WHO WE ARE
Austin-Smith:Lord is a creative collective of design professionals with decades of experience and an impressive track record. From design concept to project completion we provide complete solutions which are informed by innovation, creativity and responsibility.
We believe in the power of good design to raise the spirit by transforming and enhancing environments. We are driven by a passion for creating exciting, contextual and life-affirming buildings, places and spaces. Our philosophy is underpinned by a commitment to listen to our clients and, through collaboration, surpass their expectations. Every logistical difficulty represents a chance to be creative. There is an art to being practical.
OUR MISSION
To Enhance Life & Environments By Design
OUR VISION
We are a Creative Collective designing buildings and spaces with passion and expertise to create a legacy of enduring quality, which enriches lives and respects people, place and our planet.
OUR PRINCIPLES
To address the urgencies of our time, and inspired by our founders’ guiding principles, we are committed to promoting, and motivated by, the following core values/guiding principles;
Design Excellence
Applying innovation, expertise and creativity to elegantly solve problems and contribute ideas that have positive impacts and enrich our lives, culture and environment.
Sustainability
Respecting people, place and the planet for the benefit of future generations by integrating circular and sustainable design
Health + Wellbeing
Promoting improved quality of life, and positive mental and physical health and wellbeing for those who engage with our work; clients, end-users, colleagues + our team
Collaboration
Teamwork is fundamental to our success. Working together, with humility and without ego, enriches our collective creativity.
Integrity + Professionalism
We are committed to conducting our business ethically and we expect high standards of professionalism in everything we do, every time.
Knowledge Sharing + Life-Long Learning
Championing knowledge sharing, mentoring and career-long learning towards continuous improvement, research and development
TIMELINE
Inette and Mike Austin-Smith met in 1946 as they resumed architectural studies that had been interrupted by the war. Two years later they were married, and in 1949 JM Austin-Smith and Partner was founded. Later Mike Austin-Smith would cite how teamworking and esprit de corps were an integral part of his war experience with the Royal Horse Artillery (he was awarded the Military Cross), and how he had learned the meaning of professional responsibility the hard way. The ethos of teamwork and professional responsibility became engrained in the practice that bore his name, and have remained ever since.
The other key tenet of the Practice from the start was the insistence on the attention given to the client. The couple quickly learned the importance of involving clients closely throughout the process. Learning to access and understand what clients wanted meant they were able to provide it. This generated repeat business. The Practice grew on the back of it. Here is a chronological timeline of our development as one of the leading architecture firms.
