World's oldest architectural practices continuously operating

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This article lists the oldest extant architectural practices in the world. Very few architectural practices are still operating whose foundation pre-dates the beginning of the 20th C and it would not be unreasonable to conclude that any practice that was founded in the 18th or 19th C should be listed as amongst the oldest surviving architectural firms around the globe.[1][2][3] In order to qualify for the list a practice must:

  • be predominantly an architectural practice, designing and constructing buildings and like structures
  • be registered in their home territory as architects or architectural designers
  • be operating continuously from the date of foundation, albeit a change of names or ownership is likely over intervening centuries
  • be evidenced by relevant authoritative sources

18th century[edit]

Date Founded Country Architectural Practice Founded by (if known) Notes
1750 England Brierley Groom John Carr (architect)[4] Founded By John Carr; then run by Walter Henry Brierley in the late 19th C; thence to father and sons, the Groom family from the 3rd quarter of the 20th C

19th century[edit]

Date Founded Country Architectural Practice Founded by (if known) Notes
1853 USA Luckett & Farley Henry Whitestone The firm began under the name Rogers, Whitestone & Co., Architects, changing its name to Henry Whitestone in 1857, to D.X. Murphy & Brother in 1890, and to Luckett & Farley in 1962.
1853 USA SmithGroup Sheldon Smith Founded as Sheldon Smith, the firm's name was changed to Field, Hinchman & Smith in 1903; then renamed Smith, Hinchman & Grylls in 1907; in 2000, the firm changed its name to SmithGroup.
1856 England Edgington, Spink & Hyne Thomas Edgington Founded as Edgington & Son; thence Edgington & Spink from 1907; thence Edgington Spink & Hyne from 1955
1860 England Lovelock Mitchell Architects T.M. Lockwood Founded by Thomas Lockwood in 1860, becoming Lockwood & Sons in 1892, then Lockwood Abercrombie & Saxon in 1922, then Saxon & Partners in 1926, then Saxon Smith & Partners in 1947, then Saxon Smith Lovelock Mitchell in 1972, then Lovelock Mitchell & Partners from 1975. Today operates as Lovelock Mitchell Architects, an employee-owned trust.[5]
1863 New Zealand Mason & Wales William Mason [6] Founded by William Mason with William Clayton in partnership as Mason & Clayton; thence joined in partnership by Nathaniel Wales by 1871; thence by the latter's son PY Wales and his grandson NYA Wales; and then his great-grandson Niel YA Wales from 1956; thence to Ashley Muir from 1970 and his son, Hamish Muir and his business partner Francis Whitaker, as of today
1868 USA King & King Archimedes Russell In 1906 it was called Melvin L. King Architects; then in 1932 it changed to Melvin L. & Harry A. King Architects when Harry King became a partner; n 1945, it changed to Melvin L., Harry A. & Curtis King Architects when Curtis King became a partner, and in 1959 Russell King became a partner — changing the firm’s name to King & King Architects.
1884 England Caroe & Partners William Douglas Caröe[7]
1884 Australia Wilson Alex B Wilson [8] Founded by Alex B Wilson, later joined by his grandson and his wife Blair & Beth Wilson by 1971; thence run by their son, Hamilton from 1995
1887 Singapore Swan & Maclaren Archibald Alexander Swan & Alfred Lermit[9] Founded by Swan & Lermit as surveyors/engineers; thence, joined by James Wadell Boyd Maclaren in 1892 as Swan & Maclaren; Regent Alfred John Bidwell joined as architect partner in 1897 till 1915; thence to successor partners
1892 England Tooley Foster Herbert Tooley The Practice was founded in 1892 by Herbert Tooley and then later Reginald "Rex" Foster joined as Partner in 1910. The Practice was known as The Tooley & Foster Partnership for over a century and in 2022 changed to just Tooley Foster. The Practice has always been based in Buckhurst Hill, Essex.
1895 England Stedman Blower Arthur Stedman[10][11] Founded as AJ Stedman, Architect & Surveyor; thence AJ & LR Stedman Architects from 1940; thence Stedman & Blower Architects from 1964; thence Stedman Blower Architects from 1995

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Oldest architectural firm explains". Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  2. ^ "Singapore's oldest architectural firm". Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  3. ^ "Australia's oldest architectural dynasty". Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  4. ^ Wragg, Brian (2000). Giles Worsley (ed.). The life and works of John Carr of York. York England: Oblong. ISBN 0-9536574-1-8.
  5. ^ "Practice & Values". LMA. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  6. ^ Andrew Barrie & Julia Gatley Itinerary:Mason & Wales Dunedin (2022) https://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/itinerary-dunedin
  7. ^ Jennifer Freeman W. D. Caroe: His Architectural Achievement (1991) ISBN 0-7190-2449-8
  8. ^ Nathan Johnson Australia's Oldest Architecture dynasty celebrates 130 years (2014) https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/australia-s-oldest-architecture-dynasty-wilson-arc
  9. ^ Julian Davidson Swan & Maclaren: A Story of Architecture (2019) ISBN 978-1935935476
  10. ^ RIBA Nomination Papers L vl no.100
  11. ^ "Home". blowerfoundation.org.
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