Allen van der Steen practised as an architect in the South-West for over 40 years. Based in Chagford, a significant proportion of his work at Van der Steen Hall Architects was related to the finding of new uses for valuable historic buildings and sites and the understanding and repair of buildings in some of the more extreme climatic conditions of the West Country.
Van der Steen Hall was awarded numerous National and Regional design and conservation awards in recognition of their quality of work and creative and contemporary approaches to design.