13 Best UK Architecture Firms You Should Know About in 2025

The UK architecture firms are a treasure trove of architectural gems, with different buildings spread across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Each of the four countries that comprise the bigger sovereign state has a distinct past, which is reflected in its architecture. So, while London-based organizations may be overrepresented in ranked lists, many of the designers working in the city’s offices originate from further afield, bringing knowledge and culture from other parts of the islands.

The power of the United Kingdom is derived from its constituent parts. UK Architecture Firms working on projects in the state’s more rural districts are developing a distinct modern rural style. At the same time, rising cities in both the north and south have provided fertile ground for innovative municipal architecture. As a result, both established and emerging UK enterprises are exploring new ways to design that are more context-sensitive and typologically inventive. With so many architecture companies to select from, it can be difficult for customers to discover industry experts who will be a good fit for their project.

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13 Best UK Architecture Firms You Should Know About

Here are 13 best UK architecture firms and their project you should know about in 2025:

1. Heatherwick Studio

Project: Coal Drops Yard, London, United Kingdom

Heatherwick Studio is a team of 180 problem solvers dedicated to improving the physical world for everyone. They design and build buildings, spaces, masterplans, objects, and infrastructure from their Central London workshop and studio. They select large-scale projects in cities around the world based on their positive societal impact.

Working as practical inventors with no signature style, Their goal is to create soulful and intriguing spaces that accept and appreciate the intricacies of the actual world. The idea that underpins everything is to lead from human experience rather than predetermined design dogmas. This UK architecture firm has built a number of internationally recognized structures, including the award-winning Learning Hub at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University and the UK Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010. The studio is now working on 30 live projects across 10 countries.

2. Adjaye Associates

Project: Winter Park Library & Events Center, Winter Park, Florida

Sir David Adjaye OBE founded Adjaye Associates in 2000 and has built a global team that is multicultural and stimulated by the broadest possible cultural debate. This UK architecture firm has studios in Accra, London, and New York, and its work spans the globe. The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), Adjaye Associates’ most well-known commission to date, opened in 2016 on Washington’s National Mall and was designated “Cultural Event of the Year” by The New York Times.

Other projects range in size from individual homes, bespoke furniture collections, product design, exhibitions, and temporary pavilions to huge arts centres, civic buildings, and master plans.

3. Foster + Partners

Project: Ombú, Madrid, Spain

Norman Foster created Foster + Partners, a global studio for sustainable architecture, engineering, urbanism, and industrial design, in 1967. Since then, he and his staff have built an international practice with a global reputation. With offices around the world, we operate as a unified studio that is ethnically and culturally diverse.

4. Allies and Morrison

Project: Msheireb Downtown Doha Phase 4, Doha, Qatar

They’re architects and urbanists. They aspire to create beautiful buildings that can last for centuries and can adapt to changing needs. They also create long-lasting areas, such as new city blocks or towns of any size. Every detail in their projects is carefully crafted, and they value the uniqueness of each situation.

This UK architecture firm is known for the technical rigor of their work, their dedication to quality, and their emphasis on embedded environmental performance. As urbanists, they are known for creating plans that are adaptable and practical, inspirational in vision, and sensitive to the local climate and character. They are based in London and Cambridge and come from all over the world, and one of their key strengths is their diversity.

5. Studio Seilern Architects

Project: Andermatt Concert Hall, Andermatt, Switzerland

Studio Seilern Architects is a London-based worldwide creative company founded in 2006 by Christina Seilern to create extraordinary architecture that lasts across geographies, building sizes, and typologies. Their built work portfolio is wide, spanning the United Kingdom, Europe, and Africa.

While this UK architecture firm operate on a variety of projects, they make a conscious decision to work on both smaller and larger sizes simultaneously and constantly, from new construction to restoration work. Every project they work on, regardless of scale or circumstance, informs the next. The smaller size allows them to focus on exquisite detailing and the unraveling of the human condition on both the living and working fronts.

6. Alison Brooks Architects

Project: The Smile, London, United Kingdom

Alison Brooks Architects, founded in 1996, has gained an international reputation for delivering design excellence and innovation in a wide range of projects, including urban regeneration, masterplanning, public arts buildings, higher education facilities, and housing.

ABA’s award-winning architecture is the result of extensive research into each project’s cultural, social, and environmental setting. This UK architecture firm methodology allows them to create innovative solutions for their buildings and urban designs, each with its own personality and authenticity. ABA’s buildings, combined with meticulous attention to detail, have proven to meet their clients’ expectations while also favorably impacting the urban world. Their methodology has earned ABA national and international recognition.

7. Atelier Chang Ltd

Project: Knot House, Geoje-si, South Korea

Since 2011, Atelier Chang has operated as an international design practice with offices in South Kensington, London, and Zurich. This UK architecture firm’s design philosophy aims to develop creative design by focusing on the essential elements of nature, social behavior, and urban occurrences. To accomplish this extreme simplicity of information through impactful forms, more effort in researching the context is required, as is a commitment to material and technology, and active participation in other industries. We are now working on projects in Asia and Europe at various sizes of design, including master plans, architecture, interior design, installations, and goods.

8. AL_A

Project: V&A Exhibition Road Quarter, London, United Kingdom

Amanda Levete, winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize, created the architecture studio AL_A in 2009 alongside directors Ho-Yin Ng, Alice Dietsch, and Maximiliano Arrocet. This UK architecture firm’s designs are intended to function as urban propositions rather than merely buildings. Spaces that encourage reciprocity between nature and the neighborhood; projects that convey an institution’s identity, reflect a location’s objectives, and house a community’s dreams.

Recently completed projects include an undergraduate and outreach centre for Wadham College at the University of Oxford, as well as a new site for the cancer care charity Maggie’s on the grounds of University College Hospital in Southampton.

9. Canary Wharf Group

Project: Eden Project on Docklands estate

Canary Wharf Group (CWG) has purchased 100% renewable electricity for the Canary Wharf Estate since 2012, with no trash going to landfill from managed activities. It is also developing a framework for future technology and places to include climate change mitigation. Surfers Against Sewage charity recognized CWG’s efforts to minimize single-use plastic by awarding it Plastic Free Communities Approved certification last summer.

10. Arup Architecture

Project: Royal Arena, København, Denmark

Arup Associates is the architecture practice of Arup. Set up in 1963 and underpinned by Ove Arup’s belief that built space will be inspirational when all of its components work in harmony, This UK architecture firm’s holistic design approach integrates expertise from the diverse range of specialists and the amassed body of knowledge across Arup. The practice has repeatedly won awards for their projects on the basis of the exceptional standards that they set.

11. Laing O’Rourke

Project: Redevelopment of London’s Olympia Exhibition Centre

Sustainability initiatives are arranged around four EPIC themes: environment, people, industry, and community, as the corporation strives for maximum performance in all areas. Laing O’Rourke employs a ‘engineering enterprise’ concept to achieve a sustainability strategy while addressing economic, social, and environmental concerns. This UK architecture firm use digital engineering tools to combine data about a structure, with ‘virtual construction’ decreasing waste throughout the project lifespan.

12. Bureau de change

Project: Homemade, London, United Kingdom

Architects Katerina Dionysopoulou and Billy Mavropoulos formed Bureau de Change, an award-winning architecture studio. This UK architecture firm’s work is a direct result of the founders’ background, passions, and experiences, combining the pragmatism and formality of their architectural degree with a desire to inject drama, playfulness, and invention into the design of places, objects, and environments. The end result is a studio where rigorous thought and analysis are brought to life through prototyping, testing, and manufacturing.

13. Squire and Partners

Project: Mayfair House, London, United Kingdom

Squire & Partners is a UK architecture firm with four decades of experience, garnering an international reputation for architecture that is informed by the history and culture of its surroundings. Their award-winning portfolio for some of the world’s top developers includes masterplans, private and affordable residential, workspace, retail, education, and public buildings.

This UK architecture firm also features specific teams for model-making, computer-generated imaging, illustration, and graphics, as well as an established interior design section that has created a number of bespoke product ranges. Squire & Partners’ approach is tailored to each site’s specific heritage and environment, taking into account established street patterns, scale, and proportions to produce timeless architecture that is entrenched in its location.

FAQs 

What makes UK architecture firms stand out globally?

• Answer: UK architecture firms are well-known for combining historical elements with current innovation. Whether building cutting-edge urban places or developing a distinct rural style, they push the envelope while honoring each location’s individual character.

How do UK architecture firms incorporate sustainability in their projects?

• Answer: Many businesses prioritize sustainable practices, which range from employing renewable energy and environmentally friendly materials to designing for long-term adaptation. Foster + Partners and Laing O’Rourke are leading the way in incorporating green technologies into their projects.

Are all top UK architecture firms based in London?

• Answer: While London is home to several well-known firms, architects around the United Kingdom make major contributions to the business. Studios in Manchester, Edinburgh, and Cardiff offer unique perspectives and context-driven designs.
  

How can I choose the right UK architecture firm for my project?

• Answer: Consider their design philosophy, experience with similar projects, and dedication to sustainability. Examining their portfolio and previous projects might provide insight into their style and skill.

Conclusion

UK architecture firms work in a dynamic setting that combines historical elegance and current innovation. With over 35,000 architects in the United Kingdom, the sector is not just vast, but also highly competitive. This heterogeneous climate among British architects fuels an unwavering quest of architectural excellence and innovation. Among this vibrant scene, certain architecture firms have carved out a space for themselves, distinguishing themselves via outstanding projects and substantial influence on both the national and worldwide arenas.

Resources:

Architizer | Dexigner | Archello | Re-thinkingthefuture | ACRE | Fosterandpartners | ArchitecturePrize | Archivibe

For all the pictures: Archdaily