NLÉ
NLÉ is a privately held architecture, design, and urbanism practice founded in 2010 by Kunlé Adeyemi, headquartered in Amsterdam with a Lagos office. It develops the proprietary Makoko Floating System (MFS™) for climate-vulnerable water communities and serves governments, cultural institutions, and private enterprises globally through project-based commissions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What NLÉ does
NLÉ is a privately held architecture, design, and urbanism practice founded in 2010 by Kunlé Adeyemi in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, following his approximately ten-year tenure at OMA in Rotterdam. The firm operates a dual-base model with its European headquarters in Amsterdam and a regional office in Lagos, Nigeria, and serves institutional clients across governments, cultural foundations, multilateral organizations, and private enterprises in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Its work spans civic, cultural, residential, educational, and community-building typologies, with a portfolio that includes the Qatar National Library, Black Rhino Academy in Tanzania, Zaria Court in Rwanda, Credit Direct Limited HQ in Lagos, and the Bonny Kingdom Masterplan for NLNG.
NLÉ's core technology is the Makoko Floating System (MFS™), a proprietary prefabricated, modular, self-build floating architecture platform designed for climate-vulnerable water communities. Five documented iterations — MFS I (Makoko Floating School, Lagos, 2013), MFS II (Waterfront Atlas, Venice, 2016), MFS III (Minne Floating School, Bruges, 2018), MFS IIIx3 (Minjiang Floating System, Chengdu, 2018), and MFS IV (Mansa Floating Hub, Cape Verde, 2021) — demonstrate progressive engineering rigor, with MFS III re-engineered to Euro codes for a 25-year design life. The underlying research platform, African Water Cities, provides a decade of empirical intelligence on water-community demographics and infrastructure needs, anchoring the firm's authority in climate-adaptive design.
The firm's revenue model is project-based professional services, with published hourly rates (US$320 Principal, US$200 Senior Architect, US$125 Architect, US$95 Assistant) and negotiated fixed fees per commission, supplemented by sales of published research documents via Amazon. Go-to-market is direct engagement via international architectural competitions, institutional invitations, and high-profile exhibitions such as the Venice Biennale (Silver Lion, 2016), Chicago Architecture Biennial (2015), Serpentine Gallery Summer House (2016), and Bruges Triennale (2018). The firm employs 1-10 staff and maintains active social media and press channels to convert exhibition visibility into inbound commissions.
NLÉ firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NLÉ
- Legal name
- NLÉ
- Website
- https://nleworks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- NLÉ is a privately held architecture, design, and urbanism practice founded in 2010 by Kunlé Adeyemi, headquartered in Amsterdam with a Lagos office. It develops the proprietary Makoko Floating System (MFS™) for climate-vulnerable water communities and serves governments, cultural institutions, and private enterprises globally through project-based commissions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NLÉ industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural and Urban Design Services
- NAICS
- Landscape Architectural Services (541320)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Asset & Space Management Services (CMMS/Asset Tagging/Space Planning/Moves-Adds-Changes) (IMAIAAAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Infrastructure Planning, Capital Programs & Project Delivery Offices (PMOs) (BPAIALAJ)
Keywords
Where NLÉ is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
NLÉ business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architectural Design & Project Commissions: NLÉ generates primary revenue through direct architectural commissions for public and private clients, delivering design, master planning, and project delivery services across civic, cultural, residential, and community building typologies. Projects range from single buildings to large-scale urban masterplans.
- Research & Publication Sales: Revenue is generated through sale of published research documents, including the African Water Cities publication and Makoko Prototype Book, distributed via platforms such as Amazon.
- Consulting & Design Services: NLÉ provides architectural consulting services billed on hourly rates or negotiated fixed fees, including scope expansions, with standard rates for Principal (US$320/hour), Senior Architect (US$200/hour), Architect (US$125/hour), and Assistant (US$95/hour).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Principal Level |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Senior Architect Level |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Architect Level |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Assistant Level |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
NLÉ product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NLÉ is an architecture, design, and urbanism practice that delivers climate-adaptive building design and masterplanning services for civic, cultural, residential, and community projects. Its flagship offering is the proprietary Makoko Floating System (MFS), a prefabricated modular floating building platform deployed across water communities in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The firm also sells published research on African water cities and provides architectural consulting billed on hourly rates.
Product overview
NLÉ is an architecture, design and urbanism practice focused on developing cities. The company operates as a project-based firm rather than a software platform. Its core product offering is the Makoko Floating System (MFS) series - a family of floating building systems comprising five prototypes (MFS I through MFS IV) designed for water communities facing urbanisation and climate change challenges. These include the Makoko Floating School (MFS I) in Lagos, Waterfront Atlas (MFS II) in Venice, Minne Floating School (MFS III) in Bruges, Minjiang Floating System (MFS IIIx3) in Chengdu, and Floating Music Hub (MFS IV) in Cape Verde. Beyond the MFS platform, NLÉ offers architectural design services for various projects including community hubs, schools, residential developments, and public buildings, along with research initiatives like the African Water Cities project documenting water-based urban solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architectural Design and Masterplanning Services Full-scope architectural design, masterplanning, and project delivery services for civic, cultural, residential, and community building typologies, including buildings, urban masterplans, and pavilions. Served to governments, cultural foundations, multilateral organizations, and private enterprises.
- Makoko Floating System (MFS) Platform A proprietary, prefabricated, modular, self-build floating building system designed for water communities. The platform has been deployed in five prototypes (MFS I through MFS IV) across Nigeria, Italy, Belgium, China, and Cape Verde, adaptable for schools, cultural venues, music hubs, and exhibition spaces.
- Architectural Consulting Services Hourly-rate architectural consulting services billed at published tier rates: Principal (US$320/hour), Senior Architect (US$200/hour), Architect (US$125/hour), and Assistant (US$95/hour), available for scope expansions and additional advisory engagements.
- African Water Cities Publication A research publication documenting NLÉ's African Water Cities research initiative, sold through retail book channels. The book compiles fieldwork intelligence on water community demographics, behaviors, and infrastructure needs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Makoko Floating School prototype built on Lagos Lagoon in 2013, serving the ~80,000–100,000-resident Makoko water community with a 220m² floating educational facility.
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use NLÉ
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
NLÉ technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
NLÉ partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreUNDP was the primary funder and supporter of the Makoko Floating School project, providing funding through the Federal Ministry of Environment Africa Adaptation Programme (AAP). UNDP Country Director attended the completion preview event in March 2013. The partnership enabled the pilot prototype that launched NLÉ's global floating architecture practice.
- Heinrich Böll FoundationcoreThe Heinrich Böll Foundation partnered with NLÉ to develop the Makoko Floating School and associated research, including the publication of the Makoko Research document (2012) under their joint initiative. The foundation provided financial and intellectual support for the African Water Cities research platform.
- Makoko/Iwaya Waterfront CommunitycoreThe Makoko water community served as the co-design partner and end-user for the MFS I prototype. The Baales of Makoko/Iwaya Waterfront Community, the Makoko Community Development Association, and youth leaders actively collaborated in the building process and continue as key stakeholders in the project's evolution.
- Centre PompidouflagshipCentre Pompidou partnered with NLÉ and the Mao Jihong Arts Foundation for the Cosmopolis #1.5: 'Enlarged Intelligence' exhibition in Chengdu, China (2018–2019), featuring the MFS IIIx3 Minjiang Floating System. This built on the earlier Cosmopolis #1: Collective Intelligence platform launched in 2016.
- Mao Jihong Arts FoundationflagshipMao Jihong Arts Foundation co-commissioned the MFS IIIx3 Minjiang Floating System with Centre Pompidou for the Cosmopolis #1.5 exhibition in Chengdu, providing major funding and institutional support for the fourth MFS prototype.
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)coreSAIC collaborated with NLÉ on the ROCK & The Bean installation and ROCK Chicago Lakefront Kiosk for the Chicago Architecture Biennial (2015). SAIC students and faculty participated in the co-creation process, with the project serving as a joint educational and public art initiative.
- Columbia University GSAPPminorColumbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP) provided support for the Waterfront Atlas platform and MFS II project at the Venice Biennale.
- AECOMcoreAECOM served as the engineering consultant for re-engineering MFS III – Minne Floating School in Bruges, Belgium, ensuring compliance with Euro codes and local engineering standards for the 25-year design life floating structure.
- Dykstra Naval ArchitectscoreDykstra Naval Architects provided naval engineering expertise for the Makoko Floating School project, contributing to the structural design of the floating platform system using recycled plastic barrels.
- Bruges TriennaleflagshipBruges Triennale commissioned NLÉ's MFS III – Minne Floating School for the Bruges Triennale 2018 Liquid City exhibition, covering fabrication costs and providing institutional support for installation at Minnewater (Lake of Love) in Bruges.
- Chicago Architecture BiennialcoreThe Chicago Architecture Biennial commissioned NLÉ to design the ROCK – Chicago Lakefront Kiosk as one of the inaugural Lakefront Kiosk projects for the 2015 Biennial, with support from the Chicago Park District and Pepper Construction.
- Serpentine GalleryflagshipNLÉ (Kunlé Adeyemi) was commissioned to design one of four Summer Houses for the Serpentine Architecture Programme 2016, in partnership with the Serpentine Gallery in London. This followed the 16th Serpentine Pavilion designed by Bjarke Ingels Group.
- The Shed (New York)flagshipNLÉ collaborated with artist Tino Sehgal on 'A Prelude to The Shed' — a 12-day free arts event on a vacant lot adjacent to the then-under-construction Shed cultural center in Manhattan (2018). The project previewed the opening of the major Hudson Yards cultural venue.
- Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA)minorFounder Kunlé Adeyemi spent approximately 10 years at OMA working with Rem Koolhaas before founding NLÉ. OMA projects (Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Prada Transformer, Leeum Samsung Museum, Qatar National Library) are listed in NLÉ's portfolio as prior professional experience.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
NLÉ competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Heatherwick Studio: London-based design and architecture studio combining public installations, cultural buildings, and product design. Comparable to NLÉ as a founder-led practice translating bold, material-innovative concepts across scales (pavilion to urban).
- Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA): Rem Koolhaas's Rotterdam-based global architecture practice where founder Kunlé Adeyemi spent ~10 years. OMA is directly comparable as a global, founder-led, theory-driven architecture firm operating at the intersection of urbanism, cultural commissions, and large-scale masterplans — the same positioning NLÉ aspires to.
- MASS Design Group: Boston/Kigali-based architecture practice focused on built environment as social impact, particularly in Africa and the Global South. Closely comparable to NLÉ's mission-driven approach, use of design to address climate/inequality, and emphasis on community co-creation.
- Shigeru Ban Architects: Tokyo/New York-based practice renowned for innovative structural systems (paper tubes, modular timber) deployed in humanitarian and disaster-relief contexts. Highly comparable to NLÉ's MFS modular approach, use of unconventional materials, and focus on resilient architecture for vulnerable communities.
- Studio Gang (Jeanne Gang): Chicago-based practice combining ecological research, urbanism, and signature buildings. Comparable to NLÉ as a founder-led, ecology-driven firm translating site-specific research into iconic built work.
- Snøhetta: Oslo/New York global architecture and design practice working across cultural, civic, and landscape projects worldwide. Comparable as a globally distributed, mission-driven, design-led firm pursuing both cultural commissions and environmental/climate themes.
- Kéré Architecture (Diébédo Francis Kéré): Berlin/Burkina Faso-based practice led by Pritzker Prize winner Diébédo Francis Kéré. Highly comparable to NLÉ as an African-rooted, internationally recognized firm using local materials and community-led methods for schools, civic buildings, and climate-responsive design.
Emerging players
- Kunlé Adeyemi / NLÉ water-cities peers: Studio Marco Vermeulen: Dutch practice exploring floating neighborhoods and amphibious housing in the Netherlands. Comparable as a niche architecture studio working specifically on water-adaptive urbanism and floating building systems.
- SelgasCano: Madrid-based practice known for colorful, lightweight, experimental structures and Serpentine Pavilion commissions. Comparable to NLÉ's experimental pavilion-style work at biennales and triennials (Venice, Bruges, Serpentine).
Others
- Design Indaba / Architecture Foundation (ecosystem): Cape Town-based design platform amplifying African design globally. Relevant ecosystem peer for NLÉ as both share the mission of positioning African-built work on the international stage and have featured NLÉ projects.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
NLÉ social profiles
Digital presenceNLÉ financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NLÉ leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
NLÉ subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
NLÉ funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NLÉ M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about NLÉ
What does NLÉ do?
NLÉ is an architecture, design, and urbanism practice that delivers climate-adaptive building design and masterplanning services for civic, cultural, residential, and community projects. Its flagship offering is the proprietary Makoko Floating System (MFS), a prefabricated modular floating building platform deployed across water communities in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The firm also sells published research on African water cities and provides architectural consulting billed on hourly rates.
Is NLÉ a public or private company?
NLÉ is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was NLÉ founded?
NLÉ was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is NLÉ based?
NLÉ is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does NLÉ make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Architectural Design & Project Commissions are the primary driver. The others are research & Publication Sales and consulting & Design Services.
Who are NLÉ's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Heatherwick Studio, Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), MASS Design Group, Shigeru Ban Architects, Studio Gang (Jeanne Gang), Snøhetta and Kéré Architecture (Diébédo Francis Kéré). Emerging players are Kunlé Adeyemi / NLÉ water-cities peers: Studio Marco Vermeulen and SelgasCano. Design Indaba / Architecture Foundation (ecosystem) is listed as an others.
Does NLÉ have an API?
No public API is recorded for NLÉ.
What industry is NLÉ in?
NLÉ's product category is Architectural and Urban Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAIAAAL, Asset & Space Management Services (CMMS/Asset Tagging/Space Planning/Moves-Adds-Changes), with a secondary code of BPAIALAJ, Infrastructure Planning, Capital Programs & Project Delivery Offices (PMOs). Its NAICS code is 541320.