What Assemble does

Assemble is a London-based multi-disciplinary design collective founded in 2010, working across architecture, industrial design, ceramics, and community-engaged craft. The practice operates as a member-owned collective rather than a conventional firm, employing a hands-on, self-build methodology that combines industrial materials with handmade processes. Core technical capabilities include experimental architectural ceramics production (Granby Workshop, established 2015 in Liverpool), using techniques such as encaustic tile-making, marbling, recycled clay formulations, and a 60-tonne hydraulic press to produce unique, non-replicable tiles and architectural elements held in the V&A and Crafts Council permanent collections. The collective also develops and manages a network of creative workspace facilities — Sugarhouse Studios (Bermondsey), Blackhorse Workshop, Fabric Floor (Brixton), and Material Institute (New Orleans) — providing affordable studio access to artists, designers, ceramicists, and fabricators.

The business operates three revenue streams: professional design fees from architectural commissions (buildings, renovations, public spaces, and exhibitions for cultural institutions, public sector bodies, and community organisations); ceramics and furniture product sales through Granby Workshop and discrete furniture lines (e.g., Triangle Chairs, Goldsmiths CCA Cafe Chair) shipped worldwide; and recurring workspace membership and rental income from the studio network. Customers span cultural and educational institutions (Goldsmiths, V&A, British Museum, British Council, Design Museum Ghent), public sector clients (Transport for London, Haringey Council, London Legacy Development Corporation, Lambeth Council), community land trusts (Granby Four Streets CLT), and international commissions across Europe, North America, and East Asia.

Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: Assemble wins work through architectural competitions, public commissions, direct client relationships, and visibility generated by exhibitions at V&A, RIBA, British Museum, Venice Biennale, and other major institutions, supplemented by awards recognition (Turner Prize nomination 2015, Premio Maxxi 2014). Pricing is project-specific and quote-based with no public pricing. The collective has completed over 100 projects since 2010 across at least 17 countries, with no external investment or parent company. Operations are characterised by long-tenure anchor partnerships (notably with Granby Four Streets CLT since 2011) and a self-build construction approach that delivers projects at costs significantly below conventional new-build benchmarks, such as £291/m² for Yardhouse.

Name

Assemble

Legal name

Assemble

Website

https://assemblestudio.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Assemble is a London-based multi-disciplinary design collective founded in 2010, delivering architectural commissions, experimental ceramics (Granby Workshop), and a network of creative workspace facilities for cultural institutions, public sector bodies, and community organisations worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Fees from architectural design commissions for buildings, renovations, public spaces, and exhibitions. Projects range from small interventions to major cultural institutions.
2. Ceramics Manufacturing: Granby Workshop manufactures and sells architectural ceramics (tiles, architectural features) worldwide. Products are held in permanent collections of V&A and Crafts Council.
3. Workspace Membership: Sugarhouse Studios and other workspace facilities generate rental income from studio tenants including artists, architects, ceramicists, designers, and makers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Assemble is a multi-disciplinary architecture and design collective delivering buildings, public spaces, interiors, exhibitions, furniture, and architectural ceramics through a community-engaged self-build methodology. The collective operates multiple workspace facilities (Sugarhouse Studios, Blackhorse Workshop, Fabric Floor, Material Institute) and manufactures architectural ceramics via Granby Workshop in Liverpool for global distribution.

Product overview

Assemble is a multi-disciplinary architecture and design collective offering architectural design services, workspace facilities, and manufactured products including architectural ceramics and furniture. Their portfolio includes physical projects spanning buildings, public spaces, interiors, community workshops (Sugarhouse Studios, Blackhorse Workshop, Fabric Floor, Material Institute), and product lines such as Granby Workshop's architectural ceramics. They operate through collaborative, hands-on approaches to create spaces and objects that support community engagement and creative practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Granby Workshop: Architectural ceramics workshop and manufacturer based in Liverpool, producing tiles and ceramic architectural elements. Founded 2015, products held in V&A and Crafts Council collections.
• Sugarhouse Studios

Products and services

• Architecture and Design Services Multi-disciplinary design and architecture services including buildings, public spaces, interiors, and urban interventions for cultural institutions, community organisations, and developers.
• Granby Workshop Architectural Ceramics Manufacturer of architectural ceramics including tiles, door handles, and decorative elements, produced using experimental manufacturing processes that introduce chance and randomness so each product is unique. Products are held in permanent collections of the V&A and Crafts Council, and are supplied to architects, designers, and developers worldwide.
• Sugarhouse Studios Studio and events space in Bermondsey, South London, providing workspace for over 20 studios occupied by artists, architects, ceramicists, designers, furniture makers, wood workers, metal workers, graphic designers, sound designers, record labels, music studios and a band practice room.
• Blackhorse Workshop Open-access community workshop in London specialising in wood and metal processes, offering affordable access to tools, space, and on-site technical expertise for makers and fabricators.
• Fabric Floor Fashion and textiles workspace in Brixton, London, developed and run by Assemble as part of their workspace network.
• Material Institute Free community and arts education space for design and manufacture of garments, textiles and fashion in New Orleans, established as part of an experimental arts school.
• Triangle Chairs Collection of 200 modular, three-legged chairs and stools built with powder-coated steel legs and plywood tops, designed for use in public spaces.
• Goldsmiths CCA Cafe Chair Zinc passivated steel chair designed for the cafe of Goldsmiths CCA, featuring a 1.5mm thin metal seat that is laser cut, folded, and riveted.
• Harrow Lowlands Furniture Public park and cafe furniture made from timber felled by Epping Forest Conservation Arborist Team, featuring distinctive spalting patterns.

Quantifiable outcome

• Yardhouse constructed at £291/m2 - fraction of conventional new build cost
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• Granby WorkshopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGranby Workshop is an architectural ceramics manufacturer established by Assemble in 2015 in Liverpool. Assemble leads ongoing creative direction while the workshop operates independently. Products developed for Granby Four Streets neighbourhood have expanded to worldwide commissions. Products held in V&A and Crafts Council collections.
• Granby Four Streets CLTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Land Trust leading neighbourhood revitalisation in Liverpool's Granby area. Long-term partnership since 2011 involving housing renovation, community facilities, and workspace development.
• Steinbeck StudiosmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Assemble and Granby Four Streets CLT on sustainable vision for Granby neighbourhood refurbishment.
• Structure WorkshopmajorTechnology or IntegrationEngineering collaborators on multiple projects including The Playing Field (450-seat theatre), Granby Winter Garden, and Baltic Street Adventure Playground.
• Create LondonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Folly For a Flyover and supported Baltic Street Adventure Playground. Arts organisation focused on public art in London.
• London Legacy Development CorporationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded Sugarhouse Studios Stratford and Yardhouse as pilot for creative workspace provision in Olympic Park area.
• FACTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm and arts organisation in Liverpool supporting Granby Four Streets project.
• British CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported Venice Biennale participation and international project work including The Voice of Children research project.
• Goldsmiths, University of LondonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Goldsmiths CCA public art gallery within Victorian bathhouse - major 1000m2 cultural facility.
• Rise&Win BrewerymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese microbrewery collaborated on facility expansion including tasting room design in Kamikatsu.
• MonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExperimental arts school in New Orleans including Material Institute fashion department founded and initiated by Mona.
• We Are Here VenicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Laguna Viva saltmarsh garden at Palazzo delle Zattere in Venice for V-A-C Foundation.
• V-A-C FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRussian foundation commissioned Venice projects including Laguna Viva garden and permanent tile installation at Palazzo delle Zattere.
• Art on the UndergroundmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTfL programme commissioned Clay Station project - over 1,000 handmade tiles for Seven Sisters station commercial unit.
• A/D/OmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign hub in New York hosted A Factory As It Might Be architectural installation with Granby Workshop.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Snøhetta: International architecture and design practice working on cultural buildings, public spaces, and landscape projects globally. Comparable to Assemble for its multi-disciplinary scope, cultural-institution clients, and emphasis on socially engaged design across multiple geographies.
• Studio Gang: Architecture and urban-design practice known for civic and cultural buildings with an emphasis on community and ecology. Comparable to Assemble for project-based cultural work and an interdisciplinary ethos spanning architecture, interiors, and installations.
• Muf Architecture/Art: UK-based architecture and art collective working on public realm, community engagement, and urban regeneration. Closely comparable to Assemble in collective structure, UK focus, community-led methodology, and cultural-sector client base.
• Architecture 00: UK collective practice working across architecture, research, and exhibition design. Comparable to Assemble for collective ownership model, small team size, and exhibition/cultural-institution focus.
• Heatherwick Studio: London-based design studio working across architecture, public realm, and product design with a strong cultural-institution client base (UK Parliament, Coal Drops Yard, Google). Comparable to Assemble as a multi-disciplinary design practice blending architecture, craft, and public-facing installations.
• Sam Jacob Studio: London-based practice operating across architecture, writing, and curatorial work. Comparable to Assemble for its multi-disciplinary scope spanning architecture, exhibitions, and product/object design, with strong cultural-sector positioning.
• People's Architecture Office: Community-focused architecture practice designing affordable, modular, and participatory housing. Comparable to Assemble's self-build, cost-disciplined community regeneration methodology.

Emerging players

• Atelier Bow-Wow: Tokyo-based architecture practice working at the intersection of architecture, research, and installation. Comparable to Assemble in multi-disciplinary, small-team practice model and engagement with cultural institutions across multiple countries.

Broad incumbents

• MVRDV: Larger, established international architecture practice with cultural, public, and residential work. Comparable to Assemble in its willingness to take on socially engaged and community-led briefs, but at greater scale and with broader commercial positioning.

Others

• Granby Workshop: Architectural ceramics manufacturer spun out of Assemble in 2015, producing distinctive handmade tiles held in V&A and Crafts Council collections. Listed as OTHERS because it is an Assemble subsidiary rather than a peer, but operationally adjacent and a useful comparator for the ceramics line.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/assembleofficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/assembleofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/assemble-studio-llp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries6 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 Assemble