What AIM Architecture does

AIM Architecture (Authentic Immersive Matters) is an international architecture and interior design firm founded in 2005 by Wendy Saunders and Vincent de Graaf, headquartered in Shanghai with European (12 Antwerp, established 2024) and US (Chicago) studios. The firm provides comprehensive design services spanning architecture, interior design, facade design, landscape design, master planning, and FF&E specification across hospitality, retail, cultural, office, and residential project typologies. Its signature methodology is community-centric design that activates urban spaces and integrates cultural regeneration of heritage buildings with contemporary commercial and experiential requirements. AIM's underlying technology is human creative expertise supported by an international collective of designers, rather than a proprietary platform or software product; the firm's competitive differentiation rests on design philosophy, cross-cultural perspective, and a portfolio of landmark projects.

The firm's business model is project-based professional services: clients engage AIM directly for specific flagship-scale commissions, with revenue generated through design fees typically structured as a percentage of construction value or fixed project fees. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales through direct relationships, industry reputation, and referral networks rather than inbound marketing or standardized product offerings. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by project scope and complexity. The firm serves enterprise clients across multiple verticals including global retail brands (HARMAY, ZARA, Lululemon, JMGO, Short Sentence), hospitality operators (Hyatt Unbound Collection), cultural institutions (Fotografiska), property developers (SOHO China, Shui On Land, Kailong Group), and corporate clients (China Resources Group). AIM is privately held with no external institutional funding and has scaled to 25+ team members globally, deepening its senior leadership bench in December 2025 with new partners across all three studios.

Name

AIM Architecture

Legal name

AIM ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN CO., LTD 恺慕建筑设计咨询(上海)有限公司

Website

https://aim-architecture.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AIM Architecture is an international architecture and interior design firm founded in 2005, operating tri-continental studios in Shanghai, Antwerp, and Chicago. The firm delivers community-centric architecture, interior, facade, and master planning services to enterprise clients across hospitality, retail, cultural, and developer sectors globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Office Furniture (2520)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC), Hospitality & Entertainment Venue Construction (IMAFACAC)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Interior design services
• Urban regeneration design
• Hospitality design services
• Retail flagship design

Headquarters

HQ city

Xuhui

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

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 Interior Design Services: Project-based fees for comprehensive design services including architectural design, interior design, facade design, landscape design, and FF&E specification. Revenue is generated through direct client engagements for specific projects, with typical project values ranging from small retail spaces to large-scale hospitality developments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AIM Architecture provides comprehensive architecture and interior design services for hospitality, retail, cultural, office, and residential projects worldwide. The firm's core offering spans architectural design, interior design, master planning, facade design, landscape design, FF&E (furniture, fixtures & equipment) specification, and renovation/adaptive reuse services, delivered through studios in Shanghai, Antwerp, and Chicago. Their work emphasizes community-centric design that activates urban spaces, regenerates heritage buildings, and creates immersive brand experiences for global clients including ZARA, Hyatt, HARMAY, Lululemon, and SOHO China.

Product overview

AIM Architecture (Authentic Immersive Matters) is an international architecture and interior design firm offering a comprehensive suite of design services. The firm operates across multiple project typologies including hospitality (hotels, resorts, wellness centers), retail (flagship stores, multi-brand shops), cultural spaces (museums, galleries, exhibition venues), office and co-working environments, and residential projects. The core offering consists of architectural design and interior design services, supplemented by specialized modules including master planning, facade design, landscape design, furniture/fixtures/equipment (FF&E) design, and renovation services. The firm has completed over 50 projects across Asia, Europe, and North America, with a notable portfolio of HARMAY retail stores, hotel projects like Taoxichuan Hotel by Hyatt, cultural projects such as Fotografiska Shanghai, and flagship stores for ZARA, Lululemon, and JMGO.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 12 Antwerp: European studio and cultural platform for design, art, events, and community engagement in Antwerp, Belgium

Quantifiable outcome

• 14 flagship store projects completed for HARMAY across 9 cities in China
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Norm Architectsproject_specificStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Collaboration on K House project in Sri Lanka. AIM Architecture led the project with Norm Architects providing architectural expertise as lead architect for this exclusive villa resort in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. The project featured natural materials including local teak wood, polished terrazzo, and recycled terracotta tiles.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Foster + Partners: International architecture firm with broad sector coverage including cultural and hospitality work, comparable in scope and brand recognition though vastly larger than AIM.
• Gensler: Global architecture and design giant serving retail, hospitality, and commercial clients, providing a scaled incumbent comparison point for AIM's enterprise client engagements.

Direct peers

• Yabu Pushelberg: Toronto-based interior design studio known for luxury retail flagships and hospitality interiors, directly comparable to AIM's work for ZARA, Lululemon, and Hyatt flagship projects.
• Snøhetta: International architecture and design practice with strong cultural and public-realm portfolio, comparable to AIM's emphasis on community-centric and culturally-rooted design.
• HBA (Hirsch Bedner Associates): Specialist hospitality interior design firm with global delivery, directly comparable to AIM's hotel work including the Taoxichuan Hotel by Hyatt.
• CCD (Cheng Chung Design): Shenzhen-based hospitality interior design firm with strong China presence and global hotel operator clients, directly comparable to AIM's hospitality vertical including Hyatt.
• Heatherwick Studio: London-based design studio with strong brand recognition in experiential architecture and adaptive reuse, analogous to AIM's community-centric design approach and cultural regeneration projects such as Fotografiska Shanghai.
• Rockwell Group: New York firm focused on hospitality, retail, and cultural interiors, with a comparable client mix of hotel operators and global brands and a strong award record similar to AIM's.
• Neri&Hu Design and Research Office: Shanghai-based architecture and interior design firm with a comparable boutique studio profile, international recognition, and a similar mix of hospitality, retail, and adaptive reuse projects across China and abroad.
• GOA (Group of Architects): Chinese architecture and design firm with comparable mix of large-scale hospitality, cultural, and mixed-use projects across China, a direct regional competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AIMshanghai
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aimarchitecture
• Instagraminstagram.com/aimarchitecture
• Xx.com/AiMarchitecture

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 AIM Architecture