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World's oldest architectural practices continuously operating

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This article lists the oldest extant architectural practices in the world. 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

Date Founded Country Architectural Practice Founded by (if known) Notes
1750 England Brierley Groom John Carr (architect)[1] 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

Date Founded Country Architectural Practice Founded by (if known) Notes
1856 England Edgington, Spink & Hyne Thomas Edgington Founded as Edgington & Son; thence Edgington & Spink from 1907; thence Edgington Spink & Hyne from 1955
1863 New Zealand Mason & Wales William Mason [2] 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
1884 England Caroe & Partners William Douglas Caröe[3]
1884 Australia Wilson Alex B Wilson [4] 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[5] 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
1895 England Stedman Blower Arthur Stedman[6][7] 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

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