World's oldest architectural practices continuously operating

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
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
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
1863 New Zealand Mason & Wales William Mason [5] 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[6]
1884 Australia Wilson Alex B Wilson [7] 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[8] 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[9][10] 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. "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. Andrew Barrie & Julia Gatley Itinerary:Mason & Wales Dunedin (2022) https://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/itinerary-dunedin
  6. Jennifer Freeman W. D. Caroe: His Architectural Achievement (1991) ISBN 0-7190-2449-8
  7. Nathan Johnson Australia's Oldest Architecture dynasty celebrates 130 years (2014) https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/australia-s-oldest-architecture-dynasty-wilson-arc
  8. Julian Davidson Swan & Maclaren: A Story of Architecture (2019) ISBN 978-1935935476
  9. RIBA Nomination Papers L vl no.100
  10. "Home". blowerfoundation.org.
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