ABOUT ME
Hi there, I'm Amy Francis-Smith
I have long been a vocal advocate for the rights of the 16 million+ disabled & elderly people in the UK as well as the millions in need of accessible housing.
I know I'm not the only one who gets frustrated with the poor, ill-conceived and often downright discriminatory buildings!
Sadly, not everyone knows how to approach barrier-free, universal design sensitively.
As someone who themselves has experienced life with multiple disabilities, I understand how important it is that our buildings work for us.
I design in empathy & build out inequality
Roles
Senior Architect - Pinnegar Hayward Design
• Senior Project Architect on a whole range of schemes from small scale refurbs up to multi-million-pound projects in the Healthcare and Residential sectors (design and delivery RIBA Stages 0-7), leading Design Teams and liaising closely with clients/end users.
• PHD's Internal Accessibility & Inclusive Design Advisor
• Technical Advisor Role (TA)
Outgoing Vice President - Birmingham Architectural Association
WMCA (West Midlands Combined Authority - Housing & Infrastructure Group Chair
Access, Design & Property Consultant
Design Council Expert - Accessibility Specialist
Advisory Board Member - Habinteg Housing Association
Visiting Lecturer on Inclusive Design - BCU, Cardiff & Nottingham University
Charity Ambassador - Architects Benevolent Society
A more in-depth history can be found on my LinkedIn page
Don't worry if that all sounds exhausting, I still have time for a whisky or a dance on a Friday night!
Awards & Nominations
Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 2023 - No. 6
Announced as one of the most influential disabled people in the UK for a fourth year in a row. Reaching No.6 out of 100.
Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 2022 - No. 8
Announced as one of the most influential disabled people in the UK for a third year in a row. Reaching No.8 out of 100.
BAA's Outstanding Support - Worshipful Company of Architects 2022
Thanked for our support and fundraising efforts for the Architects Benevolent Society.
Blue Badge Access Award - Access Champion of the Year 2022
Celebrating thoughtful and stylish inclusive design across the world.
RIBA Journal Rising Star 2021
Shining a spotlight on 15 young practitioners from practices across the UK.
Archiboo Activism Award 2021
Celebrating a group or individual that is addressing one of the built environment’s pressing challenges and pushing for real change.
Birmingham Awards - Young Achiever 2021
Championing local individuals, businesses and charities in Birmingham.
Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 2021
Announced as one of the most influential disabled people in the UK for a second year in a row.
National Diversity Awards 2020 Shortlist
Shortlisted as 1 of 8 for the NDAs 2020 as a Positive Disabled Role Model from 62,000 people.
Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 2020
Announced as one of the most influential disabled people in the UK.
UK Construction Week Role Models 2020 Shortlist
Shortlisted from hundreds of entries hailing from all professions and levels within the built environment industry.
Architects Benevolent Society 2020 Volunteer Awards
Recognised for the efforts of myself & The BAA Team's donations to the charity's Emergency Appeal campaign during the COVID19 pandemic.
Birmingham Live #30under30
Highlighted as one of Birmingham's outstanding rising stars under 30.
Press & Publications
Christmas 2023: what’s on architects’ wish lists?
RIBA
December 2023
Food For Thought – when Amy Francis-Smith met Faith la Grange
The Shaw Trust & Microsoft
September 2023
Download the paper here or watch the full interview on YouTube
How architects can help when an occupant’s accessibility needs change
RIBA
September 2023
What can we do to provide more wheelchair-accessible homes?
Habinteg
September 2023
Collective Action! : The Power of Collaboration and Co-Design in Architecture
Chapter Contribution
RIBA Publishing
April 2023
Step-free access to ALL homes under new government accessibility rules
Architects' Journal
August 2022
I AM BCU: Amy Francis-Smith
BCU
May 2022
Can Architecture Improve The Lives of Chronic Pain Sufferers?
Financial Times
January 2022
Stepping Down from the BAA with a Heavy Heart
Birmingham Architectural Association
December 2021
London is Failing to Make Itself More Accessible for Those With Disabilities
City A.M.
November 2021
RIBAJ Rising Star
RIBA Journal
November 2021
“But What Does an Accessible Building Look Like?
Sarah Wigglesworth Architects
October 2021
2021 Archiboo Awards: Activism Highlight
Wallpaper Magazine
October 2021
Architecture Alumna Celebrates Win
BCU
October 2021
Is Disability Architecture’s Final Taboo?
Architects' Journal
July 2021
RIBA slams ‘disappointing’ Disability Strategy
Architects' Journal
July 2021
RIBA calls for mandatory accessible housing – with exceptions
Architects' Journal
December 2020
The National Diversity Awards Announce 2020 Shortlist
Able Magazine
September 2020
Mental Health in Architecture
Altruist
February 2020
Recognising Diversity as a Strength Allows Communities To Thrive
Women's Housing Forum
January 2020
Alumna gives talk at RIBA Research Matters
BCU
December 2019
The Future Has To Be Accessible, There Is No Other Option
Habinteg
December 2019
Accessible Housing: The UK's Hidden Housing Crisis
The Academy of Urbanism Journal - Here & Now: #14 Creating Inclusive Cities
November 2019
How 30 Under 30 finalist overcame serious illness to fight for disability rights
Birmingham Live
May 2019
Please feel free to take a look through my recent LinkedIn or Instagram posts to find out the latest ways that I've been campaigning and trying to keep discussions at the forefront.
Associated Bodies
RIBA - Royal Institute of British Architects
Member since 2009
ARB - Architects Registration Board
Registered Architect
Purple Tuesday
Associate & Ambassador
Birmingham Architectural Association
Vice President 2019-2021
Committee since 2017
Architects Benevolent Society
Charity Ambassador since 2019
The Access Association
Member since 2017
Talks & Public Speaking
WMCA - West Midlands as an Exemplar Region for Disabled People - September 2023
With Mayor Andy Street - West Midlands Combined Authority, The Disability Policy Centre & The National Centre for Accessible Transport - Panellist discussing Disability & accessible housing
Built By Us - Women, Space and Equity - March 2023
Women & Space with Danna Walker, Pooja Agrawal & Sarah Wigglesworth
World Institute of Disability Podcast - August 2022
Discussing the importance of accessible housing for people with disabilities across the globe
Can architects make a difference? - June 2022
London Festival of Architecture & Archiboo debate at the Royal Academy
Birmingham Design Festival - June 2022
Nothing About Us, Without Us: Disability & Designing Our World Inclusively
Inner Circle Consulting - March 2022
IWD - Shaping the Built Environment for Women
Habinteg Housing Summit - March 2022
Building Back Better and the drive for accessible homes
RIBA Radio - November 2021
Friday 26 November - Adaptations That Work
Panellist alongside Siraaj Mitha, Annette Fisher and Dr Caitriona Jackman
Liverpool Young Architects - April 2021
DisABILITY in Architecture - Virtual Book Club focused on the disabled experience within the architectural field.
RIBA Practice Clinic - October 2020
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion - Inclusive Leadership
Panellist discussing how to embed equality, diversity and inclusion into architectural practice.
BAA Accessible Housing: Towards a More Inclusive Birmingham - February 2020
"With 20 slides, each for 20 seconds, come and listen to four of the industry’s brightest professionals present their 2020 Vision on thought-provoking topics for Birmingham’s Built Environment.
Special guest speakers from the BAA, IstructE and CIBSE."
RIBA Research Matters Conference - October 2019
Selected to present my research findings on accessible housing to delegates at The University of Nottingham.
Article by BCU School of Architecture and Design
BAA Women in Architecture - March 2019
This event focused on the West-Midlands based talent with a celebration of development in the region spearheaded by Female Architects.
Organised, Hosted & Chaired dozens of Birmingham Architectural Association events
In person and online
VP of the BAA - 1500 attendees annually, 100,000 monthly social media hits
Teaching & Research
Visiting Lecturer on Inclusive Design - Cardiff University
Delivering lectures to the Birmingham School of Architecture
From 2024
Visiting Lecturer on Inclusive Design - Birmingham City University
Delivering lectures to the Birmingham School of Architecture
From 2020
Visiting Lecturer on Inclusive Design - Nottingham University
Teaching session on building regulation requirements to Part III Students
From 2020
“but what does an accessible building look like?”- Research
Sarah Wigglesworth Architects
2021
Architecture Workshop for People with Visual Impairments, Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL)
Aided in a fascinating workshop run by Dis Ordinary Architecture at The Bartlett School of Architecture at UCL. The pilot course was run with the intention to bring blind and visually impaired students into Architecture.
2019
Masters Thesis Research Paper
Psychogeography of the Home – A Disabled Perspective: A Contextual Analysis of UK Accessible Housing
2019
Inclusive Employment Training & Workplace Assessments
Company Diversity & Office Audits
Please feel free to take a look through my recent news posts to find out the latest ways that I've been campaigning and trying to keep discussions at the forefront.
AS SEEN IN
To name just a few
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
My Personal Story
I had health issues from birth including partial hearing loss and was an intermittent wheelchair user from birth but in 2015 I became drastically ill. I was going into full blown anaphylaxis almost daily. My body rejected everything - food, fragrance, chemicals, medicine and most of modern life.
Diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, a systemic condition that affects pretty much every organ – I was bedridden, hiding from the world. I had malnutrition, nerve pain, my spleen hurt all the time, a brain that didn't work and body that was barely functioning.
Being diagnosed with Crohn’s and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome also explained the decades of joint dislocation and intense discomfort.
Thankfully I worked through my CPSTD and trauma following 29no. near death experiences and am now in full remission!
I am very grateful to now have the energy to re-enter the world ready to fight the injustices faced by Disabled people.
(I was wearing a face mask long before Covid-19 made it cool, but at least I can now eat more than 4 foods!)
Why I'm Doing This
Growing up close to mobility and other disabilities in my family, I both witnessed and experienced first hand how difficult it can be to navigate unempathetic spaces.
Whilst still ill myself, I stepped in to help a neighbour plan out his house and subsequent bungalow after they developed Motor Neurone Disease.
I was shocked to see how poor the local Council's proposals were for the house. Their suggestions would completely wipe out any social space, devaluing their asset and ruin the family home. The family had to battle for their beloved home, wasting valuable energy during such a tough time.
Whilst writing my thesis, I interviewed 100's of disabled people and realised so many were suffering needlessly in poorly adapted homes.
It inspired me to get into Accessible Architecture and fight for better!
Video by Microsoft & The Shaw Trust
