dMFK Architects

Areas of expertise: workplace, residential, culture, retrofit, new build, interior fit out.

Working from their award-winning, street-facing studio on Charlotte Street, dMFK Architects are a people-focused business in the way they design, approach their clients, and in their studio culture.

Joining the AJ100 in 2023, dMFK Architects now employ 46 architects and interior specialists, having been established in 2000 by university friends Julian de Metz, Paul Forbes and Ben Knight, formerly at ORMS, Richard Rogers Partnership and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands respectively.

dMFK Architects aim to nurture all-rounder, talented architects and designers who understand the strong connection between architecture and interiors, creating places that are familiar whilst surprising, beautiful whilst useful, soulful whilst authentic, and enduring whilst refined.

Experts in the workplace, residential and contemporary heritage sectors, their work is driven by a desire to create distinctive, delightful and memorable places unconstrained by convention, aiming to perceptively and beautifully accommodate the changing ways in which people live and work.

Phone +44 207 4351 144

Address 76 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 4QS

Website https://dmfk.co.uk/

Instagram @dmfkarchitects

LinkedIn dMFK Architects

Twitter / x @dmfkarchitects

What do you hope to achieve at MIPIM this year?

MIPIM is a great place to meet new faces, but also a low-pressure place to catch up with our trusted partners and remind people who already know us what we are about. In 2024, along with our friends at Elliott Wood Partnership, we’re delighted to be reviving SwiMIPIM, a non-competitive sea swim event on Wednesday morning from the London Stand.

Even if you’re not into it, please do come along to watch. As in previous years, we are raising money for Streets of London, the charity supporting homeless people.

What projects are you currently working on?

We’ve built a great name in the high-quality flex office world, which in many areas remains buoyant, particularly where design quality is a driver. Currently, we are delivering flex workspaces for MYO, Storey, Dorrington and a number of others.

We’ve also become known as bold restorers of 20th century heritage so have a number of iconic London buildings to restore and reposition, including Tower 42, 201 Bishopsgate, Voysey House and Greater London House. We are in planning for a several residential schemes, including 270 homes in Lewisham for Barratt London and a Built to Rent development on Goldhawk Road.

How would you describe your approach to design?

Our approach to design is eclectic, individual, generous and people focused. Whether designing new buildings or restoring them, we want to create and respond to texture, warmth, and grain, making places that are uplifting, approachable and beautiful.

We strive to design and fit out bold, elegant and interesting new buildings, often in constrained settings, and also re-invent and alter existing buildings fearlessly. We take a brave approach to heritage, believing strongly that change means opportunity, complexity, interest and depth.

What kind of clients do you work for?

We are design-focused commercial architects so fully understand our role in the commercial process but work for clients who recognise that design sells. Our client list includes Great Portland Estates, The Office Group, Barratt London, Derwent London, Related Argent, British Land, Land Securities, HB Reavis, WRE and many more.

What have been the highlights for you in the past year?

We’ve completed some incredible projects including Chancery House for The Office Group, 45 Whitfield Street for Derwent London and Voysey House for Dorrington. These are all outstanding, sustainable retrofits of character buildings, continuing to redefine the workplace.

However, the biggest highlight has been our team settling into the new studio at 76 Charlotte Street, and seeing first-hand how creating a beautiful workspace positively affects productivity, mood and attendance in the office.

Is there anything exciting on the horizon?

Anything new is exciting to us, so please do get in touch either at MIPIM or back in London.

Julian de Metz – 07956 968152

Jonny Wong – 07877 554243

Joshua Scott – 07900 591161

Find out more about the RIBA Chartered Practices attending MIPIM 2024.