Marks Barfield Architects
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Marks Barfield Architects firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Marks Barfield Architects
- Legal name
- Marks Barfield Architects
- Website
- https://marksbarfield.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Marks Barfield Architects industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (541310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)
Keywords
Where Marks Barfield Architects is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Marks Barfield Architects business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architectural Design Services: The firm generates revenue through commissions for architectural design services across multiple sectors including commercial, residential, education, bridges, and public infrastructure. Revenue is project-based with fees calculated as a percentage of construction cost or fixed fees for specific design phases.
- Landmark Projects and Unique Experiences: The firm has generated revenue through landmark projects including the London Eye, which pioneered a unique funding model where Section 106 agreements generated over £14 million for local community projects.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Marks Barfield Architects product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Marks Barfield Architects is a London-based architectural practice delivering sustainable, socially-conscious architectural design services across multiple sectors including commercial, residential, education, healthcare, bridges and infrastructure, culture and civic, and unique experience projects. The firm secures commissions through design competitions, public-sector procurement, and direct client negotiation, with fees calculated as a percentage of construction cost or fixed amounts per design phase. Their portfolio spans landmark tourism structures, schools, religious and civic buildings, pedestrian bridges, and mixed-use developments that emphasise environmental performance and BREEAM-rated sustainability.
Product overview
Marks Barfield Architects is an architecture and design practice offering comprehensive architectural services across multiple sectors including commercial, residential, education, healthcare, bridges and infrastructure, culture and civic, and social good projects. Their notable projects include the London Eye, Brighton i360, Cambridge Mosque (UK's first green mosque), Kew Gardens Treetop Walkway, and various award-winning schools. The firm specializes in sustainable design with BREEAM-rated projects and innovative structures combining architecture with engineering excellence.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architectural Design Services Bespoke architectural design services across multiple sectors including commercial, residential, education, healthcare, bridges, infrastructure, and culture, delivered via design competitions, public tendering, and direct commissions for enterprise, government, and institutional clients.
- Commercial and Workplace Design Design of office buildings, mixed-use developments, and workplace environments with a focus on sustainability, employee wellbeing, and biophilic design principles for commercial developers and institutional clients.
- Education, Health and Sports Facilities Design Architectural design of primary schools, secondary schools, special educational needs schools, university buildings, and healthcare/sports facilities targeting BREEAM Excellent ratings, controlled natural ventilation, and high acoustic performance for educational institutions and healthcare clients.
- Bridges, Transport and Infrastructure Design Design of pedestrian bridges (including fibre-reinforced polymer and steel structures), transport infrastructure, river piers, and cable car systems for government agencies, heritage bodies, and developers.
- Culture, Civic and Sacred Building Design Architectural design of mosques, museums, theatres, civic buildings, and community centres combining cultural sensitivity, sustainable construction, and architectural significance for cultural trusts, religious bodies, and local authorities.
- Residential Architectural Design Architectural design of affordable housing, residential developments, and social housing projects with a focus on sustainability and reduced CO2 kg/m²/year compared to average benchmarks.
- Unique Experiences and Landmark Design Design of iconic observation towers, ferris wheels, pavilions, and unique visitor experiences that become citywide symbols, applying bespoke structural engineering and integrating observation wheel/cable systems for tourism operators and major attraction sponsors.
- Masterplanning and Public Realm Design Masterplanning of large-scale developments, business parks, sports oases, and public realm interventions including bridges and gateways for councils, developers, and institutional clients, integrating landscape with architecture at urban scale.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 50 million visitors have experienced the London Eye since its opening in 2000
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Marks Barfield Architects
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Marks Barfield Architects technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Marks Barfield Architects partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Cardiff UniversityminorCardiff University conducted hydro-environmental modelling research for the West Somerset Tidal Lagoon project, providing technical expertise for this major renewable energy infrastructure proposal.
- Mott MacdonaldminorMott Macdonald served as designated consultants for the West Somerset Tidal Lagoon project, contributing to the development of this major tidal energy infrastructure.
- BHAminorBHA (British Hydropower Association) acted as industry body for the West Somerset Tidal Lagoon project, providing sector expertise for the tidal energy infrastructure.
- Mouchel BabcockminorMouchel Babcock acted as client representative for the Stormont Secondary School project in London, a £6m school for children with complex learning needs.
- Knight DragoncoreMarks Barfield Architects designed the Greenwich Gateway Pavilions as part of Knight Dragon's ambitious development vision for the Greenwich Peninsula. The pavilions mark the first completed project in Knight Dragon's development, signalling the quality and character of the Peninsula's future.
- City of Lincoln CouncilcoreMarks Barfield was commissioned by City of Lincoln Council to design the Think Tank building as part of a business park development near the university campus. The project was completed in 2008 and won multiple RIBA awards.
- Leitner-PomacoreLeitner-Poma, who built the London Eye capsules, was engaged for Brighton i360, bringing proven gondola manufacturing expertise to the new observation tower project.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Marks Barfield Architects competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Global architecture firm designing iconic cultural, residential, and infrastructure projects with strong brand-led identity. Comparable to Marks Barfield in pursuing signature landmark commissions and operating with founder-driven creative direction.
- Grimshaw Architects: London-headquartered practice with deep expertise in transport architecture (rail stations, airports) and sustainability-led design. Comparable to Marks Barfield in the bridges/transport infrastructure and education segments, and in pursuing BREEAM-driven public commissions.
- Foster + Partners: London-based global architectural practice designing landmark cultural, infrastructure, and public projects. Directly comparable to Marks Barfield as a UK-headquartered firm competing in invited and open design competitions for high-profile commissions such as towers, bridges, and cultural buildings.
- Renzo Piano Building Workshop: Renowned global practice designing museums, cultural centres, and landmark public buildings (e.g., The Shard, Centre Pompidou). Comparable to Marks Barfield in prize-winning cultural and civic architecture with a strong sustainability ethos.
- Allies and Morrison: London-based practice with a strong portfolio of public, cultural, and education buildings, including university and masterplan commissions. Comparable to Marks Barfield in the UK education and masterplan segments and in public-sector procurement.
- Zaha Hadid Architects: London-headquartered practice famous for iconic parametric architecture and landmark cultural and infrastructure projects worldwide. Comparable to Marks Barfield in competing for trophy commissions and operating a founder-led identity around bold, signature structures.
- Heatherwick Studio: London-based multidisciplinary design studio of comparable size producing landmark cultural and public-realm projects (e.g., Coal Drops Yard, Garden Bridge proposal). Closely matches Marks Barfield in boutique scale, founder-led identity, and a portfolio of high-profile singular landmarks.
- Snøhetta: Global architecture and design practice known for cultural, observation, and landscape-integrated landmark projects (e.g., Oslo Opera House). Comparable to Marks Barfield in the integration of landscape, sustainability, and visitor-attraction architecture.
- Wilkinson Eyre: London-based architects known for landmark bridges, tall visitor structures, and cultural buildings (e.g., Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Battersea Power Station redevelopment). Directly comparable to Marks Barfield's bridges, infrastructure, and unique-experiences portfolio.
Broad incumbents
- Populous: Large global architecture firm specializing in sports stadiums, arenas, and entertainment venues. Comparable as a broader incumbent competing for landmark visitor-experience commissions, but at significantly larger scale and with a different primary specialization.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Marks Barfield Architects social profiles
Digital presenceMarks Barfield Architects financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Marks Barfield Architects leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Marks Barfield Architects funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Marks Barfield Architects 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 Marks Barfield Architects
What does Marks Barfield Architects do?
Marks Barfield Architects is a London-based architectural practice delivering sustainable, socially-conscious architectural design services across multiple sectors including commercial, residential, education, healthcare, bridges and infrastructure, culture and civic, and unique experience projects. The firm secures commissions through design competitions, public-sector procurement, and direct client negotiation, with fees calculated as a percentage of construction cost or fixed amounts per design phase. Their portfolio spans landmark tourism structures, schools, religious and civic buildings, pedestrian bridges, and mixed-use developments that emphasise environmental performance and BREEAM-rated sustainability.
Is Marks Barfield Architects a public or private company?
Marks Barfield Architects is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Marks Barfield Architects founded?
Marks Barfield Architects was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Marks Barfield Architects based?
Marks Barfield Architects is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Marks Barfield Architects make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Architectural Design Services are the primary driver. The others are landmark Projects and Unique Experiences.
Who are Marks Barfield Architects's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), Grimshaw Architects, Foster + Partners, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Allies and Morrison, Zaha Hadid Architects, Heatherwick Studio, Snøhetta and Wilkinson Eyre. Populous is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Marks Barfield Architects have an API?
No public API is recorded for Marks Barfield Architects.
What industry is Marks Barfield Architects in?
Marks Barfield Architects's product category is Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAIAA, Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting. Its NAICS code is 541310.