People · Podcast guest
Laura Simpkins
Architect · Pride Road
ARB-registered architect and founder of Pride Road New Forest and Bournemouth, specialising in residential extensions, remodelling and loft conversions.
- Current role
- Architect
- Practice
- Pride Road
- Location
- New Forest, Hampshire, UK
- On the podcast
- 1 episode · 2021
The story so far
The path behind Laura's work.
Laura Simpkins is an ARB-registered architect and the founder of Pride Road New Forest and Bournemouth, part of the Pride Road residential architecture franchise. Based in the New Forest in Hampshire, she specialises in house extensions, remodelling and loft conversions for the domestic market, working with homeowners across the south of England.
Laura qualified at the international practice Broadway Malyan, working on large design-and-build schemes, before moving to a design-led studio in Romsey specialising in schools. After a period balancing part-time practice with raising three children, redundancy in the 2008 downturn and a deliberate career break, she launched her own studio in January 2020 through the Pride Road franchise. Her practice uses a systemised residential model built around free consultations, live design workshops and outsourced technical production, which she adapted to run entirely online during the pandemic. She is a strong advocate for flexible working, role models and peer support in architecture.
Episode 0070 · Architecture Social · 47:21
A conversation with the wonderful Laura Simpkins from Pride Road Architects
Laura Simpkins' story is useful because it shows architecture practice life as it actually happens: career ambition, family, pressure, timing and adaptation.
Inside the conversation
6 moments to start with- 01
00:00 · Introduction to Laura Simpkins and Pride Road Architects
- 02
04:00 · Career in larger architecture practices
- 03
10:00 · Family, parenting and professional life
- 04
17:00 · Weathering the pandemic and career change
- 05
24:00 · Piano lessons, local work and adaptation
- 06
31:00 · Launching through Pride Road Architects
Profile in brief
The work and context behind Laura's conversation.
- Current role
- Architect
- Practice
- Pride Road
- Location
- New Forest, Hampshire, UK
Continue exploring
Meet the practice behind the work.
Looking for Architects across the UK to join our franchise Pride Road
- Greater Manchester
- Residential
- Commercial
Podcast · moments that play
Start where the idea starts.
- 04:00Laura Simpkins · Audio onlyListen from 04:00 in the full episode.
Career in larger architecture practices
- 10:00Laura Simpkins · Audio onlyListen from 10:00 in the full episode.
Family, parenting and professional life
- 17:00Laura Simpkins · Audio onlyListen from 17:00 in the full episode.
Weathering the pandemic and career change
- 24:00Laura Simpkins · Audio onlyListen from 24:00 in the full episode.
Piano lessons, local work and adaptation
- 31:00Laura Simpkins · Audio onlyListen from 31:00 in the full episode.
Launching through Pride Road Architects
- 38:00Laura Simpkins · Audio onlyListen from 38:00 in the full episode.
Real-life obstacles in architecture careers