Richard Morton is a practising architect with over 35 years’ experience in a range of sectors, including retirement housing and heritage projects. Previously a Partner at Sidell Gibson and currently Vice-Chairman of the Retirement Housing Group, Richard founded Richard Morton Architects in 2012. He has continued to develop his portfolio which includes central London offices, luxury residential, specialist conservation and housing for older people. He has recently contributed to the latest APPG report – Rural Housing for an Ageing Population; Preserving Independence.
Richard studied architecture at Cambridge, intermittently between singing commitments in Kings College and Corpus Christi. He achieved his degree in 1977, a Diploma in 1979 and became a qualified architect in 1981.
Richard’s first job was with Dex Harrison & Pollard, working mainly on Housing Association schemes as project architect and later as an Associate. His role at DH&P later developed to include a combined brief, doing major repairs on occupied developments for Columbus First HA whilst simultaneously providing expert witness evidence for them against the original design team.
In 1987, Richard joined Sidell Gibson to take charge, at a day to day level, of their extensive programme of retirement housing work for the English Courtyard Association. The practice completed over 30 schemes for this major specialist developer over the next 20 years, winning many awards along the way. Richard was appointed to Associate in 1990 and became a Partner in 2001 with an extensive role in the general management of the firm.
While at Sidell Gibson, Richard also led major commercial projects, up to 250,000sqft, in the City and elsewhere, for clients such as The Crown Estate, NM Rothschild, Starlight Investments, Royal and Sun, St George plc, the Bolesworth Estate and a number of others. On the residential side, Richard completed projects for Hanover Housing and Anchor Trust, and for the Duchy of Cornwall at Poundbury. Another of his projects, Sir John Lyon House, close to the Millennium Bridge in London, won several major awards including the Mail on Sunday British Homes Awards and New York Times International Property Awards. Heritage projects continued to feature strongly with examples including the restoration and extension of Sir John Singer Sargent’s old home and studio at 31 Tite Street, London.
Richard also developed his skill and experience in expert witness work, including cases for The Crown Estate, TfL and Magnet Properties.
In 2012, Richard left Sidell Gibson to set up Richard Morton Architects, with a focus on residential projects, historic buildings, expert witness cases and smaller commercial projects, particularly in the City. With the help of his co-founder, Yarema Ronish, the practice is now well established, with offices in Farringdon and a growing workload.
Richard is Vice-Chairman of the Retirement Housing Group, and, until recently, a member of the European Standard committee dealing with Sheltered Housing.
With a busy practice, recreation time is limited, but Richard runs regularly, and has completed a number of half marathons for various charities. He continues his love of singing and performs both chorally and occasionally as a soloist. He is Churchwarden at the Grade I listed St Etheldreda’s Church in Hatfield.
