Architype
Architype is a UK architectural practice of around 50 staff across London, Hereford and Edinburgh, specialising in Passivhaus and EnerPHit design for public sector clients including councils, schools and universities, with proprietary ECCOLAB lifecycle carbon assessment software.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Architype does
Architype is a UK-based architectural practice specialising in Passivhaus and EnerPHit design and retrofit, operating from three studios in London, Hereford and Edinburgh with approximately 50 staff. Founded in 1983, the firm is widely recognised as the UK's leading Passivhaus architect and has delivered more than 198 certified Passivhaus buildings across education, housing, public, healthcare and cultural sectors. Its core customer base is the UK public sector — local authorities, councils, universities and government bodies — won through direct enterprise engagement and procurement frameworks including the Scottish Futures Trust's Learning Estate Improvement Programme.
The firm's technical foundation is the Passivhaus new-build standard and the EnerPHit retrofit methodology, supported by ECCOLAB, a proprietary lifecycle carbon, cost, energy, waste and wellbeing assessment software that Architype co-founded through its technology partner Rapiere. Notable delivered assets include the UK's first Passivhaus secondary school (Harris Academy Sutton), the UK's largest Passivhaus housing development (Agar Grove, London Borough of Camden), Scotland's first Passivhaus secondary school (Currie Community High School), and The Enterprise Centre at UEA which was exhibited during COP26 as one of seventeen projects.
Architype generates revenue through professional service fees for full architectural design services and via a separately branded PERFORM+ specialist consultancy offering Passivhaus Designer, EnerPHit certification support, carbon assessments and technical advisory. The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales to public sector clients with no channel partners or resellers; pricing is project-scope-negotiated and not publicly disclosed. The firm is in the process of transitioning to full employee ownership, currently with 30% held by staff through an Employee Benefit Trust, and has no disclosed venture, private equity or institutional investors.
Architype firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Architype
- Legal name
- Architype Ltd.
- Website
- https://architype.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Architype is a UK architectural practice of around 50 staff across London, Hereford and Edinburgh, specialising in Passivhaus and EnerPHit design for public sector clients including councils, schools and universities, with proprietary ECCOLAB lifecycle carbon assessment software.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Architype industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Energy Efficiency & Weatherization Retrofit (HSAPAEAF), Structural & Seismic Retrofit Services (EDAEABAF)
Keywords
Where Architype is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Architype business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel
Revenue model
- Architectural Design Services: Full-service architectural practice providing design, masterplanning, and architectural services for new build and retrofit projects across education, university, housing, community, and cultural sectors. Revenue generated through professional service fees for project delivery.
- PERFORM+ Consultancy: Specialist consultancy service providing strategic insight, guidance, and technical services including Passivhaus Designer, EnerPHit certification support, carbon assessments, and technical expertise to clients seeking zero carbon building outcomes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Architectural Assistant salaries by location |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels9 records
Architype product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Architype is a UK architectural practice delivering Passivhaus-certified design for new-build and EnerPHit retrofit projects across education, housing, community, and cultural sectors. The firm supplements its design work with PERFORM+ consultancy services (strategic guidance, Passivhaus Designer and EnerPHit certification support, carbon assessment) and has co-developed ECCOLAB, a proprietary software tool for lifecycle carbon, cost and energy evaluation.
Product overview
Architype operates as a Passivhaus architecture practice offering architectural services centered on sustainable, low-carbon design. The core offering comprises Passivhaus and EnerPHit design services for new build and retrofit projects across education, housing, community, and cultural sectors. Supporting this is PERFORM+, a specialist consultancy providing strategic insight and technical services, and ECCOLAB, a proprietary carbon/cost/lifecycle evaluation software tool co-founded through Rapiere. Additionally, the firm produces published guidance such as Safe Schools for the Future. The portfolio spans from residential to public buildings, with a focus on community, learning, care, and working environments across the UK.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Architype PERFORM+: A specialist consultancy service providing strategic insight, guidance, and technical services including carbon assessment and performance evaluation.
- ECCOLAB
Products and services
- Passivhaus Design Services Core architectural design service applying the Passivhaus standard to new build projects, delivering rigorous and efficient building performance with enhanced comfort, wellbeing, and quality. Used by councils, universities, schools, and public-sector clients for education, housing, community, and cultural buildings.
- EnerPHit Retrofit Passivhaus-aligned retrofit service using a fabric-first methodology that prioritises insulation, windows, and door upgrades. Enables simplified services design and an optimal internal environment at lower cost and with lower-tech solutions for heritage and existing buildings.
- Architype PERFORM+ Specialist consultancy providing strategic insight, guidance, and technical services for zero carbon challenges and regenerative design ambitions. Includes Passivhaus Designer input, EnerPHit certification support, carbon assessments, and performance evaluation for clients pursuing net zero outcomes.
- ECCOLAB Carbon, cost and energy assessment software co-founded by Architype through Rapiere. The only tool on the market that simultaneously evaluates cost, carbon, energy, waste streams, and health/wellbeing impacts across a building's lifecycle, supporting rapid design optimisation and quantification of measured credits across multiple certification standards.
Quantifiable outcome
- Buildings that perform exactly as predicted with evidence-based, targeted approach
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Architype
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Architype technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Architype partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- Edinburgh Climate Action NetworksupportingScott McAulay is a coordinator of ACAN Scotland and contributed to the Scottish half of ACAN's Climate Conversations and Architects Declare Masterclasses.
- Forestry CommissioncoreFunded the Safe Schools for the Future research as part of the Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Fund, addressing barriers for increasing use of home-grown timber and wood-based products in construction in response to the climate emergency.
- UCL (University College London)coreCo-author of Safe Schools for the Future guidance. Jose Torero from UCL supported the publication with fire resistance expertise for timber-framed primary schools.
- University of EdinburghcoreCo-author of Safe Schools for the Future guidance. Luke Bisby from University of Edinburgh contributed fire resistance expertise for timber-framed primary schools.
- IGNIScoreCo-author of Safe Schools for the Future guidance. Joachim Schmid from IGNIS contributed fire engineering solutions for timber-framed primary schools.
- Woodknowledge WalessupportingSupport partner for Safe Schools for the Future guidance, providing expertise on timber construction in Wales.
- PYC ConstructionsupportingSupport partner for Safe Schools for the Future guidance, contributing construction industry expertise.
- Lowfield Timber FramessupportingSupport partner for Safe Schools for the Future guidance, providing timber frame construction expertise.
- Rosetta Risk ManagementsupportingSupport partner for Safe Schools for the Future guidance, contributing risk management expertise.
- UK TreescapessupportingCollaborated on film evening during Architecture Fringe 2025 exploring connections between forestry, timber production, and construction.
- KpH DeconstructionsupportingCollaborated on deconstruction and material reuse roundtable. KpH Deconstruction participated in panel discussion on circular economy in construction.
- Willmott DixonsupportingParticipated in material reuse roundtable with Alasdair Donn from Willmott Dixon sharing insights on circular economy practices.
- Marks Barfield ArchitectssupportingParticipated in deconstruction and material reuse roundtable alongside Architype and other industry partners.
- Circo TradesupportingParticipated in material reuse roundtable with Darcy Arnold-Jones sharing insights on material circularity.
- Material IndexsupportingParticipated in deconstruction roundtable with Oliver Lawson contributing expertise on material indexing and reuse.
- Saint-GobainsupportingParticipated in material reuse roundtable with Rochelle Collard sharing insights on material recovery and recertification.
- Edinburgh Adapts PartnershipsupportingPartnership with City of Edinburgh Council, Historic Environment Scotland, Nature Scot, NHS Lothian, Scottish Water, Edinburgh College, Sniffer, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh Napier University, University of Edinburgh, SEPA, and Edinburgh World Heritage for climate adaptation planning.
- RapierecoreCo-founder of Rapiere and developer of Eccolab software for lifecycle carbon assessment. Rapiere is the entity behind this proprietary tool that simultaneously evaluates cost, carbon, and energy across a building's lifecycle.
- Scottish Futures TrustcoreArchitype projects like Currie Community High School are among the first developments in the Scottish Futures Trust's Learning Estate Improvement Programme, which ties strict energy requirements to school funding.
- Open CitysupportingPartnered with Open City's Young City Makers programme, working with year 5 students to engage with the built environment and think critically about communities.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Architype competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mikhail Riches: London-based architecture practice specialising in Passivhaus and low-energy housing, including social housing and Passivhaus residential developments. Most directly comparable UK peer to Architype on Passivhaus delivery in housing and public sectors.
- Levitt Bernstein: UK architecture practice with deep expertise in sustainable housing, Passivhaus developments, and public-sector work. Comparable to Architype on social housing, sustainability, and council-client base.
- Bere:Architects: UK architecture practice with a strong Passivhaus and sustainable-design track record across housing and community buildings. Comparable to Architype in size, sustainability positioning, and emphasis on evidence-based, fabric-first design.
- Haworth Tompkins: Award-winning UK architectural practice with a portfolio in sustainable, low-energy cultural, education, and housing projects. Comparable to Architype on sustainability credentials and UK-focused public-sector work.
- Purcell: UK architecture practice with strong heritage and retrofit specialism alongside broader public-sector work. Comparable to Architype's EnerPHit-led heritage and retrofit engagement.
- Cullinan Studio: UK sustainable architecture practice known for low-energy, environmentally-led design across housing, education, and cultural sectors. Closely comparable to Architype's values-led, sustainability-first positioning.
Emerging players
- Feilden Fowles: Award-winning UK architectural practice with growing profile in low-energy, materially-led cultural and education projects. Comparable emerging player on design quality and sustainability agenda, though with narrower Passivhaus specialism than Architype.
Broad incumbents
- Allies and Morrison: Established UK architectural practice with broad portfolio across housing, education, cultural, and masterplanning. Comparable incumbent in the UK public-sector and education markets where Architype operates.
- WilkinsonEyre: Major UK architectural practice with award-winning work across education, infrastructure, and cultural buildings. Comparable incumbent in UK public-sector delivery and design-led sustainability.
- Foster + Partners: Global UK-headquartered architectural practice with a much broader portfolio including commercial, cultural, and infrastructure projects. Relevant incumbent comparable in design quality and UK public-sector profile, but operates at a vastly larger scale and wider typology mix.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Architype social profiles
Digital presenceArchitype financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Architype leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Architype funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Architype 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 Architype
What does Architype do?
Architype is a UK architectural practice delivering Passivhaus-certified design for new-build and EnerPHit retrofit projects across education, housing, community, and cultural sectors. The firm supplements its design work with PERFORM+ consultancy services (strategic guidance, Passivhaus Designer and EnerPHit certification support, carbon assessment) and has co-developed ECCOLAB, a proprietary software tool for lifecycle carbon, cost and energy evaluation.
Is Architype a public or private company?
Architype is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Architype founded?
Architype was founded in 1983. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Architype based?
Architype is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Architype make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Architectural Design Services are the primary driver. The others are PERFORM+ Consultancy.
Who are Architype's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mikhail Riches, Levitt Bernstein, Bere:Architects, Haworth Tompkins, Purcell and Cullinan Studio. Feilden Fowles is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Allies and Morrison, WilkinsonEyre and Foster + Partners.
Does Architype have an API?
No public API is recorded for Architype.
What industry is Architype in?
Architype's product category is Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAB, Interior Design Services, with a secondary code of HSAPAEAF, Energy Efficiency & Weatherization Retrofit. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 8700.