Adrian Friend founded his practice in November 2006, quickly winning awards with its work. Friend’s belief in the benefits of ‘total architecture’combine with a passion for materials and new technologies, to create architecture that is consistently inventive and joyful. Friend and Company was established to follow specific interests from Friend’s practice-based research into kitbuilding adaptive structures. Friend and Company is the culmination of over 23 years dedication to working in the built environment, honed with some of the UK’s most innovative architects. Their work was recently selected to be part of the Architecture Foundation's New Architects 3 book portrayal of the best of Britain's emerging practices since 2006 to 2016.

After his first degree at Kingston University Friend studied at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, where he was awarded a distinction. In 1992 he began his practical training with Alsop and Stormer working on the innovative Hotel du Department Marseille, France. In 1993 he joined John McAslan & Partners where he was responsible for the new Imperial College Library extension. While an Associate of RIBA President Stephen Hodder’s London Office , Friend was responsible for the delivery of a £50M portfolio at the practice, inaugural Stirling Prize Winners, to win an additional eight RIBA Awards. Valuable knowledge was gained during the addition of a new auditorium and student/conference accommodation to Arne Jacobsen’s Grade 1 listed St Catherine’s College Oxford.

Friend is an RIBA Educator and has taught and lectured throughout the UK. Credited with establishing a projects office for University of Nottingham, he also led the inaugural Jouberton Nursery ‘live-project’, designed and built by DipArch and BArch students in South Africa. He also implemented a new architecture undergraduate programme for Norwich University of the Arts in 2013, returning the study of architecture to the city after a 50 year absence. Friend continues his research at the Royal College of Art as a visiting Senior Lecturer specialising in application of manufacturing processes to housing, and also as Phd Supervisor. Friend’s latest practice-led research is founded on the belief that architects’ future authorship resides in the design and patents of components that are easily transported and assembled by unskilled communities. Ownership of computer-generated manufacturing (CAD/CAM) has led to the emergence of custom shop kit-build methods of production within the 21st century architects’ office.

In questioning the traditional role of the architect as the author of an architectural project Friend seeks to initiate a multiple authorship with clients and other consultants all of whom contribute to a construction ethic based more on the ‘workshop’ as the site of production. Latest research on housing design briefs for 21st Century affordable living was selected in January 2014 to be part of the 24th Biennial of Design (BIO50) in Ljubljana, organised by MAO, the Museum of Architecture and Design. BIO 50 is curated by Belgian critic and curator Jan Boelen, director of Z33 - House for Contemporary Art, Head of Social Design at the Design Academy in Eindhoven (NL), and chairman of the Flemish Committee for Architecture and Design. Affiliated construction industry interests include RIBA’s Sports Forum panel member and membership of the Mountain Bothies Association. As a trustee for the Robert Grace Trust and Ambassador for NGO Education Africa stakeholder in the Jouberton Nursery, Adrian continues to contribute to the sustainable development of Africa.