What Cullinan Studio does

Cullinan Studio is an employee-owned architecture, masterplanning, and sustainability consultancy founded in 1964 by Ted Cullinan and headquartered in a retrofitted Victorian warehouse on Regent's Canal in Islington, London. The firm provides architectural design services across residential, healthcare, education, workplace, cultural, and heritage sectors, with documented expertise spanning seven World Heritage Sites (Stonehenge to Petra) and projects including the National Automotive Innovation Centre (which features the largest timber roof in Europe) and the Alder Hey Children's Hospital health campus.

The firm's core technical capabilities center on Passivhaus design methodology (the team includes Certified Passivhaus Designers), timber construction, circular economy principles, biophilic design, and net zero carbon buildings, alongside a proprietary Kit-of-Parts system for archaeological shelters developed with the Getty Conservation Institute. Supporting services include retrofit and adaptive reuse, embodied carbon assessment, and space utilisation planning. Cullinan Studio operates on a project-based professional services fee model, acquiring work through direct client engagement, invited tenders, and architectural competitions, with primary clients drawn from UK local authorities, NHS Foundation Trusts, universities, housing associations, and selected private-sector partners.

The business is structured as an employee-owned cooperative with no external investment, parent company, or public listing identified, and operates with a sales-led direct engagement model supported by thought-leadership marketing through industry awards, journal articles, and events such as Open House London. The firm has accumulated sustained industry recognition including RIBA National Awards (NAIC 2021, Maitland Park Estate 2025, Alder Hey 2025) and recognition as a Sustainability Architect of the Year finalist.

Name

Cullinan Studio

Legal name

Cullinan Studio

Website

https://cullinanstudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cullinan Studio is an employee-owned London architecture, masterplanning, and sustainability consultancy founded in 1964, serving UK local authorities, NHS trusts, universities, housing associations, and heritage organizations with Passivhaus, timber, and net zero carbon design expertise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Sustainable architecture
• Passivhaus design
• Masterplanning services
• Retrofit consulting
• Net zero carbon buildings

Headquarters

HQ city

Islington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Cullinan Studio provides architectural design services for buildings and masterplans, including new build, retrofit, and refurbishment projects across residential, commercial, cultural, healthcare, education, and workplace sectors. Revenue is generated through professional fees for design, planning, and project oversight.
2. Sustainability Consulting: The firm provides sustainability consulting services including Passivhaus certification coordination, embodied carbon assessment, circular economy planning, and net zero carbon strategy development, working alongside sustainability engineers like Etude.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cullinan Studio provides architectural design, masterplanning, and sustainability consulting services for innovative, nature-connected buildings and estates. Their work spans new build, retrofit, and refurbishment projects across residential, healthcare, education, workplace, and cultural heritage sectors, with specialised expertise in Passivhaus standards, timber construction, circular economy principles, and net zero carbon design. Revenue is generated through professional fees for design, planning, and project oversight.

Product overview

Cullinan Studio is an architecture firm operating as a single integrated service offering rather than a platform with separate products. Their core offering comprises architectural design, masterplanning, and sustainability consulting services. They specialize in projects that connect people with nature, including residential developments, educational facilities, healthcare buildings, workplace environments, and cultural projects. Supporting services include retrofit/adaptive reuse, and space utilisation planning. Their approach emphasizes sustainability through Passivhaus standards, circular economy principles, and net zero carbon design strategies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Full architectural design services for buildings and masterplans including new build, retrofit, and refurbishment across residential, commercial, cultural, healthcare, education, and workplace sectors, with a focus on nature-connected, sustainable design.
• Masterplanning Services Urban and estate masterplanning that redesigns neighbourhoods and public spaces with focus on connectivity, nature integration, and community engagement; includes World Heritage Site masterplans and large-scale estate regeneration projects.
• Sustainability Consulting Sustainability advisory services including Passivhaus design coordination, net zero carbon strategy development, circular economy planning, and embodied carbon assessment for building projects.
• Retrofit Services Building retrofit and adaptive reuse services that transform existing structures rather than demolishing them, applying circular economy and energy efficiency principles including Passivhaus standards.
• Space Utilisation Planning Consultancy helping educational institutions and workplaces optimise existing building usage through data analysis, stakeholder consultation, and redesign solutions for hybrid working and changing team structures.

Quantifiable outcome

• Passivhaus buildings can use up to 90% less energy than current building stock
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and strategic.

• ArupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCivil, Structural and Services Engineer for NAIC project. Also provided specialist lighting design. Partnered with Cullinan Studio on multiple projects including NAIC and Nea Paphos archaeological shelter.
• RLBcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerQS and Project Manager for NAIC project. Provided quantity surveying and project management services.
• Grant AssociatescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape Architect for NAIC project, designing the external landscape and planting around the building.
• Balfour BeattycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMain Contractor for NAIC project, responsible for construction delivery.
• TurleysupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPlanning Consultant for NAIC project, providing planning advice and submissions.
• MaynardsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSignage and Wayfinding designer for NAIC project.
• Buro HappoldcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFire Engineer and Acoustician for NAIC project. Also engineering partner for Nea Paphos archaeological shelter Kit-of-Parts development. Long-standing engineering collaboration partner.
• EtudecoreTechnology or IntegrationSustainability engineers and Passivhaus Certifiers. Partnered with Cullinan Studio on Passivhaus residential projects for Sixty Bricks and on net zero carbon housing projects. Has established portfolio of Passivhaus projects.
• Turkington MartincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture practice collaborated with Cullinan Studio on Alder Hey Springfield Park and Health Campus masterplan. Also landscape design partner for Maitland Park Estate.
• Getty Conservation InstitutestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Department of Antiquities Cyprus on Nea Paphos archaeological shelter project. Provided expertise and funding for conservation research.
• Levitt BernsteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural practice collaborated with Cullinan Studio on Eastfields Estate regeneration masterplan in Merton. Combined for initial pitch and collaborated throughout design process.
• Proctor & MatthewscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural practice collaborated with Cullinan Studio on Eastfields Estate regeneration masterplan. Part of three-practice collaborative team that won AJ120 Architectural Collaboration of the Year.
• Fire GuidancesupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFire engineering specialist for NAIC project.
• ECE WestworkscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDelivery architects for Maitland Park Estate project, working alongside main contractor Bouygues. Collaborated closely with Cullinan Studio throughout construction.
• BouyguescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMain contractor for Maitland Park Estate construction. Cullinan Studio retained as Client Design Advisor while ECE Westworks completed design under Bouygues.
• WMG at University of WarwickstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in NAIC - automotive research collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Motors. One of three client partners for the National Automotive Innovation Centre.
• Jaguar Land RoverstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutomotive manufacturer partner in NAIC alongside WMG and Tata Motors. Key client partner driving automotive innovation centre development.
• Tata MotorsstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutomotive manufacturer partner (Tata Motors UK and Tata Motors European Technical Centre) in NAIC alongside WMG and Jaguar Land Rover. Key client partner for automotive research facility.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Heatherwick Studio: High-profile London design studio known for innovative public and cultural projects. Shares Cullinan's commitment to nature-inspired design and high-profile commissions but operates at larger scale.
• Grimshaw Architects: Larger international architecture firm with significant sustainability and transport/infrastructure expertise. Competes with Cullinan on larger commercial and institutional projects while operating broader portfolio.
• John McAslan + Partners: UK architecture firm with significant heritage and regeneration portfolio. Similar focus on adaptive reuse and conservation work, with comparable public sector client base.

Others

• Etude: UK sustainability engineers and Passivhaus Certifiers who work closely with Cullinan on residential projects. Complementary rather than competing - they provide technical sustainability services that Cullinan integrates into architectural designs.

Direct peers

• Allies and Morrison: Established UK architecture practice with strong civic, residential, and masterplanning portfolios. Both firms operate at similar scale with comparable client bases in London and national public sector work.
• Haworth Tompkins: London-based architecture firm known for sustainable cultural, educational, and residential projects. Shares similar commitment to practical sustainability and heritage-sensitive design.
• Proctor & Matthews: UK housing and masterplanning-focused practice. Co-collaborator with Cullinan on Eastfields Estate and shares comparable residential and estate regeneration focus.
• Feilden Fowles: London-based architecture practice with similar scale and focus on sustainable, contextual design. Both firms are RIBA award winners with comparable project profiles in cultural and civic buildings.
• Levitt Bernstein: UK architecture practice with strong social housing and estate regeneration portfolio. Direct collaborator with Cullinan on Eastfields Estate and works with similar housing association clients.
• Studio Egret West: London-based architecture and masterplanning practice with strong housing, regeneration, and public realm portfolio. Comparable scale and client base in UK residential and mixed-use sectors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cullinanstudio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Cullinan Studio