Our History
Architecture & Access formed in 2012 with the amalgamation of two long-standing successful companies in the field of accessibility, Davis Langdon Access Consulting (formerly Blythe-Sanderson Group) and Architecture & Access.
Blythe-Sanderson built more than 20 years’ experience as access consultants and project managers of home modifications and accessible facilities – consulting people with many different experiences of disability, and designing and delivering solutions for residential, commercial, and public facilities.
Sandy Blythe OAM, co-founder of Blythe-Sanderson in 1993 with business partner Andrew Sanderson, was a dedicated advocate for the rights of people with disability to access buildings, goods and services, employment, education, and sport. A wheelchair basketball Paralympic gold medalist, motivational speaker and businessman, Sandy sadly passed away in 2005.
Their legacy of fulfilling the intent of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 to remove barriers to participation and prevent disability discrimination, remains at the heart of the Architecture & Access business today.
Architect Chris Porter and occupational therapist Diane Porter established Architecture & Access in 1998 as a family business providing services to construction projects with accessibility focus.
Their motivation to enable people of all abilities to enjoy equal opportunities through modification or redesign of our built environment, saw the company excel in delivering a wide range of projects – from private home modifications, retail shops, restaurants, hospitals, residential facilities, office buildings, emergency services, public transport and educational facilities. The merger of the two companies reflects Chris and Andrew’s ongoing commitment to delivering access in architecture, bringing together a robust multi-disciplinary team to offer a comprehensive suite of in-house services.
Andrew Sanderson, Chris Porter and the team at Architecture & Access understand the challenges, responsibilities and importance of creating safe, accessible built environments that enable people with disability to live life fully.