Mikhail Riches
Mikhail Riches is a London-based sustainable architecture practice serving UK public sector bodies, private developers, and university colleges. The 17-person firm delivers Passivhaus-certified housing, retrofit, and masterplanning projects, and is a two-time RIBA Stirling Prize winner (2019, 2024).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Mikhail Riches does
Mikhail Riches is a London-based architectural practice operating as a private limited company (Mikhail Riches Ltd), founded circa 1999, with firmographic records indicating activity since 1992. The firm specializes in sustainable architecture, with environmental design and social inclusivity positioned as core competencies across Housing, Education, Mixed-Use, Masterplanning, Leisure, and Retrofit sectors. The 17-person team is led by founding directors Annalie Riches and David Mikhail and includes Associate Directors, Project Architects, Architects, Part I and Part II Architectural Assistants, and a Studio Coordinator. The practice is B Corp certified and operates from London offices at 10/11 D'Arblay Street (headquarters) and 17a Newman Street (contact), with a legal entity address at 15-29 Windsor Street.
The firm's technical approach centers on passive solar design principles, Passivhaus certification methodology, and bespoke thermal modeling for retrofits of listed buildings. Notable technical capabilities include achieving full Passivhaus certification with minimal design changes through optimal building form factor and southerly orientation, and developing custom thermal models with energy consultancy Greengauge to identify insulation placement in heritage structures while retaining existing fabric. The firm has delivered measurable outcomes, including the Goldsmith Street project at £1,825/m² GIA while achieving Passivhaus certification, Park Hill Phase 2 at 124 dwellings/ha density on a Grade II* listed brutalist estate, and Church Walk at 160 dwellings/ha on a constrained brownfield site.
Mikhail Riches generates revenue through project-based architectural design fees, with go-to-market occurring primarily through membership in six UK public sector procurement frameworks (Architecture + Urbanism, Bloom, London Construction Programme, LHC Procurement Group, National Framework Partnership, Scape) enabling direct appointment by government clients without competitive tender. Private developer clients are acquired through direct relationships and competitive bidding. The client base spans UK local authorities (City of York, Norwich, Sheffield, London Borough of Hackney, Greater London Authority, London Legacy Development Corporation), private developers (Urban Splash, Stanhope, Ballymore, Barratt Redrow, Places for People, Muse, Capital & Centric, Pocket Living, Stonewood Homes), and higher-education institutions (Magdalen, Mansfield, and New Colleges at Oxford; Queens' College, Cambridge). The practice is a two-time RIBA Stirling Prize winner (2019 Goldsmith Street, 2024 Park Hill Phase 2), placing it among the most recognized UK architecture firms for sustainability-led design.
Mikhail Riches firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mikhail Riches
- Legal name
- Mikhail Riches Ltd
- Website
- https://mikhailriches.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Mikhail Riches is a London-based sustainable architecture practice serving UK public sector bodies, private developers, and university colleges. The 17-person firm delivers Passivhaus-certified housing, retrofit, and masterplanning projects, and is a two-time RIBA Stirling Prize winner (2019, 2024).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Mikhail Riches is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Mikhail Riches business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architectural Services: Project-based professional services for architectural design, masterplanning, and retrofit projects. Revenue generated through design fees on completed projects for public sector, housing associations, private developers, and educational institutions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based architectural services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Mikhail Riches product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mikhail Riches is a UK-based architectural practice that designs sustainable, energy-efficient buildings across housing, education, mixed-use, masterplanning, leisure, and retrofit sectors. The firm delivers architectural design, masterplanning, and refurbishment services, specialising in Passivhaus-certified and net-zero carbon projects for public sector bodies, housing associations, private developers, and educational institutions. Services are project-based, contracted directly or via public procurement frameworks.
Product overview
Mikhail Riches is a UK leading architectural practice specializing in sustainable architecture with 26 years of experience. The firm offers comprehensive architectural services across multiple sectors including Housing, Education, Mixed-Use, Masterplanning, Leisure & Retrofit. Their portfolio includes notable award-winning projects such as Goldsmith Street (RIBA Stirling Prize 2019), Park Hill Phase 2 (RIBA Stirling Prize 2024), Church Walk, Brentford Lock West, and VeloCity. The practice is known for Passivhaus-certified buildings, sustainable design with sustainability as core DNA, and socially inclusive design approaches. Services are delivered through direct appointments via public frameworks and private developer partnerships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sustainable Architecture Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Goldsmith Street delivered at £1825/m2 GIA while achieving full Passivhaus certification
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Mikhail Riches
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Mikhail Riches technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
Mikhail Riches partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Architecture + Urbanism FrameworkcoreFramework membership (Lot 2 Sustainable Cities, Lot 8 Housing & Mixed Use) enabling direct public sector appointments without competitive procurement
- Bloom FrameworkcoreFramework membership for public sector procurement of architectural services
- London Construction ProgrammecoreDynamic Purchasing System for professional services enabling London public sector clients to directly appoint
- LHC Procurement GroupcoreArchitect Design Services (ADS1.1) framework for public sector procurement
- National Framework PartnershipcoreArchitectural Services Framework enabling public sector appointments
- Scape Framework (Perfect Circle JV)coreConsultancy framework for public sector procurement of architectural services
- Greengauge Building Energy ConsultantscoreCreated thermal model for Park Hill Phase 2 retrofit to identify optimal insulation placement in Grade II* listed building
- Tibbalds Planning & Urban DesigncoreMultidisciplinary team member for VeloCity Oxford-Cambridge corridor competition winning proposal
- Featherstone YoungcoreMultidisciplinary team member for VeloCity proposal
- Expedition EngineeringcoreEngineering partner in VeloCity multidisciplinary team
- Marko & PlacemakerscorePart of VeloCity team for Oxford-Cambridge corridor proposal
- Cathy HawleyminorCollaborating architect on Brentford Lock West project
- B Corp CertifiedcoreB Corp certification demonstrates commitment to positive impact on people and planet, with inaugural Impact Report submitted 2024-25
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Mikhail Riches competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Haworth Tompkins: London-based architectural practice of comparable size focused on sustainable design for housing, education, and cultural projects with multiple RIBA awards. Highly comparable in scale, sustainability focus, and client mix (housing associations, universities, theatres).
- dMFK Architects: London-based practice with comparable focus on high-quality housing, education, and adaptive reuse projects for public and private clients. Similar size and project typology, including university and council commissions.
- Duggan Morris Architects: London-based practice that collaborated with Mikhail Riches on Brentford Lock West and shares focus on high-quality housing and education projects. Comparable size, design reputation, and client mix across public and private sectors.
- Pollard Thomas Edwards (PTE): UK architecture practice with deep housing association and local authority portfolio, working on regeneration and Passivhaus/social rent schemes. Closely comparable client roster and project typology, including affordable and sustainable housing.
- Feilden Fowles: RIBA Stirling Prize-winning (2021) UK practice of similar size with comparable focus on contextual, sustainable design across housing, education, and cultural projects. Comparable scale, design pedigree, and award-winning portfolio.
- Maccreanor Lavington: London-based practice specialising in social housing, education, and public realm projects for councils and housing associations. Directly comparable on client base (boroughs, housing associations, universities) and project typology.
- Karakusevic Carsen Architects: UK social housing and masterplanning specialist that directly collaborated with Mikhail Riches on Brentford Lock West. Comparable in specialisation on high-density social housing for London boroughs and housing associations.
Broad incumbents
- John McAslan + Partners: UK practice with strong heritage retrofit and education portfolio (including university housing). Comparable on listed-building retrofit and campus projects but operating at larger scale with broader international reach.
- Foster + Partners: Global architecture incumbent with growing focus on sustainable design across housing, education, and masterplanning. Much larger scale; relevant as an incumbent reference for sustainability-led design fees.
- Allies and Morrison: Established UK architecture firm with Stirling Prize history and broad portfolio across housing, masterplanning, education, and retrofit. Larger than Mikhail Riches but overlapping on social housing and university commissions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Mikhail Riches social profiles
Digital presenceMikhail Riches compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Mikhail Riches financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mikhail Riches leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Mikhail Riches funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mikhail Riches 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 Mikhail Riches
What does Mikhail Riches do?
Mikhail Riches is a UK-based architectural practice that designs sustainable, energy-efficient buildings across housing, education, mixed-use, masterplanning, leisure, and retrofit sectors. The firm delivers architectural design, masterplanning, and refurbishment services, specialising in Passivhaus-certified and net-zero carbon projects for public sector bodies, housing associations, private developers, and educational institutions. Services are project-based, contracted directly or via public procurement frameworks.
Is Mikhail Riches a public or private company?
Mikhail Riches is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Mikhail Riches founded?
Mikhail Riches was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Mikhail Riches based?
Mikhail Riches is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Mikhail Riches make money?
One revenue line is on record: architectural Services.
Who are Mikhail Riches's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Haworth Tompkins, dMFK Architects, Duggan Morris Architects, Pollard Thomas Edwards (PTE), Feilden Fowles, Maccreanor Lavington and Karakusevic Carsen Architects. Broad incumbents are John McAslan + Partners, Foster + Partners and Allies and Morrison.
Does Mikhail Riches have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mikhail Riches.