Simon Smithson – Partner

Simon has played a key role in major projects, including T3 Taoyuan Airport (Taiwan), ParcBit sustainable masterplan (Palma de Mallorca), the redevelopment of the South Bank Centre in London, the The Senedd, Antwerp Law Courts (Belgium), the Masterplans of Valladolid AVE and Nivalis, Grenada in Spain.

In 2004, RSHP opened an office in Madrid with Simon as director. There, he worked on a wide range of urban design, architecture and industrial design projects and was project architect for Terminal 4, Madrid Barajas Airport, which won the Stirling Prize in 2006. Simon also led the design team on Campus Palmas Altas, the headquarters for green energy company Abengoa and a model for more sustainable office complexes on the outskirts of Seville.

In 2011, Simon moved back to London and since then has been leading the development of the practice’s work in Latin America. Simon is currently heading up a multilingual team on a large mixed-use scheme in central Bogota, Colombia, the practice’s first project in South America. Tower North, the first of two skyscrapers on the site, was completed in 2020 and Tower South (which is taller at 74 storeys) will soon go into construction. In the meantime, a cultural convention centre is also being built on-site.

He is also currently working on a masterplan to develop an area of 270 hectares in the north of Madrid. The plan aims to create a new urban centre, active throughout the day and with a wide mix of uses. The Chamartín train station will be at the heart of the project, surrounded by a competitive and innovative business district and an extended Castellana Avenue which will act as a structuring green corridor.

In addition to his work as a project architect, Simon also oversees the graphic design and visualisation department.