Testimonials

"I am delighted to commend Bench Architects. We employed the practice to supervise repairs at the Grade II* listed private chapel of St John the Baptist at Matlock Bath in Derbyshire over a two year period, just finished. The building is one of great delicacy and we found Adam’s approach to be careful, diligent, extremely well informed and technically proficient. The conservation campaign received an English Heritage grant of just short of £200,000 and I know that they were as delighted as we were with the outcome."

"Bench Architects have created two studios for me, one in Salford, Lancashire and the other in the Peak District, Derbyshire. The studio in Salford contains a working space, a living space, and facilities to contain an Archive of my life’s work. The studio was made in conjunction with the city of Salford’s Council and Civic Authorities and is now occupied and maintained by myself and the Riley Educational Foundation Charity. This studio and Archive is the heart of the Salford University Campus and is admired and respected by all. I would heartly recommend the Bench Partnership who I respect for their taste, approachability and efficiency. They proved to be most reliable and completely honest."

"We have found them to be very capable in supervising the works on site. Their knowledge and understanding of architectural history and attention to detail is excellent. They have developed a good working relationship with the various contractors and are able to source local specialist contractors. They have constantly kept the Council well informed of progress, changes to the specification and any amendments to cost. During the programme of works, major structural defects to both buildings were identified. This had a significant impact upon cost and meeting the agreed project deadline. Bench architects dealt with this in a professional manner securing a high quality repair to the structural integrity of the building. I would also add that the Council’s Buildings Regulations Officers were also very impressed with their professional conduct and quality of work."

"We were cycling the Tissington Trail and came across your delightful visitor centre. The materials have weathered so beautifully and the robust and thoughtful details were a joy to see. The staff of the centre seem to really love it and were keen to tell me about the environmental aspects of the building as well as the design ideas (was it based on a canal barge? They seemed to think so.)
Without wishing to sound to gushy I had a peep around your website and you clearly have an extremely good sense of material, detail and honesty, a thoughtfulness and respect of the old as well as a confidence in bold and crisp interventions. I know how rare it is to get direct feedback so I hope this email brightens up the day in the office!"

“I worked closely with Bench Architects on the Pavilion Gardens project and was greatly impressed with their attention to detail and passion for conservation works. Professionalism was demonstrated throughout the process from initial concept designs to practical completion.”

"Designed by Adam Bench Architects of Buxton, Frederick's Gelateria has a small interior which has been dramatically transformed to look highly dramatic by the clever use of steel and glass and the creation of a first floor cafe seemingly suspended in space.Also a patisserie and coffee shop, the new three-storey interior with glass floors and balustrades, has brought high-tech design unobtrusively into the heart of Bakewell.
The building has already won design commendations from the Friends of the Peak District Countryside Awards and the Peak District National Park Authority. Judges praised Frederick's Gelateria for its 'brilliant use of space and innovative use of light'."

"The new owners and their architect, Adam Bench of Buxton, recognise that it is important to preserve the essential character of this rare building and to take a sensitive approach in deciding on how to design an extension. Adam Bench is one of the best known conservation architects within Derbyshire, and has a strong reputation for sensitive solutions to historic buildings. Most of the renovation work will be carried out by builders H. & W. Sellors of Bakewell. Internally the walls of Thimble Hall will be repaired and part replastered in a lime/horse-hair plaster and the paint will be analysed so that the authentic distemper can be reinstated. The ceiling and floor will be repaired and the existing 20th-century ladder is to be replaced by a fixed ladder of a more traditional form. Both chimney breasts will be repaired and hob-grates reinstalled. Reinstatement of the interior will be meticulously undertaken complete with furniture and chattels appropriate to an 18th-century humble house of tiny proportions. A proposed frameless glazed extension has lightweight advantages over masonry and its design includes an external staircase which will wrap around the limestone core of the building, reducing its impact on the external elevations, freeing up the translucency of the extension and making use of an otherwise redundant space."