Sir Albert Edward Richardson (19 May 1880-3 February 1964) was a leading English architect, teacher and writer about architecture during the first half of the 20th century. He was Professor of Architecture at University College London, a President of the Royal Academy, editor of Architects’ Journal and founder of the Georgian Society .

Richardson was born in London, and in 1906 he established his first architectural practice, Richardson and Gill (a partnership which eventually dissolved in 1939).

He was strongly influenced by nostalgia for the craftsmanship of the Georgian era, but recognised that his classical ideals needed to be developed to meet the challenges of Modernism. The result was a synthesis of traditional and modern approaches which was adapted and applied to industrial and commercial buildings, churches and houses. His deep knowledge of and sympathy towards Georgian design also helped him in numerous post-war commissions to restore bomb-damaged Georgian buildings. Ironically, several of his designs – most notably, Bracken House in the City of London - are now regarded as classic milestones of 20th century design.

He was awarded the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture in 1947 and was elected President of the Royal Academy in 1954.

From 1919 until his death, Richardson lived at Avenue House, 20 Church Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, an 18th century townhouse in which he initially refused to install electricity, believing that his home needed to reflect Georgian standards of living if he was to truly understand their way of life, though he was later convinced to change his mind by his wife.

Projects

• Manchester Opera House (1912)
• repairs to Ripon Cathedral, Ripon (1930s)
• North London Collegiate School, Canons, Edgware, Middlesex
• works on Baronscourt, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone (1947)
• restoration of St Malachy's (CoI) Parish Church, Hillsborough, County Down, Northern Ireland (1951-1956)
• restoration of Navy Staircase (aka: Nelson Stair), Somerset House, following 1940 wartime bomb damage
• restoration of St Alfege's Church, Greenwich, London (1953)
• restoration of St James’s church, Piccadilly, London
• restoration of Trinity House, City of London
• church of St Stanislaus, Dulverton, Somerset (completed 1955)
• bridge linking picture galleries, Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire (1955)
• restoration of the Wilkins Building, University College London (completed 1956)
• church of St Cuthbert, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire (1957)
• Casterbridge flats, Blackheath, London (1957)
• refurbishment of Sedburgh School library (1957-1958)
• Financial Times building, Bracken House, Cannon Street, London (completed in 1958, in 1988 it became the first post-war listed building)
• Tormore Distillery, Advie, Grantown on Spey , Morayshire, Scotland (1958-1960, also a listed building)
• restoration of the Livery Hall of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors, London (1959)
• John White shoe factory, Rushden, Northamptonshire
• buildings at Strawberry Hill, Twickenham
• works at Elstow Abbey , Bedford
• completion of St Martin’s church, Knebworth, Hertfordshire (1963-1964, completing work begun by Sir Edwin Lutyens)
• Mid Bedfordshire District Council Offices (formerly the Ampthill Rural District Council Offices, 12 Dunstable Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire (1963-1965)

Books

• Monumental Classic: Architecture in Great Britain and Ireland (reprinted 2001)
• The Old Inns of England (1967)