Business Details
42 Years
experience
Award-Winning Architects in Banbury
Acanthus Clews Architects is an RIBA chartered practice with over four decades of experience delivering specialist conservation architecture and contemporary design solutions. Established in 1984, our national portfolio reflects a commitment to collaboration through open communication, creating bespoke designs that respond to each site's unique context. Our team of experienced professionals combines technical expertise with creative innovation, working across sectors including residential, education, community, and heritage projects while maintaining a strong focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility.With four Accredited Architects in Building Conservation and multiple industry awards to our name, we pride ourselves on technical excellence, meticulous attention to detail, and a client-centric approach that has built lasting relationships with our clients over the years.
Services
Conservation Architecture
Residential Design
School Architecture
Community Projects
CDM Compliance
Masterplanning
Details
- Year established: 1984
Highlights and features
- Award-winning practice with 40+ years of architectural expertise
- Four Accredited Architects in Building Conservation
- National portfolio spanning heritage and contemporary projects
- Recipient of RIBA South Conservation Award and SPAB John Betjeman Award
- Specialised education sector experience with 15+ years of school projects
Associations and certifications
- RIBA
- Accredited Architects in Building Conservation
Services
Conservation Architecture
Architectural conservation specialists with four Accredited Conservation Architects. Expertise in listed buildings and historic structures, combining traditional techniques with modern requirements. Holdings include SPAB John Betjeman Award and RIBA South Conservation Award.
Residential Design
Custom residential projects addressing planning constraints and listed building consents. Focus on creative solutions for challenging sites and heritage contexts. Combines craftsmanship with contemporary design principles.
Education Architecture
Specialist education team with 15 years' experience delivering masterplans, new builds and refurbishments. Expertise spans teaching spaces, sports facilities, and boarding accommodations across independent and state sectors.
Community Projects
Design of libraries, places of worship, and community centres. Experienced in Heritage Lottery Fund and Parks for People Grant applications. Recipient of RIBA National Award for community-focused architecture.
CDM Compliance
Principal Designer services fully compliant with CDM 2015 regulations. Manages health & safety throughout pre-construction phases, ensuring regulatory adherence and risk mitigation.
People
Mark Smith
Managing Director
20+ years in education architecture, leading school projects across UK sectors. Guides practice strategy, focusing on sustainable design and heritage integration while maintaining technical excellence.
Camilla Finlay
Director
Specialises in environmental design and sustainable architecture. Coordinates cross-disciplinary teams ensuring cohesive project delivery from concept to completion across commercial and heritage sectors.
David Finlay
Director
Focuses on complex site solutions and modern architectural responses to historic contexts. Oversees project coordination for conservation projects requiring specialist planning expertise.
Steven Myhill
Design Principal
Residential architecture specialist with 30+ years' experience. Manages sensitive planning applications and listed building consents while overseeing HR operations within the practice.
Questions
What architectural services do Clews Architects specialise in?
We specialise in conservation architecture, residential design, education projects, community buildings, CDM compliance, and masterplanning for diverse property types and heritage sites.
How experienced is Clews Architects with heritage projects?
We have four Accredited Conservation Architects and hold industry awards for conservation work, combining traditional techniques with modern requirements for listed buildings and historic structures.
What areas do you cover for architectural services?
While based in Banbury, we operate nationally across the UK delivering architectural solutions for conservation, education, residential and community projects.
How does Clews Architects approach sustainability?
We integrate environmental design principles through passive design strategies, material selection and energy-efficient solutions while maintaining architectural integrity and heritage values.
What education sector experience does Clews Architects have?
Our dedicated education team has delivered numerous school projects including masterplans, new builds and refurbishments for independent and state schools over 15+ years.
