South Ayrshire Council.

The plans to redevelop the existing site will help ‘future proof’ the hospice for generations to come – and enhance the care it gives.

Plans include:

• • A new inpatient unit with 18 single, en-suite rooms
  • Two patient and family respite rooms with en-suite facilities
  • Direct physical link between the inpatient unit and day services
  • Disparate clinical and community nursing hubs brought together within one building
  • Dedicated social space for patients’ families and children
  • A “discreet, respectful and separate” entrance for patients and their families allowing a “private and dignified” admittance into the inpatient unit
  • A new day services centre
  • A dedicated spa and occupational therapy space and gym
  • Conference space for up to 75 people
  • New sensory garden
  • Library/educational space
  • Hospice Hub and cafe.

Carla MacEwan, Chief Executive at The Ayrshire Hospice, said: “This planning application represents a huge step forward in the provision of specialist palliative and end-of-life care for Ayrshire.”

Iain Wylie, Executive Director at Austin-Smith:Lord said “we are delighted to be working on this incredibly significant project for the Ayrshire Hospice and the wider Ayrshire community. The project provides us with a unique opportunity to utilise our complementary design skills; incorporating both new-build and conservation architecture with sustainability, landscape architecture and interior design. Through this integrated design approach, working side-by-side with the hospice, we aim to make a real difference for patients, their families and staff; whilst further embedding the fantastic work of the Hospice within the local community.”

Huge congratulations to Oliver Goddard, who has recently achieved his RIAS Conservation Accreditation.

A certified Passivhaus designer, Oliver joined Austin-Smith:Lord in 2020. His recent projects include external fabric repairs to a collection of Grade A listed buildings at Aberdeen station, a feasibility study for reviving the former Bangour Church in Livingston, and a project to preserve and convert a former school in Alloa into a mixed residential development.

“I achieved RIAS Conservation Accreditation as I believe it is essential to work responsibly with historic buildings to enable future generations to benefit from a rich cultural heritage.  This knowledge is also fundamental if we are to address today’s challenges and preserve our existing buildings by delivering low carbon solutions with appropriate retrofit” (Oliver Goddard, Architect, Austin-Smith:Lord).

“I am delighted to congratulate Oliver on achieving his RIAS Conservation Accreditation. Already a Certified Passive House Designer, Oliver’s passion for sustainable conservation further augments Austin-Smith:Lord’s heritage expertise and our ability to respond to complex issues regarding building conservation in the context of a sustainable agenda” (Matthew Dyer, Head of Conservation, Austin-Smith:Lord).

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You can view our conservation projects here

As more clients look to remodel, refit and repurpose existing space in response to post-Covid working, low energy and zero carbon strategies, our specialist Interior Design team is playing a key role and their services are in increasing demand. In response, we are delighted to announce that Amy Hart has joined our team. Graduating with a first class honours degree, and having worked previously for a commercial interiors company, Amy brings a focus on the strategic use of space and how this supports the health and wellbeing of occupants.

We are also pleased to announce the promotion of Olivia Laxton to the role of Senior Interior Designer. Olivia has been successfully leading key refurbishment projects, including projects for Cardiff Metropolitan University and Coleg Y Cymoedd, as well as research led projects to develop new ways of working and flexible use of space as a result of the pandemic. This new role will allow her to continue leading on projects, as well as helping drive the continued growth and quality of our Interiors offer.

The former British Home Stores building on Swansea’s Oxford St has been a key part of Swansea city centre for the last 60 years.

Austin-Smith:Lord, working with Coreus, Jubb, and SDS, are delighted to be part of the ambitious and forward-looking plans to redevelop the building into a community hub for Swansea Council, offering a new vision of how council services can be provided in a welcoming, inclusive environment.

The project seeks to be an exemplar of sustainable, high street regeneration, increasing footfall and activity, whilst creatively re-using the existing fabric, that could be replicated in other city centres across the country.

The project is scheduled to complete late 2022.

Peter John Lord, AA Dipl (Hons), RIBA, PPSIAD, FBIM was only 17 when he won a Leverhulme Scholarship to study at the AA, the youngest ever recipient of the award. PJL as he was known in his beloved architectural practice graduated to join Mike and Inette Austin-Smith at JM Austin-Smith and Partner. In 1963 Geoffrey Salmon and Peter became partners and the practice was renamed Austin-Smith/Salmon/Lord; then Austin-Smith:Lord, when in 1969 Geoffrey formed his own practice. Peter became Senior Partner in 1981 when Mike and Inette retired. He stepped down on his own retirement in 1995.

Peter and the Austin-Smiths were intuitively aware of the importance of branding in marketing the business and so the punctuation marks, the hyphen and colon became fundamental to the corporate identity of the firm. They were omitted from correspondence on fear of death; and “Austin effing Smith Lord” became a derogatory hook for envious competitors!

In line with the early holistic approach of the partners, the environment was all important in the setting of architecture, and design of the interior and fittings was key to its success. So the firm adopted the strap line “planners architects designers”. Peter took on the mantle of design lead, becoming president of SIAD (the Society of Industrial Artists and Designers, now CSD the Chartered Society of Designers) and General Secretary of ICSID (International Council of the Societies of Industrial Design, now known as WDO, the World Design Organisation); whilst Mike Austin-Smith, was RIBA Life Vice President for International Affairs.

He was a restless creative, a polymath designer to whom graphics, interiors and product design all contributed to the integrity of architecture. His approach was robust, pragmatic and intelligent; the most effective solution of the client’s need was crucial in the creative process. He would direct his juniors to focus expenditure on the parts people touched. One could omit the plaster, but the switches and door furniture should be of the highest quality; an approach which has become ingrained in the DNA of the Practice. This generated an architecture of integrity, clarity and sustainability and in the early days endeared the firm to clients such as IBM, Thomson Mclintock (now KPMG) and Heffers Bookshops amongst others.

His approach to design was innovative in delivery, informed by the clients’ business needs. In the early years he was responsible for some of the first supermarkets, GEM Stores and a brutalist complex of apartments in Camden for Abbey Road Co-op. For Heffers bookshop in Cambridge, he opened up the sales floors into a basement area, vastly extending the prime retail space in a rich mix of in-situ concrete and hardwood. Such was the strength of the Practice’s connection with clients that Peter also got to build a family home for the Heffers.

PJL was a big man with a reputation as a demanding leader, who could ‘throw the toys around’ if things weren’t going well, but he was also a very proper gentleman, and totally supportive of his partners, regardless of their opinions of him.

To Peter, the firm was all-important, its output the result of collective talent and endeavour, so it is difficult to single out later projects for which he might claim credit, yet his influence was all pervasive. He was the owner and proudest promoter of the firm’s collective achievements in town planning and highway design, as well as the wide range of architectural, landscape and interior design commissions; a truly multi disciplinary design practice.

His eye for photography was equally keen, creating images to a professional standard, whilst his love of drawing and graphics even resulted in quirky hand-crafted Christmas cards, invariably the first to arrive, marking the start of the season.

He had a love for hockey, a game he played until work became all consuming. He later found time for fly fishing, bird watching, driving fast cars and collecting modern art, clocks and barometers, and all sorts of found objects.

Peter married Shirley in 1956 and devoted his life to her and to their daughter Kathryn, who both succeed him. The funeral was at Cromer Crematorium, near his ultimate home in Cley next the Sea, from which he was able to immaculately assemble his personal archive and to wonder at the wetland birds on the Norfolk marshes.

Peter John Lord, Born 1 September 1929; died at home, Cley next the Sea, 6 May 2021.

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Obituary written by Alistair Sunderland, former Partner at Austin-Smith:Lord

Austin-Smith:Lord are delighted to announce our appointment to provide architecture, conservation, landscape and interior design services on the Grade II listed Woodchester Convent in Gloucestershire.

The historic Cotswold stone convent was founded in 1860 when a group of 16 nuns settled in an old farmhouse on the Woodchester Estate of William Leigh. The nuns were attracted by the Catholic community that Leigh aimed to create and followed the construction of a Dominican priory nearby. Between 1861 and 1869 architect Charles Hansom, who had already drawn up plans for the Priory and Mansion with Benjamin Bucknall, constructed the convent building, with a chapel, and an orphanage, retaining the original house at its core.

At its peak, the convent housed 30 nuns and provided a work-room and equipment for women of the neighbour to undertake contract work for a local clothing factory. By the time of its 150^th anniversary in 2011, the convent was occupied by only five remaining sisters who struggled to maintain the extensive site. Since then, the future of the aging buildings has been uncertain, with water ingress, dry rot and structural failure setting in.

Austin-Smith:Lord’s multi-disciplinary design will transform the stunning complex into a unique 5* star hotel with bedrooms, bar, lounge and library, while the chapel will be conserved to create a beautiful events venue.

On the site of the orphanage, which was demolished in 1970, a contemporary new wellness centre will provide a restorative haven drawing inspiration from the shapes, forms and materials palette of the heritage buildings.

The 25 acres of grounds, set within the beautiful Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, will host small guest cottages influenced by the local vernacular, and an elegant new orangery function room enjoying unrivalled views across the Nailsworth Valley.

Design work is underway on this exciting commission. Each of our in-house disciplines will bring their expertise to the project, drawing on our experience of conceiving innovative adaptive re-use of historic buildings in historic landscapes. The hotel design will conserve and celebrate the historic fabric and the patina that has accumulated over the convent’s life. The new buildings will apply the highest quality contemporary design to the historic and natural setting. Once completed it will be one of most iconic and unique resorts in the Cotswolds.

Planning permission has been granted for a new Supported Living Centre in Adamsdown, Cardiff. The new building, named Pearl House, will be located on the former Citadel site and a smaller structure comprising two self-contained step-up flats has been proposed on Pearl Place as part of the scheme.

The project, designed by Austin-Smith:Lord for Cardiff Council Housing Development, will provide new homes for young people between the ages of 16 and 21. The key objective is that through a combination of high quality housing, and dedicated round the clock support, residents will progress to live independent lives in permanent accommodation.

The design of the scheme adopted from the outset a very simple palette that convey a sense of familiarity and home comfort; traditional materials such as brick on the exterior, timber and warm colour interior finishes.

A double height communal lounge, in the main building, will open directly into a shared garden with southern aspect. Together both spaces will offer variety of areas for social interaction and quiet activities.

The design promotes the sense of openness and social inclusion. The main building stair core will be lit by large openings offering views out as well as in. This visual relationship with the street will be further animated by convivially coloured staircase and the residents moving through the space.

Design team members include QuadConsult Ltd, Wardell Armstrong LLP, and LRM Planning.

We are delighted to announce Richard Cronin as our new Chief Operating Officer.

Richard joined Austin-Smith:Lord 25 years ago, and is currently sector lead for Transport and Industry/Infrastructure.

“I am delighted to accept the offer from the Board to fulfil the role of Chief Operating Officer for Austin-Smith:Lord. I joined the practice in 1996 straight from University and have stayed, as I love the ethos and spirit created by our founders Mike Austin and Annette Smith in 1949 and developed by a strong and diverse line of Partners since. We have recently taken the business from a Partnership into a Limited Company structure as a vehicle to secure our nearly 75 year legacy and I look forward to working with Graham Ross in his new role as Chief Executive to deliver our vision which sets the practice on the right course for the next 75 years.

The last 12 months have been a real test for the industry, but we are a business made from our staff and they have found the resilience to carry on delivering excellent design work in challenging times. Encouraged and enthused, therefore, I am really looking forward to working with them all to grow and adapt to a worldwide ‘new normal’; one that we have a crucial role and responsibility in shaping.” Richard Cronin, Chief Operating Officer