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West Waddy ADP, the Abingdon architectural and town planning practice that is this year celebrating its 120th anniversary, has recently completed work that demonstrates its ability to tastefully handle both the old and the new.
Architecture and town planning are inseparable desciplines in the creation of an attractive built environment yet few consultancies offer both skills under one roof. West Waddy ADP is an exception employing both architects and town planners working on an increasing diverse portfolio of commissions.
Recent projects have seen a renaissance in contemporary design, which is favoured by many planning authorities, especially for housing. Residential commisions in Newbury, High Wycombe and Oxford recently undertaken demonstrate the firm’s ability to successfully integrate modern design within historic neighbourhoods. |
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And when it comes to working on older buildings, West Waddy ADP again proved it has few equals with a proposal for the re-use of a historic 14th century Grade-2 listed farm building complex at Ruislip. The £2.2 million project involves conservation, restoration and enhancement work plus landscaping the remnants of a medieval monument.
The remodelling of a dilapidated bungalow at Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire, led to the practice being awarded a Residential Design “Top Merit” accolade, by Aylesbury Vale District Council.
Other recent work includes the design of an Oxfordshire library, created out of an old coach house, at a construction cost of £200,000; the contemporary design of apartments in High Wycombe; the conversion of part of the firm’s offices into residential homes of great character; the assessment of one brownfield and two Greenfield sites to create a “Healthcare Village” at Henley-on-Thames. New commissions include a city centre redevelopment at Gloucester, a new St John’s Ambulance HQ at Theale, a new housing development at Faringdon and classrooms/sportshall at an Abingdon school.
History
West Waddy ADP is the longest established architectural practice in Oxfordshire, and one of the oldest in the UK. It has naturally undergone many changes since being founded in 1885 by John George Timothy West, who primarily offered his services as an architect but also worked as an auctioneer, house agent (whose duties included collecting rents and debts), surveyor, valuer and accountant.
Some of the firm’s earliest buildings are now well-known landmarks in Abingdon. Drawings survive for the chapel and gymnasium designed and built for Abingdon School in 1899, as do original drawings for Abingdon Hospital.
After World War I, JGT West was joined by his son Archibald Buller West, and six years later both were elected members of the Royal Institute of British Architects. In 1932 the practice moved from Stert Street to Bridge Street, where it remained until the late 1990's.
Serious expansion, both in terms of its geographic area and scale of project, began in the 1970's and saw a merger with Philip Waddy in 1986 to become West Waddy. The "ADP" addition to the title came in 1999 when the firm merged with Associated Design Partnership and within three years moved to larger premises in Bury Street, followed by the latest relocation to The Malthouse, in East St Helen Street, last year.
The Partners
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Ashton had moved south from his native Yorkshire to join Oxford City Council in 1980.
"The blend of our skills is what makes us different and puts us in a strong position," said Waddy. "We are also able to put together a multi-discipline team of consultants, quantity surveyors, construction engineers and experts, whatever is needed to suit any size of project."
Architect Stephen Simkins was recently promoted to partner level. An experienced project architect with qualifications in both architecture and urban design, he joined the practice in 1998 and became an associate two years later.
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