John Simpson CVO
John Simpson CVO studied at the Bartlett School of Architecture in London. He is a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the founder and Principal Director of John Simpson Architects, established in 1980. He is also Visiting Professor of Architecture at the University of Cambridge and a laureate of the prestigious Richard H. Driehaus Prize for Architecture.
A leading figure in the New Classicism movement of the 1980s, John Simpson has played an important role in demonstrating the relevance of classical architecture to contemporary building and urban design. He established his reputation with Ashfold House in West Sussex (1991), a project that demonstrated how the classical language of architecture could respond to modern needs.
His architectural work spans civic, institutional and residential buildings, including the West Range of Gonville Court at Gonville & Caius College, University of Cambridge, and the Brownsword Market Hall at Poundbury. Beyond individual buildings, he has contributed extensively to urban design and masterplanning, advocating for mixed-use developments rooted in traditional urban principles. His work has informed good practice in urban design, and he has served as a consultant to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.
About John Simpson Architects
John Simpson Architects is a London-based architectural practice working internationally across the UK, Europe and the United States. A leading practice within the New Classical movement, it is led by three directors and an associate director.
The practice’s approach is grounded in the belief that classical and traditional architecture offers an enduring, humane and sustainable approach to the built environment. Its buildings are designed to last for generations, respond to their surroundings and serve the needs of those who use them. This philosophy extends across its work, from new buildings and restoration projects to furniture, interiors and large-scale masterplans for urban extensions and new settlements.
Over more than four decades, the practice has delivered projects for cultural, educational, commercial, residential and charitable clients. Notable works include The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace, the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre at Stanford Hall, the Royal College of Music, Eton College, the School of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame, and projects for colleges at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
Its urban design work began with the masterplan for Paternoster Square beside St Paul’s Cathedral and has since expanded to projects in the UK and internationally. These include Poundbury, Dickens Heath, the Bergères Eco-District in Puteaux, Paris, and masterplans in Gloucestershire, Wokingham and Savannah, Georgia. Its approach to masterplanning emphasises walkable, mixed-use communities with a strong sense of place.
Images:
1: Hall of Casts, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, USA.
2: University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, USA
3: The Queen’s Gallery double-height entrance hall, glazed ceiling with a lattice of glazing bars.
4: The Queen’s Gallery, The Portland stone of the entrance portico contrasts with the Bath stone of the entrance hall beyond.
5: Peterhouse College, University of Cambridge
6: Poundbury, Dorset. Brownsword Market Hall.
7: Poundbury, Dorset. Houses.
8: Aerial drawing by Carl Laubin of the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre in Stanford on Soar near Loughborough, Nottinghamshire.
9: Porte Cochere, University Arms Hotel, Cambridge.
10: Dickens Heath, Solihull.
Further information
John Simpson Architects Limited
Architects, Designers, Urban Planners
29 Great James Street
London WC1N 3ES
UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 74051285
Fax: +44 (0)20 78311781
Email: info@johnsimpsonarchitects.com
www.johnsimpsonarchitects.com
