A Career in Architecture

Purves Architect

Background

Trained at the School of Architecture Durham University (1st degree BA) and Newcastle University (BArch) – which started over 60 years ago (1962).

A career spent largely in the North East with forays into Scotland (Edinburgh office) and London.

A wide ranging work load as was typical of a medium sized practice involving housing, commercial, retail, primary health care, multi-storey car parks and much else including private houses, golf clubs, office space planning for HMRC and numerous small works.

My personal roles included various periods as an expert witness, adjudicator and investigator for the Architects Registration Board for professional complaints. I also taught at the School of Architecture in Newcastle as a part time lecturer for a number of years.

Key Projects

A wide range of small residential estates, both for public and private sectors. Gateshead Metro Centre, Primary Health Care projects.

Early career in developing a housing association (Three Rivers Housing Association) and the development of affordable social housing.

Gleneagles Golf Course Leisure Centre, various Middle East landscape projects and low cost housing projects in South Africa, first prize River Clyde Competition (Brian Clouston and Partners).

Formed my own practice and developed a regionally based work load across many sectors – redevelopment of Fenham Barracks (winner of a competition); redevelopment of Handyside Arcade to create Eldon Gardens (Peter Cussins) a large retail outlet. Primary Health Care Centres, commencing with Lintonville Medical Practice at Ashington. This lead to a rolling workload of over 50 GP premises throughout the North East. Metro Centre, multi-storey carks NCP, retail including Tesco Kingston Park, sports centre and retail development at Wentworth, Hexham. London office – various office developments especially a wide range of refurbishment work for Reed Executive.

A busy regional practice which merged with David Ash Partnership, becoming Purves Ash with a wide ranging portfolio of projects covering: housing, commercial, retail, primary health care and multi-storey car parks.

The practice was involved in a number of high profile projects in association with major international practices including site architect services on the Red Mall and Transport Interchange at the Metro Centre, Gateshead with Haskoll and West Park Mental Health Hospital, Darlington with Nightingale Associates. We carried out site architect services for Sir Terry Farrell for projects in the North East, particularly the Great North Museum and the Cultural Quarter of the University of Newcastle.

Professional Activities
  • RIBA – Member of Council
    • Hon. Treasurer
  • Architects Benevolent Society (ABS) – Chairman
  • Expert Witness / Adjudicator / Competition Assessor
  • Northumberland and Newcastle Society – Chairman
  • Northern Architectural Association – Chair of proposals for an architectural centre on Newcastle Quayside

Publications

  • 2 books on Primary Health Care
  • Churches of Northumberland
Since Retirement from Professional Practice
  • Chair of Architects Benevolent Society (ABS)
  • Master of Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects (WCCA)
  • Freeman of the City of London
  • Trustee of Temple Bar Trust
  • Chair of Newcastle Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC)
  • Involvement in local community (Church Warden and architect for re-ordering of St. Bartholomew’s, Kirkwhelpington).