HWO Architects

What HWO Architects does

HWO Architects is a London-headquartered architectural practice founded in 2002 by Nicolas Khalili and Rejane Salgado, specializing in residential, mixed-use, commercial, and hospitality design across the UK and France. The firm delivers the full development cycle — site sourcing, capacity studies, planning applications, technical design, and construction oversight (RIBA Stages 1-5) — for clients including private developers (Woolbro Group, Aitch Group, Boulevard Construction, Westbrook Whitfield), local councils (London Borough of Brent), hotel groups (Four Seasons, W Hotels, ESPA), and modular builders (CABU). HWO differentiates through deep London planning-consent expertise, BIM-enabled delivery using Revit under BS1192/PAS1192-2/AEC UK standards, and an ISO 9001-certified quality system. Core products span residential architecture (new build, refurbishment, co-living, social housing), commercial workspace, hotel and spa design, and ancillary outputs including capacity studies and the "Graphite" annual design journal. Technology is anchored in Revit BIM with a BIM coordinator assigned to every project; the firm does not operate proprietary software or AI-driven design tooling.

The firm operates two legal entities — HWO Architects in London (G06 Brickfields, 37 Cremer Street, Hoxton) and HWO Architects France SAS in Ventabren, near Aix-en-Provence — and generates revenue entirely through professional fees on a project-by-project basis. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales via developer networks, public-sector frameworks (notably the Knight Frank/Network Rail nationwide framework for 30 sites and Bloom accreditation for UK public-sector procurement), industry speaking engagements, and thought-leadership publications. Customer concentration is moderate, with repeat developer and council relationships creating recurring work alongside diversified exposure across private, public, and hospitality segments. The practice is privately held by its founders, has no external investment, and operates with a sub-50 headcount across both offices.

Name

HWO Architects

Legal name

HWO Architects

Website

https://hwo-architects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HWO Architects is a London-founded, founder-owned architectural practice delivering residential, mixed-use, commercial, and hospitality design across the UK and France, serving property developers, local councils, hotel groups, and modular builders via BIM-enabled project delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (541410), Interior Design Services (54141)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Planning & Workplace Design (BPAHAKAI)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Residential architecture
• Mixed-use developments
• Hotel spa design
• BIM coordination services

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural and Design Services: HWO generates revenue through professional fees for architectural design services, including residential, mixed-use, commercial, and hospitality projects. Services encompass full development cycle management from site sourcing through planning applications to construction drawings and project completion.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HWO Architects is an architectural design practice offering full-service design for residential, commercial, mixed-use, and hospitality projects, including hotels and spas. The practice applies BIM-led workflows and provides design services from feasibility and planning through to construction-stage design coordination, with additional expertise in Modern Methods of Construction.

Product overview

HWO Architects is an award-winning architectural practice offering a unified portfolio of design services. The core offering spans residential architecture (homes, housing schemes, co-living developments), commercial architecture (offices, retail, workspace), and hospitality design (hotels and spas). Services are delivered using BIM technology (Revit) and encompass the full development cycle from site sourcing and capacity studies through planning applications, design, and construction oversight. The practice also produces Graphite, an annual design journal, as a thought leadership publication. The firm operates across the UK and France with offices in London (Hoxton) and Ventabren.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Architecture Design Architectural design services for residential projects, serving property developers and investors across the UK and France.
• Commercial Architecture Design Architectural design services for commercial buildings and workplaces, delivered to B2B clients.
• Mixed-Use Development Design Architectural design services for mixed-use schemes combining residential, commercial, and retail components.
• Hotel and Spa Design Specialist architectural design services for hotel and spa operators, covering concept through construction-level design.
• Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Consultation Design and consultation services supporting Modern Methods of Construction approaches for developer and public-sector clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100 homes approved unanimously by Brent Council
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• Knight FrankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2020HWO architects and Knight Frank collaboration on national rail operator framework involving 30 sites across the Southeast. HWO provides residential study component while Knight Frank leads consortium of specialist consultants. Also working together on capacity studies for various sites.
• CABUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with CABU modular buildings. HWO developed four new house types for CABU, worked on CABU Cotswolds (55 holiday timber cabins, 8 barns), Cornwall barnhouses, and vineyard project. Ongoing collaboration on timber-framed housing solutions.
• ESPA InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHWO works with ESPA and interior designers Richmond International on spa designs. Projects include Four Seasons Hampshire spa (best UK Hotel spa 2005) and Hale Club Spa Manchester.
• The Hut Group / Spa TribemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with The Hut Group and Spa Tribe for spa design projects including AWAY SPA global brand by W Hotels and Hale Club Spa Manchester.
• BUJ ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Open House 2018 event 'Fish Island North: Past, Present & Future' organized by BUJ architects.
• Haworth Tompkins, Hawkins Brown, Karakusevic Carson, Buckley Gray Yeoman, Stock Woolstencroft, Studio Egret West, DRMMmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint submission for Planning Awards for Heritage in Placemaking and Placemaking at High Densities for Hackney Wick work. Submission coordinated by Haworth Tompkins.
• BloomminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAccredited supplier to Bloom delivering the Nepro neutral vendor solution. Bloom specializes in bringing together a community of buyers and suppliers to help the public sector buy professional services better.
• NTA Planning LLPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPlanning consultant on Finsbury Park Warehouse District extension project.
• Nathaniel Litchfield PartnershipminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPlanning consultant partnership on Brewer Street project in Maidstone.
• FORM structure and Clarke Banks FEminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineering partners for 22 new homes in Nine Elms project.
• FORM structure and Clarke Banks FEminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural and civil engineering partners for Nine Elms development.
• Richmond InternationalmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInterior designers collaborating with HWO and ESPA on Four Seasons Hampshire spa project.
• AND (Andrew Sissons Consulting)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorking with AND on major employment study for London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
• GIA (surveyors)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRight of Light surveyors working with HWO on Westbourne Grove backland development.
• Gurney CEminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineers collaborating with HWO on Westbourne Grove development.
• RambollminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineering partnership on Home Park Road underground swimming pool project.
• ZigloominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-living specialist operator for Smart Living rooftop extension project.
• PRIMA GROUPEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partnership (PRIMA GROUPE - HWO architects France) awarded water station renovation contract by La Régie des Eaux du Pays d'Aix. HWO's first public procurement contract in France.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Buckley Gray Yeoman: London architecture studio with significant residential, commercial and mixed-use work, including major Hackney Wick and East London projects. Direct peer in scale, geography and client type.
• Proctor & Matthews: UK architecture practice with strong residential and mixed-use focus, including density-led housing and masterplanning. Comparable in residential specialism and BIM-led delivery.
• Studio Egret West: London-based architecture practice with comparable residential, mixed-use and density-led placemaking work. Joint participant in Hackney Wick Planning Awards alongside HWO.
• Haworth Tompkins: London-based architecture practice with comparable focus on residential, mixed-use, and cultural projects. Co-partner with HWO on Hackney Wick Planning Awards submission and an active collaborator in the same residential/mixed-use segment.
• DRMM (de Rijke Marsh Morgan): London architecture practice with residential, mixed-use and public-realm work — including award-winning Hackney Wick schemes. Comparable in scale and project typology to HWO.
• Pollard Thomas Edwards: London-based practice with a heavy residential and housing-association focus, including estate regeneration and council-led schemes. Highly comparable to HWO's developer and local-council client base.
• Karakusevic Carson Architects: London practice specialising in residential, social housing and estate regeneration — directly comparable to HWO's developer and council-led housing work. Joint partner on Hackney Wick Planning Awards and similar housing-density focus.
• Allies and Morrison: Award-winning London architecture practice with strong residential, mixed-use and masterplanning portfolio. Comparable in client mix (developers, housing associations, councils) and in BIM-enabled delivery, though larger in scale.

Broad incumbents

• AHMM (Allford Hall Monaghan Morris): Large UK architecture practice with broader portfolio across residential, commercial, education and hospitality. Overlaps with HWO on residential mixed-use but operates at meaningfully larger scale and with wider sector mix.
• Hawkins Brown: Major UK architecture and masterplanning firm with residential, education, public sector and commercial work. Direct overlap with HWO on residential and council-led schemes, but with a larger nationwide team and broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hwoarchitects
• YouTubeyoutube.com/HWOarchitects
• Facebookfacebook.com/hwoarchitects
• Instagraminstagram.com/hwofrance

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 HWO Architects