What Assael Architecture does

Assael Architecture is a London-headquartered architectural and design practice founded in 1994 (incorporated 1997) by John Assael and Russell Pedley, operating as an Employee Ownership Trust since 2018. The firm delivers integrated architecture, urban design, interior design (via Assael Interiors), landscape architecture (via Assael Exteriors), and visualisation (via Assael Visuals) services across the full RIBA Stage 0–6/7 lifecycle. It has built category-defining expertise in emerging UK residential typologies — Build to Rent, co-living, and later living — alongside heritage conversion and mixed-use regeneration, serving institutional investors (Legal & General, DTZ Investors, Packaged Living), Build to Rent operators (Essential Living, John Lewis Partnership, Halcyon), housing associations (Clarion), mainstream developers (Mount Anvil, Grainger, Taylor Wimpey, London Square), and public-sector clients (London Borough of Enfield).

Revenue is generated through negotiated professional fees on a project-by-project basis, with projects acquired via competitive tenders, design competitions, and direct appointments. The practice has a proprietary technology and IP stack centred on the RightSizer demountable modular construction system (regenerative MMC targeting <300kgCO2e/m2 embodied carbon and 100+ year building lifespan) and a documented high-rise volumetric modular playbook delivered on Union Wharf (23 storeys, 635 modules, one floor per week, ~25% programme saving). It is B Corp certified, ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 accredited, and RIBA registered across its group entities.

Assael operates from a London headquarters (123 Upper Richmond Road) and a Gulf States studio in Bahrain, with an Australian subsidiary in Sydney, and has delivered projects across 14 countries. The firm maintains 40+ industry awards spanning RIBA, British Homes Awards, RESI Awards, Housing Design Awards, and AJ Employer of the Year, and is led by co-founders John Assael (Chairman) and Russell Pedley, with a management team including Managing Director Pete Ladhams and Directors Tim Chapman-Cavanagh, Ed Sharland, Emily Newton, and Compliance Director Allan Stringer.

Name

Assael Architecture

Legal name

Assael Architecture Limited

Website

https://assael.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Assael Architecture is a London-headquartered, employee-owned architectural practice delivering architecture, urban design, interiors, landscape, and visualisation services across Build to Rent, co-living, later living, heritage, and mixed-use sectors for institutional investors, operators, and public-sector clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Urban design masterplanning
• Interior design services
• Landscape architecture design
• Building visualisation services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Assael Architecture provides comprehensive architectural and design services across multiple sectors including residential, commercial, heritage, hospitality, and urban design. Revenue is generated through professional fees for RIBA Stages 0-6/7 services, from initial concept through to construction completion and handover.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Assael Architecture is a London-based architectural practice providing integrated design services spanning architecture, urban design, landscape design, interior design, and visualisation. The firm specialises in residential-led mixed-use developments including Build to Rent, Co-living, Later Living, affordable housing, and heritage conversion projects for property developers, housing associations, local authorities, and institutional investors. Services cover full RIBA Stages 0-6/7 from concept through construction completion, with expertise in modern methods of construction including volumetric offsite and modular systems.

Product overview

Assael Architecture is an award-winning architecture and design practice offering integrated services across architecture, urban design, interior design, landscape design, and visualisation. The firm operates across multiple service typologies including Build to Rent, Co-living, Later Living, and Heritage projects. The practice consists of several divisions including Assael Interiors, Assael Exteriors (landscape), and Assael Visuals, working collaboratively to deliver holistic design solutions from concept through to implementation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Assael Interiors: Interior design services arm of the practice
• Assael Exteriors
• Assael Visuals

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full-service architectural design covering residential, commercial, hospitality, and heritage projects. Services span initial concept through technical design and implementation across all RIBA project stages.
• Urban Design Urban design and masterplanning services for large-scale developments and regeneration projects, creating cohesive urban quarters with focus on placemaking and public spaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• RightSizer targets whole lifecycle embodied carbon below 300kgCO2e/m2
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Assael Architecture UK LimitedcoreOthersUK operating subsidiary within the Assael group of companies. Registered in England (13014199), VAT 363 1603 20, RIBA registered (20041136).
• Assael Architecture International LimitedcoreOthersInternational subsidiary within the Assael group. Registered in England (12015396), VAT 328 5228 95, RIBA registered (20030779).
• Assael Architecture Gulf States LimitedcoreOthersGulf States operating subsidiary within the Assael group. Registered in England (05651535), VAT 877 6273 71, RIBA registered (20004514).
• Assael Australia Pty LimitedminorOthersAustralian subsidiary. Registered in Australia (ABN 71 645 496 402, ACN 645696402), based at Level 19, 207 Kent St, Sydney NSW 2000.
• Habitis LimitedminorOthersSpecialist subsidiary within the Assael group. Registered in England (12921472), VAT 362 3373 07, RIBA registered (20041709).
• Assael Interiors LimitedcoreOthersInterior design subsidiary within the Assael group providing in-house interior design services. Registered in England (03034875), VAT 118 2920 24.
• AECOMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal infrastructure consultancy collaborating with Assael on the RightSizer MMC system for Meridian Water, providing engineering, cost management and sustainability services.
• ArchitectureDoingPlacemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner on RightSizer concept and Meridian Water competition, contributing placemaking and architecture expertise.
• Exterior ArchitecturemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner on RightSizer and multiple projects, designing three landscape systems integrating culture, environment and ecology.
• Hatch RegenerismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial value and impact advisor on RightSizer team, contributing expertise on community benefits and social sustainability.
• Origin Active Lifestyle CommunitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior living advisors on RightSizer team, proposing housing with care communities with care academy for training carers.
• Knight FrankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior living advisors on RightSizer competition team, providing viability and market expertise.
• HTA DesignmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Assael on Union Wharf volumetric modular construction, providing detailed design process partnership for one of UK's tallest volumetric residential buildings.
• Attico (Barcelona)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-living operator visited during Coliving Conference 2025 site visit, representing global co-living models.
• La Fábrica (Barcelona)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-living operator visited during Coliving Conference 2025 site visit, representing global co-living models.
• The Social HubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor European co-living/hospitality operator benchmarked during Coliving Conference 2025, representing integrated mixed-use vibrancy model.
• POHA HouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman sustainability-driven co-living developer presenting cradle-to-cradle building principles at Coliving Conference 2025.
• Chateaux ColivingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNomadic co-living operator in French chateaux, targeting digital nomads - connection made at Coliving Conference 2025.
• Toboggan (Canada)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCanadian adaptive reuse developer transforming vacant office buildings into affordable co-living - connection made at Coliving Conference 2025.
• Udda Swedish ColivingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwedish co-living operator - connection made at Coliving Conference 2025.
• ResHarmonicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-living sector specialist - connection made at Coliving Conference 2025.
• StudioMultiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDesign studio for co-living sector - connection made at Coliving Conference 2025.
• AllsopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProperty consultancy - connection made at Coliving Conference 2025.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Allies and Morrison: Allies and Morrison is one of the UK's largest architecture practices with a substantial residential-led, mixed-use and masterplanning portfolio, frequently shortlisted in the same RIBA and housing design award categories as Assael.
• Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM): AHMM is a major UK architecture practice with experience across residential, mixed-use, commercial and public-sector projects, competing with Assael for flagship UK institutional and developer-led commissions.
• SimpsonHaugh: SimpsonHaugh is a UK architecture practice with a strong high-rise residential portfolio, including tall-buildings expertise that overlaps with Assael's Union Wharf and Great Northern Tower projects.

Direct peers

• Pollard Thomas Edwards (PTE): PTE is a long-established London architecture practice with a strong focus on housing, mixed-use regeneration and public-sector residential schemes — overlapping directly with Assael's affordable housing, heritage-led residential and housing association portfolios.
• Haworth Tompkins: Haworth Tompkins is a long-established London practice recognised for residential-led and cultural regeneration projects, sharing Assael's heritage-conversion, mixed-use and Build to Rent portfolio characteristics.
• Maccreanor Lavington: Maccreanor Lavington is a UK/European residential-focused practice with deep specialism in housing, co-living and mixed-tenure neighbourhoods, frequently winning awards in the same UK housing categories as Assael.
• PRP Architects: PRP is a UK architecture practice specialising in residential, Build to Rent, co-living and later-living design, working with many of the same institutional investors as Assael (e.g., Legal & General). It is one of the closest direct comparables in terms of sector focus, client base and project typologies across UK multifamily housing.
• Levitt Bernstein: Levitt Bernstein is a UK practice recognised for high-quality housing design, including residential, later-living and care-led schemes, with a strongly values-led and ESG-oriented brand similar in ethos to Assael's B Corp + EOT positioning.
• Karakusevic Carson Architects: Karakusevic Carson is a London-based housing specialist practice known for large-scale residential-led and council estate regeneration schemes, including council housing partnerships. Highly comparable to Assael's residential-led, mixed-tenure public and private sector work.
• Stride Treglown (incorporating HTA Design): Stride Treglown absorbed HTA Design LLP, one of the UK's leading residential and Build to Rent practices that previously collaborated with Assael on Union Wharf's volumetric modular design. It is one of the most direct heads-to-head competitors for UK BtR and modular residential commissions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/assael-architecture
• Xx.com/AssaelArchitect

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries7 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 Assael Architecture