What Levitt Bernstein does

Levitt Bernstein is an architectural, landscape architecture, and urban design practice founded in 1968 and headquartered in London, with additional studios in Manchester (opened 2013) and Rathnew, Ireland. The firm designs transformative buildings, public realm, and masterplans across five primary sectors: housing (especially affordable, social, extra-care, and Passivhaus-certified homes), education, arts and culture, health, and urban regeneration. It has built a portfolio of more than ten Passivhaus schemes ranging from 32 to 272 homes, making low-energy housing design a default practice standard rather than an add-on service. The firm is recognized for embedding sustainability research and community engagement into project delivery, with named proprietary outputs including net zero frameworks, embodied carbon studies, retrofit guidance for local authorities, and a social value measurement methodology.

The business operates on a project-based professional services revenue model: fees are negotiated per engagement with multi-year contract cadences, and commissions are sourced through direct appointments from housing associations and local authorities, design competitions, and repeat relationships with established clients. The customer base is concentrated in the UK public and third-sector housing market, including named clients such as Westminster City Council, Haringey Council, Liverpool City Council, Network Homes, Poplar HARCA, Community Gateway Association, and Origin Housing Group, with selective private developer and overseas engagements (e.g., EcoWorld London, Institut Laue-Langevin in France). The practice became a 100% Employee Ownership Trust on 2 April 2024, ending individual share ownership and replacing it with a Trust-held structure on behalf of employees, supported by a Senior Management Group and Employee Council. The firm markets primarily through its own journal and research publications, industry award submissions (RIBA, AJ100, BD, Civic Trust), and conference presence (Housing Forum, MIPIM, RIBA events).

Name

Levitt Bernstein

Legal name

Levitt Bernstein Associates Limited

Website

https://levittbernstein.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Levitt Bernstein is a UK-based architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design practice founded in 1968, serving housing associations, local authorities, and educational institutions with a focus on affordable, Passivhaus-certified housing and sustainable urban regeneration. It became a 100% Employee Ownership Trust in April 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Landscape Architectural Services (54132)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC), Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Urban regeneration
• Landscape architecture
• Sustainable housing design
• Passivhaus design

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 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 and Design Services: Fees for architectural services, masterplanning, landscape architecture, and interior design on construction projects. Revenue is project-based, typically commissioned by housing associations, local authorities, and private developers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Levitt Bernstein is a UK- and Ireland-based architectural, landscape architecture, and urban design practice delivering building design, masterplanning, landscape, research, and social-value services for housing, education, public-realm, and cultural-sector clients. The firm focuses on people-first, socially responsible, and sustainable design, with deep expertise in Passivhaus and low-energy residential and public buildings.

Product overview

Levitt Bernstein is an architectural, landscape architecture, and urban design practice offering integrated design services. The core service offering comprises Architecture Services, Urban Design Services, and Landscape Architecture, supported by specialized offerings in Sustainable Design Services and Social Value & Engagement. The practice also produces Research & Writing publications including guidelines and reports. Projects span housing (including specialist housing for older people), education, arts/cultural, health, commercial, and heritage sectors. The practice is recognized for Passivhaus design expertise and sustainable, socially responsible design.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Full architectural design services for new-build and refurbishment projects, covering housing, education, cultural, and public-sector buildings for institutional clients.
• Landscape Architecture Landscape architecture services for public realm, housing estates, campuses, and urban regeneration projects, delivered as a standalone or integrated offer.
• Urban Design and Masterplanning Urban design, masterplanning, and regeneration advisory services for neighbourhoods, estates, and campuses, typically for public-sector and institutional clients.
• Sustainable and Passivhaus Design Specialist sustainable and low-energy design services applying Passivhaus and other low-carbon standards to residential, educational, and public buildings.
• Research and Writing
• Social Value and Engagement Services Social value assessment, community engagement, and stakeholder consultation services supporting design outcomes for housing, education, and cultural projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than ten Passivhaus schemes completed or in progress, ranging from 32-272 homes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EtudecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability consultancy collaborating on multiple research projects including the Retrofit of London's Heritage Homes planning guidance suite, Essex Embodied Carbon evidence base, GMCA Net Zero Guidance, GLAP Environmental Sustainability Framework, and Passivhaus design guides.
• Prewett BizleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on ESSA Retrofit Guides and The Retrofit of London's Heritage Homes planning guidance suite.
• Currie & BrowncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on GLAP Environmental Sustainability Framework and Essex Embodied Carbon evidence base.
• ZCD ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Aberfeldy New Masterplan, leading focus on child-friendly design and youth engagement programme.
• LDA DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading design of public realm in Aberfeldy New Masterplan project in Tower Hamlets.
• Morris+CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading detailed design of Phase A in Aberfeldy New Masterplan.
• Montagu EvanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Liverpool Pumpfields 75-acre masterplanning project, working alongside Arup and Turner Works.
• ArupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering and planning partner for Liverpool Pumpfields masterplanning project.
• Turner WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture partner for Liverpool Pumpfields 75-acre regeneration project.
• HTA DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on Towards Net Zero research project along with Pollard Thomas Edwards and PRP Architects to decarbonise housing and improve social value.
• Pollard Thomas EdwardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration including HAPPI Report and Towards Net Zero research. Joint authors of Housing Design Handbook.
• PRP ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on Towards Net Zero research project with HTA Design and Pollard Thomas Edwards.
• TKMT architectescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint designers of Institut Laue-Langevin visitor centre in Grenoble, France.
• EcoWorld LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper partner for Aberfeldy New Village 20-year regeneration scheme in Tower Hamlets.
• Poplar HARCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing association partner for Aberfeldy New Village regeneration scheme.
• Khizr StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduced short film celebrating 10 years of Levitt Bernstein Manchester studio.
• Hawkins\BrowncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Essex Embodied Carbon Study and Delivering Net Zero for 18 London boroughs.
• IntrobacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Essex Embodied Carbon evidence base.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Allies and Morrison: Allies and Morrison is a large UK architecture practice with a broad portfolio spanning housing, masterplanning, education, and cultural buildings. It is a broader incumbent that competes with Levitt Bernstein on masterplanning commissions and urban regeneration but at a wider scale across more sectors.

Direct peers

• Pollard Thomas Edwards: Pollard Thomas Edwards is a UK housing and regeneration architecture practice with deep overlap in affordable housing, estate regeneration, and sustainable design. It is a long-standing research collaborator with Levitt Bernstein on the HAPPI Report, Housing Design Handbook, and Towards Net Zero.
• Mikhail Riches: Mikhail Riches is an award-winning London architecture practice focused on sustainable housing, Passivhaus design, and council estate regeneration. It directly competes with Levitt Bernstein on affordable housing competitions and RIBA sustainability-led awards.
• HTA Design LLP: HTA Design is a UK architecture practice with a comparable focus on housing, retrofit, and sustainable design. It is a direct peer to Levitt Bernstein on affordable housing and Passivhaus commissions, and they have co-authored research on net zero housing decarbonisation.
• PRP Architects: PRP Architects is one of the UK's largest housing-focused architecture practices, serving housing associations and local authorities on affordable and sustainable housing. It is a direct competitor on the same client base and a research partner on the Towards Net Zero programme.
• Haworth Tompkins: Haworth Tompkins is a London-based architecture practice with comparable housing, education, and arts sector portfolios. It directly competes with Levitt Bernstein on cultural building commissions such as Bristol Beacon's peer category and on residential-led regeneration projects.
• Mae Architects: Mae Architects is a London-based practice specialising in social housing, Passivhaus, and sustainable design. It is a direct peer competing for the same housing association and local authority clients on affordable and energy-efficient housing projects.
• Morris+Company: Morris+Company is a London architecture practice with deep specialisation in housing, sustainability, and urban regeneration. It is a direct peer on estate regeneration and affordable housing and is partnered with Levitt Bernstein on the Aberfeldy New Village masterplan.
• dRMM Architects: dRMM is a London architecture practice known for housing, masterplanning, and cross-laminated timber construction with a sustainability-led approach. It competes with Levitt Bernstein on masterplanning and sustainable housing competitions in the UK public sector.
• Karakusevic Carson Architects: Karakusevic Carson is a London-based architecture practice specialising in public sector housing, estate regeneration, and Passivhaus design. It is a direct competitor for the same housing association and council clients on affordable and council estate regeneration schemes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LevittBernstein

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Levitt Bernstein