MortonScarr Architects

What MortonScarr Architects does

MortonScarr Architects is a privately held, founder-owned architectural practice based in Brighton, United Kingdom, originally founded in 2011 as CDMS Architects and rebranded to its current name in October 2018. The firm is a RIBA Chartered Practice offering full architectural services across residential, commercial, education, arts, hospitality, and heritage/conservation sectors, structured around the six-stage RIBA Plan of Work from feasibility through to construction handover. Its service portfolio spans building design, interior design with bespoke joinery, master planning, conservation design, project management, feasibility studies, and statutory planning applications, delivered to a mix of private residential clients, residential and mixed-use property developers, commercial clients, and institutional customers including Rocco Forte Hotels, the University of Brighton, and Fabrica Gallery.

The practice operates a project-based professional services model, billing clients on a quote-by-quote basis per project, with no publicly disclosed pricing. It uses industry-standard architectural software (AutoCAD, Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp) and BIM (Building Information Modelling) methodology for project delivery. The firm is run by co-founders and directors Corin Morton and Chris Scarr, both University of Brighton graduates, and has grown to 11-50 employees with active hiring of Project Architects. Geographically, projects are concentrated in South East England and London, with extensions to Kent, Sussex, Cornwall, Devon, Surrey, Dorset, and international work in Dublin, Ireland.

The practice's go-to-market is direct, sales-led engagement through referrals, website enquiries, and repeat business, with no intermediaries. It maintains an active digital presence via Instagram, Facebook, Houzz, Pinterest, and a portfolio website, supplemented by earned media including features in Grand Designs magazine and recognition at the Sussex Heritage Awards 2021 and South Downs Design Award 2021. The firm signed the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge in October 2019, committing to net zero whole life carbon for new and retrofitted buildings by 2030. There is no external parent, private equity backing, or institutional investment identified; ownership remains with the two founders.

Name

MortonScarr Architects

Legal name

MortonScarr Architects Limited

Website

https://mortonscarr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MortonScarr Architects is a Brighton-based, founder-owned RIBA Chartered architectural practice delivering full-service building design, interior design, master planning, and project management across residential, commercial, hospitality, education, and heritage sectors in the UK and Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Residential architecture
• Commercial architecture
• Interior design services
• Heritage conservation architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Brighton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Professional architectural services billed on a project-by-project basis following the RIBA Plan of Work. Services span six stages from feasibility study through to construction handover, covering building design, interiors, master planning, conservation design, project management, and statutory applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MortonScarr Architects is a design-led Brighton-based architectural practice providing full architectural design, interior design, master planning, planning submissions, and project management services. Projects are delivered under the RIBA Plan of Work across six stages from feasibility study through to construction handover, covering new builds, refurbishments, extensions, listed building works, and mixed-use developments for private, developer, and institutional clients.

Product overview

MortonScarr Architects is a design-led architectural practice based in Brighton, founded in 2011 as a RIBA Chartered Practice. The firm offers a comprehensive suite of architectural services built around the RIBA Plan of Work framework, guiding clients through six stages from feasibility through to construction handover. Their core service is full architectural design encompassing building design, interiors, and master planning. The practice operates across multiple sectors including residential (new build, replacement dwellings, extensions, refurbishments), commercial, education, arts, hospitality, and heritage conservation. Additional services include interior design with bespoke joinery, project management, planning applications, and conservation design. The firm has completed notable projects including residential homes in Kent and Sussex, commercial developments in London, university buildings, hotel refurbishments such as Brown's Hotel Mayfair, and listed building conversions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Full-service architectural design covering building design, interiors, and master planning for residential and commercial projects across the UK and internationally.
• RIBA Plan of Work Services Project delivery structured around the six RIBA Plan of Work stages: Feasibility (0/1), Concept Design (2), Spatial Coordination (3), Technical Design (4), and Construction/Handover (5/6), guiding clients from concept to completion.
• Planning and Development Services Statutory applications, planning submissions, conservation design, and liaison with planning authorities and conservation teams for clients with complex regulatory and heritage requirements.
• Construction Services Production of construction information, contractor management, building contract administration, and project oversight through the construction phases to handover.
• Interior Design Services Bespoke joinery design, interior refurbishment, and interior design for show units including procurement and installation, offered to clients seeking tailored interior solutions.
• Project Management Stakeholder project management, feasibility studies, and client representation across design and construction phases, including a £22m Cockcroft building refurbishment for the University of Brighton.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Rocco Forte Hotels LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Long-term strategic partnership as appointed Architect for phased refurbishment projects at Brown's Hotel in Mayfair. Engaged for multiple years working on front of house spaces, guest rooms, restaurant (Heinz Beck), bar, and ongoing hotel upgrades while maintaining continuity of service for hotel guests.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Allies and Morrison: Major UK architectural practice with deep residential, masterplanning and heritage portfolios — comparable in project typology but operates at a much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• EPR Architects: Long-established UK architectural practice with broad sector coverage including hospitality, heritage and conservation — comparable in heritage/conservation and hospitality work, though significantly larger in scale.
• Foster + Partners: Global architecture and integrated design practice covering commercial, hospitality and masterplanning at scale — comparable in hospitality and masterplanning work, though vastly larger and globally diversified.

Direct peers

• Coffey Architects: UK boutique architectural practice of comparable size focused on high-end residential, heritage and masterplanning projects in London and the South East — directly comparable in scale, sector mix and design-led positioning.
• Proctor & Matthews Architects: Award-winning UK architectural practice specialising in housing, masterplanning and mixed-use schemes — directly comparable in residential/developer-led focus and UK regional footprint.
• Pollard Thomas Edwards: London- and East Anglia-based practice with a strong residential, mixed-use and public-sector portfolio — comparable developer-led residential work and RIBA-affiliated credentials.
• BuckleyGrayYeoman: UK commercial architecture practice with strong hotel, hospitality and workplace portfolios — comparable commercial and hospitality client mix, including luxury hotel refurbishments.
• Design Haus Architecture: Brighton-based architectural practice delivering residential, commercial and heritage projects in the same South East geography — directly comparable in scale, location and sector mix.
• Karakusevic Carson Architects: London-based practice focused on housing, mixed-use and public realm projects — comparable in residential/developer client base and design-led delivery model.
• Adam Architecture: UK practice specialising in high-end private residential, classical and conservation architecture across the South of England — closely comparable client base and project typology to MortonScarr's residential core.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MortonScarr
• Facebookfacebook.com/MortonScarr
• Instagraminstagram.com/mortonscarr
• Pinterestpinterest.co.uk/mortonscarr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mortonscarr

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MortonScarr Architects