ACANTHUS CLEWS ARCHITECTS

We are a forward thinking, award winning practice, with a long and successful history. We offer a full range of architect’s services, from initial feasibility studies and masterplans through to detail design and production drawings, specifications and project management.

We are driven by innovative and bespoke design solutions that address complex and sensitive problems and give added value to their immediate context.

The practice was founded in 1972 by Michael Clews in his rented cottage in King Sutton. By 1980 the team had grown to five and moved to a studio space in Deddington, their commissions principally with historic buildings.

During the 1980's the practice moved to Great Bourton into the coach-house of the Old Vicarage. The team continued to grow and diversify, developing a specialist knowledge of residential, healthcare and education architecture to compliment the work with historic buildings. During this time the practice undertook the English Heritage survey of historic buildings in Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire.

Towards the end of the 1990's the growing practice converted the Old Swan, Great Bourton and moved in 2001 which remained the head office until the move to our current offices at Acanthus House in 2005.

Architectural conservation demands experience, knowledge and skills that are found in very few practices. Acanthus Clews has a unique understanding of the challenges involved. For 30 years we have worked on projects of national importance and have become a widely recognised authority in this increasingly specialised area. Our roots are in conservation: practice founder Michael Clews is Cathedral Architect to Coventry and Llandaff and within our Conservation Team we have 3 Accredited Architects in Building Conservation. Our conservation awards include the SPAB John Betjeman Award and the RIBA South Conservation Award for 2010.

Good Architecture involves partnership and collaboration.