George Saumarez Smith, Partner

One of the leading classical architects of his generation, George Saumarez Smith’s work is grounded in deep study and meticulous attention to detail. Much of his inspiration comes from a lifelong appreciation and study of historic buildings and the techniques of classical design.

After studying architecture at the University of Edinburgh, George began his career at the offices of Quinlan Terry, who in turn had begun his career with George’s grandfather, the noted 20th-century classicist, Raymond Erith.

George joined ADAM Architecture in 2003, promptly becoming a director and developing one of the largest, most dynamic studios practising the classical tradition in Britain. George’s work ranges in scale, from new country houses and garden buildings to historic restorations and major urban planning schemes.

Externally, George teaches and writes on subjects relating to classical and traditional architecture at the European Summer School in Classical Architecture, the Prince’s Foundation, the ICAA and the University of Notre Dame. He has published several books on architecture and exhibited at the RIBA and the Royal Academy. His book The Romance of Classicism is published by Rizzoli in September 2026.

George is well known as a proponent and teacher of measured drawing, having been one of the last students to read the now-closed course at the University of Edinburgh. For over 20 years, George has kept a collection of cloth-bound sketchbooks of his measured drawings, each named chronologically after a Roman emperor, starting in 1996 with Augustus and continuing most recently with Marcus Aurelius.