Welcome to Spence & Dower

If the architectural press is full of the clamour of competing and ‘self-conscious innovation’ – we are not there. All design is by its nature exploratory and must search for a balance between enabling a building to work and ordering its form to please. Our aim is that good quality design should shine through the patient satisfaction of this balance and give delight to owners, other users and those who pass by. All our projects relate to the specific sites and environments to which they belong.

As Chartered Architects and Historic Building Consultants our interests are broad ranging but we consider ourselves specialists in a full range of historic building work, contemporary design, particularly within sensitive locations, and community based building projects.

Find out more about our architectural services

Though I started my working life in London my family roots are here in the North-East – ‘this corner of the earth has a smile for me above all other places.’ Returning to join the practice in 1974, I have tried to develop an understanding of the region’s traditional built environment, particularly of it’s rural communities as a context for a contemporary design response. Repeated commissions and recommendation seem to suggest a reputation for continuing quality output.

Robin Dower, Partner