What Asif Khan Ltd. does

The studio's technical differentiators sit in proprietary kinetic and sensory engineering: an 11,000-actuator kinetic facade system deployed at the UK Pavilion, multi-camera 3D facial scanning pipelines (MegaFaces), Vantablack and ETFE sound-cushion integrations, polarising optics for scenography, and computer-generated panoramic animations. These are one-off, bespoke engineering solutions built per project rather than a reusable platform product. Business model revenue derives from architectural and design service fees on large cultural and commercial commissions, supplemented by product and furniture sales (e.g., West Beach Cafe, Kite Store), competition prize fees, and exhibition commissions. Go-to-market relies on competitive tenders for public commissions and direct engagement with luxury and cultural-sector clients, with new business substantially driven by the founder's profile and prior delivery track record.

Name

Asif Khan Ltd.

Legal name

Asif Khan Ltd.

Website

https://asif-khan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Asif Khan Ltd. is a London-based architecture and design studio founded in 2007, delivering buildings, installations, and scenography for cultural institutions, governments, Olympic/Expo organisers, and luxury brands worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture & Design Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Public Bldg & Related Furniture (2531)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wayfinding, Signage & Environmental Graphic Design (BPAHAKAN)

Keywords

• Architecture design
• Exhibition design
• Installation design
• Furniture design
• Urban design

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

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 Design Fees: Primary revenue stream from commissions for architecture, exhibition design, landscape design, and spatial installations. Projects range from private retail (Kite Store), cafes (West Beach Cafe, Elliot's Cafe), cultural institutions (Museum of London, Guggenheim Helsinki), public pavilions (UK Pavilion, MegaFaces, Hyundai Pavilion), and large-scale urban design. Revenue is generated through design fees, project management, and on-site supervision on a per-project basis.
2. Product and Furniture Design: Revenue from designed objects and furniture pieces sold through galleries, design museums, and directly to clients. Products include the BB Chair, Foam Shell Chair, Isomer Table, WBC table, ExA table, Swivel mirror, Tip table centrepiece, Tetra Light, Heart Textile, and Confetti Paper. Items are featured in major design collections (IDEE Japan collection) and at events like Salone del Mobile Milan.
3. Competition Prize Money and Awards: Revenue from winning or being shortlisted in international design competitions. Notable prize awards include Cannes Lions Grand Prix for Innovation (2014), FX Design Award, and various competition shortlist/winner prizes across international events.
4. Exhibition and Cultural Commissions: Commissions for temporary exhibitions and cultural installations at major institutions including Serpentine Gallery, V&A Dundee, MAAT Lisbon, Vitra Design Museum, Royal Academy of Arts, Design Museum London, and Sharjah Architecture Triennale.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Asif Khan Ltd. is a London-based architecture and design studio founded in 2007 that delivers architectural and design work across buildings, landscapes, installations, and objects. The firm employs 55 people and serves cultural institutions, governments, luxury brands, and private clients in the UK and internationally.

Product overview

Asif Khan Ltd. is an architecture and design studio offering a portfolio of services including architectural design, exhibition design, public installations, and furniture/product design. The studio works across buildings, landscapes, installations, and objects, with projects ranging from major museum competitions (Guggenheim Helsinki, London Museum) to Olympic pavilions (UK Pavilion at Expo 2017, MegaFaces at Sochi 2014, Coca-Cola Beatbox at London 2012) and bespoke furniture pieces. The studio's approach focuses on profound sensory experience, cultural exchange, and the merging of history with the future.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Building architecture design

Quantifiable outcome

• Shortlisted from over 1700 international entries for Guggenheim Helsinki competition
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Damn Magazine and Mosca PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Damn Magazine and Mosca Partners commissioned Tempietto nel Bosco installation for Milan Design Week at Palazzo Litta. Engineering by AKTII, fabrication by Imola Legno, furniture by Living Divani, stone by Van den Weghe, and lighting by Artemide.
• Stanton WilliamscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Stanton Williams and Asif Khan were jointly announced as winners of the international competition for the new Museum of London at West Smithfield. They are working together with conservation architect Julian Harrap and landscape consultants J&L Gibbons. The partnership combines Stanton Williams' institutional museum expertise with Asif Khan's innovative sensory design approach.
• Conor Sheehan and Jackson Berg (Xiringuito)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Conor Sheehan and Jackson Berg commissioned the Xiringuito moveable restaurant design — first in Margate (Summer 2016), then in Liverpool (Winter 2016-17).
• AOA (Architecture)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015AOA (Architecture) is listed as part of the core team for the Guggenheim Helsinki proposal, working alongside Kenya Hara, AKT II, Atelier Ten, Front Inc., Turner & Townsend, and specialist consultants.
• Kenya HaracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Kenya Hara, renowned Japanese graphic designer and Muji creative director, is part of the Guggenheim Helsinki design team.
• AKT IIcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2015Structural engineering firm AKT II appears consistently across major projects including Guggenheim Helsinki, Milan Expo 2015 UK Pavilion, Chisenhale Primary School, Alvar Aalto Museum Extension, and Expo 2020 projects.
• Atelier TencoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2015Environmental design consultancy Atelier Ten is part of the team for Guggenheim Helsinki and Milan Expo 2015 UK Pavilion proposals, providing lighting and environmental engineering expertise.
• Ralph Appelbaum AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Ralph Appelbaum Associates, a leading museum planning and exhibition design firm, was part of the team for the Milan Expo 2015 UK Pavilion proposal.
• Brett Redman and Rob GreenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Ongoing design collaboration with Chef Brett Redman and Borough Market Tea Merchant Rob Green on Pavilion Cafe in Victoria Park, East London. Graphic elements by RINZEN.
• The Skinny Bib (Poonperm Paitayaway)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Food blogger The Skinny Bib (Poonperm Paitayaway) curated the revolving food offer for the Milan Expo 2015 UK Pavilion proposal, exploring Expo themes through innovative UK food producers.
• MegaFoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Russian telecoms network MegaFon commissioned the MegaFaces pavilion for the Sochi Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games 2014. Asif Khan designed the kinetic 11,000-actuator facade for the pavilion.
• American Hardwood Export CouncilminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2014Generous donation of expertise and materials from American Hardwood Export Council for the Chisenhale Primary School elevated playground project.
• AECOM, Alison Brooks Architects, Carmody Groarke, Charcoalblue, Haworth Tompkins, Vogt Landscape ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Asif Khan was part of one of six shortlisted teams in the Olympicopolis design competition alongside AECOM, Stanton Williams, Alison Brooks Architects, AKT II, Carmody Groarke, Charcoalblue, Haworth Tompkins, and Vogt Landscape Architects.
• Federation Square MelbourneminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Federation Square commissioned Radiant Lines as the centrepiece of the Light in Winter Festival 2014. Forty rings of raw aluminum created a visually dynamic moire pattern installation.
• VDNKh Park / Russian Space AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014As part of an international team, Asif Khan was invited to propose a design for the new Kosmos Space Museum at VDNKh Park in Moscow, Russia. The proposal featured elevated two-storey volumes bridging the listed 1930s Kosmos pavilion.
• Coca-ColacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Coca-Cola commissioned the Beatbox Pavilion for the London 2012 Summer Olympics as their temporary showcasing venue. The project was inspired by Coca-Cola's global 'Move to the Beat' campaign and featured embedded sound technology in ETFE cushions.
• SwarovskicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Swarovski commissioned Parhelia — an immersive installation exploring crystal, light, nature and architecture — for Swarovski Crystal Palace in Miami Beach. The installation incorporated over 1 million Swarovski crystals.
• National Museum of SingaporeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012National Museum of Singapore commissioned the Future Memory Pavilion — a permeable structure on the museum lawn exploring sand and ice, constructed from a steel M frame and 3.5km of black marine rope.
• Design Museum LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Asif Khan served as Designer in Residence at Design Museum London in 2010 and served on the Designer in Residence Jury in 2011. Currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of the Design Museum in London.
• Jane Wood and Sophie MurraycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Jane Wood and Sophie Murray commissioned West Beach Cafe in Littlehampton on Asif Khan's graduation from the Architectural Association. They had previously commissioned Thomas Heatherwick's award-winning East Beach Cafe.
• Osman YousefzadaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Fashion designer Osman Yousefzada commissioned the Swivel mirror polished stainless steel mobile as a site-specific piece to complement his autumn/winter 2009 collection 'Cosmic Mughal'.
• West Beach CafeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Lacquered birch plywood top and powder-coated tubular steel legs. 180cm x 60cm x 2.5cm. WBC table developed for the West Beach Cafe interior.
• John McAslan PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Asif Khan was invited by John McAslan Partnership to assist in research and design of 10 prototype primary schools in Malawi's Neno district, alongside Julia King and ARUP, for the Clinton Hunter Development Initiative.
• Julia King and Architectural AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Prototype building and study of bamboo housing typology on the Thai-Burma border undertaken with Julia King at the Architectural Association with assistance from the TBBC (Thai-Burma Border Consortium).

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/asifkhan_now
• Instagraminstagram.com/asifkhan.now
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asif-khan-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Asif Khan Ltd.