MLA+

What MLA+ does

MLA+ is a privately held, full-service design and consultancy firm headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, with offices in Shenzhen (China), Tallinn (Estonia), and an upcoming office in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). The firm delivers integrated services spanning masterplanning, landscape architecture, architecture, consulting, strategy, design, implementation, and communication design, serving national, regional, and municipal governments, real estate developers, and international development organizations. The company traces its international practice to 2012 and reports a portfolio of more than 920 award-winning projects across 45+ cities and 260+ clients in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South America.

The core offering is end-to-end urban transformation, from policy and strategy advisory through detailed design and on-site implementation. Revenue is generated through professional service fees on custom engagements, primarily through direct enterprise and government relationships. Project work spans large masterplans (e.g., Huaqiangbei Regeneration Masterplan at 1.45 km², Beibei Xiema Science City), mixed-use and luxury developments (e.g., the Armani Tianxi Twin Towers at 110,000 m² in Chengdu), European neighborhood transformation (De Nieuwe Defensie in Utrecht with BPD), and sovereign-level climate frameworks (Green Corridor Planner Guidelines for the Almaty Agglomeration under the World Bank's RESILAND CA Program and PROGREEN). The firm is recognized by RIBA, IFLA, MIPIM, ArchDaily, A+ Awards, IADA, and UN-Habitat.

MLA+ operates a horizontal, integrated delivery model combining research, consultancy, and policy advice with design and planning expertise, with stated emphasis on climate-responsive, eco-centric design and community co-creation. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; contracts are negotiated per scope. The firm is privately owned by its partners with no disclosed external investors. In November 2025, the firm executed a leadership transition, appointing Frank Bakker and Mohamed Hassan as Directors while founding partners Gerard Maccreanor and Richard Lavington stepped into consultant and former-director roles, signaling formal succession for a multi-decade practice.

Name

MLA+

Legal name

MLA+

Website

https://mlaplus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MLA+ is a Rotterdam-headquartered, privately held design and consultancy firm delivering urban planning, landscape, and architecture services across masterplans, mixed-use developments, and climate-resilient projects for governments, developers, and international organizations across 45+ cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Planning and Built Environment Design Consultancy

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Engineering Services (54133), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)

Keywords

• Urban planning consultancy
• Masterplan design services
• Landscape architecture
• Urban regeneration design
• Built environment advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Design and Consultancy Services: Revenue generated from providing master planning, landscape design, architecture, and consulting services to government clients, developers, and private sector entities across residential, commercial, cultural, and public space projects
2. Strategic Planning and Policy Advisory: Services include development vision, urban design logic, strategic masterplan frameworks, feasibility studies, and policy advice for regional and municipal clients

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MLA+ is a full-service global design and built environment consultancy delivering integrated services across masterplanning, landscape architecture, architecture, strategy, design, implementation, consulting, and communication design. The firm supports government clients, real estate developers, and international organizations from early urban vision and policy advice through to detailed design and on-site implementation supervision.

Product overview

MLA+ is a full-service global design and consultancy studio offering integrated services across master planning, landscape architecture, architecture, consulting, strategy, design, implementation, and communication design. The firm operates as a unified consultancy where these services are interconnected—strategy services inform design and implementation, while communication design supports the overall project delivery. MLA+ supports clients from early vision through final delivery, combining research, consultancy, and policy advice with design and planning expertise. The company has delivered 700+ award-winning projects across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South America, with offices in Rotterdam (headquarters), Shenzhen, Tallinn, and Riyadh.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Masterplan Services Comprehensive master planning services that create visionary urban frameworks integrating landscape, mobility, public space, and urban life into coherent city-scale visions. Targeted at government agencies, developers, and international organizations.
• Landscape Services Landscape architecture and design services focused on public spaces, green corridors, river projects, and climate-adaptive urban environments. Targeted at public authorities, developers, and multilateral clients undertaking sustainable urban and ecological projects.
• Architecture Services Architectural design services spanning cultural buildings, residential towers, mixed-use developments, and community facilities. Targeted at real estate developers, cultural institutions, and public-sector clients.
• Consulting Services Strategic consultancy encompassing development vision, urban design logic, strategic masterplan frameworks, process facilitation, and policy advice. Targeted at government agencies, regional authorities, and international development organizations.
• Strategy Services Strategic planning services including development vision, urban design logic, and strategic masterplan frameworks guiding clients from early vision to implementation. Targeted at public authorities and developers.
• Design Services Design services covering overall masterplan design, key node urban design, implementable guidelines, detailed design, interior design, and construction drawings. Targeted at developers and public-sector clients requiring buildable, high-quality outcomes.
• Implementation Services Implementation support including process facilitation, masterplan implementation supervision, key area implementation, design supervision, contract management, and on-site supervision. Targeted at developers and public-sector clients requiring delivery oversight.
• Communication Design Services Communication design services including branding and visual identity, multimedia and content, environmental design, signage and wayfinding, exhibition and public installations, and communication campaigns. Targeted at developers, municipalities, and cultural institutions.

Named customers7 records

Segments3 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

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• BPD | Bouwfonds GebiedsontwikkelingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaboration on De Nieuwe Defensie project in Utrecht, a mixed-use neighborhood transformation. BPD was nominated for the Truus Schröder Prize for outstanding clientship alongside MLA+'s Rietveld Prize shortlisting.
• STUDIO OXScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Joint design collaboration on De Nieuwe Defensie project with STUDIO OXS leading the design alongside MLA+.
• ANA architectensupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Architecture collaboration partner on De Nieuwe Defensie urban transformation project.
• SVP Architectuur en StedenbouwsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Architecture and urban planning partner on De Nieuwe Defensie project.
• OKRA landscape architectssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Landscape architecture collaboration on De Nieuwe Defensie project.
• World Bank (RESILAND CA Program and PROGREEN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025MLA+ contributed to the Green Corridor Planner Guidelines for Almaty Agglomeration, developed under the World Bank's RESILAND CA Program and PROGREEN initiative. The partnership established comprehensive frameworks for building a climate-resilient green network across Kazakhstan.
• BINA EngineeringsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Engineering partner on Al Khobar Art Corridor Urban Plaza (FURDHA Walk) project.
• DKU expertssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Expert contributors to Green Corridor Planner Guidelines project for World Bank.
• PowerChina HuaDong Engineering Corporation LimitedsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Project partner on Sanjianghui Green Core Park Yiqiao Area, winner of IFLA Outstanding Award.
• China Academy of Urban Planning & Design (CAUPD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration partner on Shijiazhuang Taiping River Urban Area (Merit Award winner) and other China projects including Beibei Xiema Science City.
• Shanghai Xian Dai Architectural Design GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner on Wusong River-Wenzaobang Waterway project and surrounding areas.
• Hangzhou Landscape Architecture Design InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Landscape architecture partner on Wusong River project.
• Chengdu CAUPDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Joint team with Chengdu CAUPD for Beibei Xiema Science City design competition (1st Prize winner).
• Urban Regeneration P&R CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Collaboration partner on Huaqiangbei Regeneration Masterplan project.
• UPDISsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Planning and design collaboration on Huaqiangbei urban renewal project.
• MlabsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Collaboration partner on Ekaterinburg Spatial Strategy Development project.
• FELIXXsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Design consultancy partner on Ekaterinburg Spatial Strategy Development.
• Bensley Design StudiosupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Landscape architecture design partner on Armani Tianxi Twin Towers project.
• Armani/CasacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Interior design partnership for Armani Tianxi Twin Towers project in Chengdu. Armani/Casa responsible for interior design of luxury apartments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• OKRA landscape architects: Dutch landscape architecture firm working on European urban transformation and climate-adaptive public space, directly comparable to MLA+'s landscape and masterplanning work.
• Snøhetta: Norwegian-headquartered interdisciplinary design firm working across architecture, landscape, urban design, and masterplanning, directly comparable to MLA+'s integrated service stack.
• HASSELL: International design studio with architecture, landscape, and urban design practices across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East, comparable in scope and segment mix to MLA+.
• SWA Group: Landscape architecture and urban planning firm with strong public-sector and masterplanning credentials, directly comparable to MLA+'s landscape and urban transformation work.
• Sasaki: International design practice combining architecture, landscape, planning, and urban design under one integrated model, closely mirroring MLA+'s full-service positioning.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): International architecture and urban design practice with comparable scale and a masterplanning/mixed-use focus overlapping MLA+'s core services.
• MVRDV: Dutch-headquartered architecture and urban design studio with a similar international practice model, multidisciplinary urban focus, and comparable scale to MLA+.

Broad incumbents

• Arup: Global engineering and design consultancy with adjacent urban planning, infrastructure, and landscape capabilities; much larger and broader than MLA+.
• KPF (Kohn Pedersen Fox): Global architecture practice with a strong urban design and masterplanning offering and significantly deeper resources; broader portfolio than MLA+.
• OMA: Larger Dutch architecture and urbanism practice with a global office network and major masterplanning commissions; broader portfolio and bigger brand than MLA+.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MLAPLUS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mla-
• Instagraminstagram.com/mlaplus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 MLA+