What DMFK does

dMFK is a London-based architecture, interiors and design practice founded around 2000 by three friends from architecture school, now employing approximately 50 people across its headquarters at 76 Charlotte Street. The firm delivers full-service architectural and interior design commissions spanning new build, refurbishment, heritage conservation, and adaptive reuse across commercial workplace, residential, mixed-use, hospitality and civic sectors. Its technical differentiator is a 'retrofit-first' methodology that combines heritage-grade conservation expertise (including Grade II and Grade II* listed buildings) with contemporary environmental performance, evidenced by BREEAM Excellent and WELL Enabled certifications without compromising character.

The practice operates on a project-based professional services model, securing commissions through direct enterprise engagement with major UK property developers, REITs, and corporate clients such as GPE, British Land, Dorrington PLC, Barratt London, C C Land and Unilever. Fees are negotiated per project and typically range from £500k to £10m+, paid against staged milestones, with no standardised pricing. Repeat commissions and design-custodian mandates (e.g., The Leadenhall Building, 201 Bishopsgate, Voysey House) are central to the model. Distribution is entirely direct, with no intermediaries, supported by an industry reputation engine of RIBA, BCO, AJ, Dezeen and Building Design awards, a 'Discussions Downstairs at dMFK' events programme, and a recently expanded 2,000 sq ft basement venue serving as sample library, client showcase, and collaborative workspace.

Name

DMFK

Legal name

dMFK

Website

https://dmfk.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DMFK is a London-based architecture and interiors practice of around 50 people delivering heritage-led retrofit, workplace, residential and mixed-use projects for major UK property developers and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Professional fees for architectural services including feasibility studies, planning applications, design development, technical documentation, and contract administration for commercial, residential, and mixed-use projects. Revenue generated through staged payments tied to project milestones.
2. Interior Design Services: Specialist interior design services for workplace, hospitality, and residential projects, often delivered as part of integrated architectural commissions or standalone fit-out projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

dMFK is a London-based architecture and interior design practice providing full architectural services including feasibility studies, planning applications, design development, technical documentation, and contract administration for commercial, residential, and mixed-use projects. The firm also delivers specialist interior design services for workplace, hospitality, and residential settings, and operates a heritage-led retrofit practice focused on Grade II and Grade II* listed building restoration and adaptive reuse. Services are typically commissioned directly by commercial developers, residential developers, property companies, and corporate end-users through competitive tenders and negotiated appointments.

Product overview

DMFK is an architecture, interiors, and design practice based in London with a 25-year history and approximately 50 employees. The firm operates as a single, unified practice offering architectural services and interior design, spanning new build, refurbishment, heritage retrofit, and adaptive reuse across residential, workplace, mixed-use, and civic sectors. DMFK's service portfolio includes its core architecture and interior design offerings, supported by specialist capabilities in heritage conservation (with a 'retrofit-first' sustainability approach), workplace design for flex offices and end-user fit-outs, residential and mixed-use development, and large-scale urban masterplanning. The practice also operates Downstairs at dMFK — a 2,000 sq ft basement extension at its Charlotte Street HQ functioning as a living sample library, events venue, and collaborative workspace. Projects span landmark heritage retrofits (Voysey House, 170 Piccadilly), commercial workplace fit-outs (Chancery House, Tower 42), residential schemes (Goldhawk Mews, Leathermarket Street), and mixed-use regenerations (Former Nestlé Factory, Whitechapel Estate).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full-service architectural design covering new build, refurbishment, heritage conservation, and adaptive reuse projects across residential, workplace, mixed-use, and civic sectors for commercial developers, property companies, residential developers, and corporate end-users.
• Interior Design Services Interior design services focused on creating distinctive, tactile, and human-centred spaces for workplaces, residential, and hospitality settings, often integrated with architectural commissions or delivered as standalone fit-out projects.
• Heritage and Retrofit Services Specialist heritage retrofit and conservation services, including Grade II and Grade II* listed building restoration, adaptive reuse, and fabric improvement, with a retrofit-first sustainability approach that achieves contemporary environmental performance without compromising historic character.
• Workplace Design Flexible workspace, flex office, developer-led schemes, and end-user fit-out design services aimed at strengthening culture, supporting community, and encouraging office occupancy for clients such as The Office Group (Fora), British Land, GPE, and C C Land.
• Residential and Mixed-Use Design Design services for residential-led developments including social rent homes, mixed-use regeneration schemes, mansion blocks, mews houses, and co-living projects for clients such as Barratt London and SEGRO.
• Urban Planning and Masterplanning Neighbourhood-scale masterplanning services integrating housing, commercial space, public realm, and community facilities, including large-scale regeneration projects for developer clients.
• Downstairs at dMFK A 2,000 sq ft basement extension at 76 Charlotte Street serving as a living sample library, events venue, and multifunctional workspace for collaboration, supplier showcases, and industry gatherings such as the Discussions Downstairs at dMFK breakfast seminars.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of Chancery House let within 3 months of launch
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and key client.

• Elliott WoodminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2026Structural engineering practice partnered with dMFK for fifth annual SwiMIPIM, raising over £18,000 for Streets of London homelessness charity
• Beyond the Box CICminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Youth-led design-build festival organiser partnered as sponsors, design mentors, and build volunteers for People's Pavilion third iteration at William Morris Gallery
• Norm ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCopenhagen-based design studio collaborated with dMFK on Chancery House, developing a unified modern identity with earthy terracotta tones and silver highlights inspired by the building's history as silver vaults
• Bureau de ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design studio collaborated on The Gaslight Building, delivering crafted interventions including bronze filigree mesh, bespoke terrazzo panels, and integrated wayfinding
• Unileverkey clientOthersGlobal consumer goods company commissioned dMFK for Four Acres leadership centre revitalisation, a Grade II listed Arts and Crafts campus in Kingston
• Barratt Londonkey clientOthersMajor housebuilder partnered on Former Nestlé Factory transformation into 1,300-home mixed-use quarter in Hayes
• SEGROkey clientOthersReal estate investment company partnered on Former Nestlé Factory masterplan, providing 22,000 sqm of modern employment space as part of mixed-use development
• GPEkey clientOthersLondon-focused property company commissioned multiple projects including 170 Piccadilly, 15 Gresse Street, and Storey at 201 Bishopsgate for Fully Managed Workspace portfolio
• British Landkey clientOthersMajor UK property company partnered on Storey at 201 Bishopsgate and 201 Bishopsgate refurbishment, delivering amenity-rich workspace solutions
• Dorrington PLCkey clientOthersProperty company has commissioned multiple heritage retrofit projects including Voysey House for Sanderson Design Group, Hamilton House, and various Mayfair headquarters
• To Scale / Sana TabassumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatform supporting architecture students and graduates partnered for Open Studio sessions helping emerging talent navigate academic to professional transition

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• 6a architects: London practice with strong reputation in cultural, heritage, and residential architecture. Comparable scale and design-led, conservation-aware approach.
• Allies and Morrison: London-based architecture practice of comparable scale and typological breadth (workplace, residential, heritage, masterplanning). The closest like-for-like peer to dMFK in terms of city, project mix, and reputation tier.
• Heatherwick Studio: London-based, design-led practice spanning architecture, interiors, and product design. Comparable on integrated architecture-and-interiors offering and brand-led positioning, though with a larger public-profile footprint.
• Bennetts Associates: London architecture practice with explicit focus on sustainability and retrofit, similar in size and ethos to dMFK. Overlaps closely on heritage upgrade, workplace, and ESG-led commercial projects.
• Squire & Partners: Established London architecture practice with strong commercial, residential, and mixed-use portfolio serving major UK developers. Comparable in scale, sector mix, and integrated architecture-plus-interiors approach.
• AHMM (Allford Hall Monaghan Morris): Major London architecture practice working across commercial, residential, and education sectors with comparable scale and award-winning reputation. Highly comparable in typology, geography, and blue-chip developer client base.
• EPR Architects: London heritage and commercial architecture practice with strong track record on listed-building and office-sector projects. Comparable in typology, scale, and heritage conservation specialism.
• Caruso St John: London practice recognised for sensitive heritage restoration and high-craft commercial and cultural projects (e.g., Tate Britain). Direct comparable on heritage-led retrofit philosophy and material sensibility.

Broad incumbents

• Foster + Partners: Global architecture incumbent working across commercial, residential, heritage, and masterplanning at much larger scale. Overlaps with dMFK on listed-building and London commercial commissions (e.g., Bloomberg HQ heritage context).
• BDP (Building Design Partnership): Large multi-disciplinary architecture and engineering practice with strong London and UK commercial, residential, and masterplanning presence. Overlaps on commercial developer commissions but operates at significantly larger scale and broader service scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DMFK-Architects-613213678705696/?fref=ts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dmfk
• Instagraminstagram.com/dmfkarchitects/?hl=en
• Xx.com/dMFKArchitects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 DMFK