Freehaus
Freehaus is a London-based RIBA Chartered architecture practice (7 staff, founded 2012) offering full-service design across cultural, community, heritage, hospitality, and residential sectors for public-sector bodies, cultural institutions, and private clients, distinguished by Passivhaus sustainability and heritage conservation credentials.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Freehaus does
Freehaus is a London-headquartered, RIBA Chartered architectural design practice founded in 2012 by directors Jonathan Hagos and Tom Bell, operating from 77 Leonard Street, EC2A, with a secondary office in Oxfordshire and a 7-person team. The firm offers full-service architectural design across residential, community, cultural institution, heritage and retrofit, workspace, hospitality, education, rural, and craft sectors, serving a client base that includes local authorities (LB Haringey, Greater London Authority, City of London Corporation), major cultural institutions (British Library, Barbican Centre, V&A Museum, Wellcome Collection), hospitality brands (Yotam Ottolenghi, Benugo, Bahlsen), and universities (Imperial College London, City of London School).
The practice's technical differentiators are centred on three specialisms: Passivhaus-certified sustainable design, RIBA Conservation Registrant heritage expertise, and community-led design methodology that emphasises stakeholder engagement through accessible communication, performance, storytelling, and digital media. Beyond professional services, Freehaus produces physical product lines including the Puzzle Table (a 4.5m reconfigurable communal table) and Tuba Handles (modular brass pull handles co-designed with Felix de Pass), representing a small but distinct licensing/product revenue stream.
Revenue is generated through project-based professional fees negotiated per commission across multi-year contracts, supplemented by bespoke product sales. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, leveraging directors' institutional positions — Mayor of London Design Advocate, RIBA Client Adviser, Quality Review Panel memberships (OPDC, LLDC, Harrow, Greenwich), and ADUP3 framework inclusion — as quasi-distribution channels rather than traditional marketing. The practice has no external funding or parent company and operates as an independent private limited company (Freehaus Design Ltd.).
Freehaus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Freehaus
- Legal name
- Freehaus Design Ltd.
- Website
- https://freehausdesign.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Freehaus is a London-based RIBA Chartered architecture practice (7 staff, founded 2012) offering full-service design across cultural, community, heritage, hospitality, and residential sectors for public-sector bodies, cultural institutions, and private clients, distinguished by Passivhaus sustainability and heritage conservation credentials.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Freehaus is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Freehaus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Architectural Services: Full-service architectural practice providing design, heritage conservation, sustainability consulting, and project delivery across residential, commercial, cultural, and community sectors. Revenue generated through professional fees for architectural services on project commissions.
- Bespoke Product Design: Design and delivery of bespoke furniture and hardware products such as the Puzzle Table for Hermann's and Tuba Handles, sold to clients as part of project delivery or independently.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Professional architecture services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Freehaus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Freehaus is a RIBA Chartered architectural design practice delivering full-service architectural design across residential, cultural, community, heritage, hospitality, education, rural, and workspace sectors. The practice specialises in Passivhaus-certified sustainable design, RIBA Conservation Registrant heritage expertise, and community-led design methodologies. It also produces bespoke physical products including the Puzzle Table and Tuba Handles under collaborative arrangements with product designers.
Product overview
Freehaus is an award-winning RIBA Chartered architectural design practice based in London, established in 2012. The practice operates as a single unified studio offering a broad portfolio of architectural and design services rather than a modular software product. Its core offering encompasses full-service architectural design across residential (Homes), community, cultural institutions, heritage and retrofit, workspace, hospitality, education, rural, and craft/bespoke categories. The practice also produces physical products including the bespoke Puzzle Table (a 4.5m reconfigurable communal table) and Tuba Handles (designer brass pull handles). Projects span from private residential refurbishments to large-scale community hubs, cultural institutions, and commercial hospitality venues across the UK and Europe.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architectural Design Services Full-service architectural design spanning residential, commercial, cultural, community, heritage, and rural projects across the UK and Europe, including new builds, renovations, and refurbishments.
- Homes Design Residential architectural design services including new builds, renovations, extensions, and refurbishments of Victorian terraces, modernist buildings, and rural properties.
- Community Projects Community-focused architectural design working with third sector organisations to create socially and environmentally valuable spaces including youth hubs, libraries, and enterprise centres.
- Heritage & Retrofit Sensitive design adaptations and meaningful retrofits for existing and historic buildings, including Grade Listed properties and conservation areas, delivered under RIBA Conservation Registrant expertise.
- Workspace Design Bespoke workspace design for startups to multinational corporations, including co-working spaces, offices, and training facilities.
- Hospitality Design Commercial hospitality design including restaurants, cafés, and hotel spaces responding to operational criteria and end-user demands.
- Cultural Institutions Design Design for cultural venues including museums, galleries, libraries, and exhibition spaces providing inclusive access to culture.
- Education Design Educational space design for schools, community spaces, youth centres, and educational charities delivering didactic and generous learning environments.
- Rural Projects Rural context architectural design requiring conservation experience, environmental excellence, heritage understanding, and planning knowledge for greenbelt and countryside areas.
- Sustainability Services Climate emergency response design approaches prioritising waste reduction, recycling, decarbonisation, and circular economy principles, underpinned by Passivhaus certification.
- Strategy Services
Quantifiable outcome
- RIBA London Award Winner 2024 for City of London School
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Freehaus
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Freehaus technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Freehaus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and supporting.
- Cultural GeometriesnotableCollaborative partnership with Cultural Geometries (architects, engineers, designers, students) for The Marble Pavilion project - a first non-reinforced marble structure for over a century, built exclusively from marble waste.
- Felix de PassnotableOngoing collaboration with product designer Felix de Pass on bespoke product designs including Tuba handles and Puzzle Table. Felix de Pass and Freehaus share credit on design work.
- Felix de PassnotableCollaboration with Felix de Pass on Tuba handle product range - a pull handle design made from raw uncoated brass with modular elements.
- MaecoreLead architect in consortium led by Mae for Meridian Water Four masterplan (2,300 new homes). Consortium included Morris+Company, JA Projects, Haptic, Gort Scott, Coffey Architects, BBUK, Create Culture.
- Donald Insall AssociatessupportingHeritage consultant on Dulwich Picture Gallery competition project, providing specialist heritage expertise for Grade II* Listed context.
- JCLA LandscapesupportingLandscape architecture partner on Dulwich Picture Gallery project, with Kim Wilkie providing landscape intervention.
- London Practice ForumnotableMembership in London Practice Forum with charter commitment to ethical practices and Mayor's Equality and Diversity pledges.
- University of WestminsternotableParticipation in CDC Mentoring Scheme since 2017, providing students insight into professional practice and employability skills development.
- Design MuseumnotableJonathan Hagos serves as Ardagh Young Creative mentor. Partnership on Surface Design Awards exhibition stand design giving young people platform to lead exhibition design.
- Oxford Brookes UniversitynotableTom Bell serves as RIBA student mentor. Jonathan Hagos serves as External Examiner since 2020. Partnership supports pathways into the profession.
- Surface Design AwardsnotableJonathan Hagos invited to judge Surface Design Awards 2022 and lead chairing in 2023. Partnership to deliver exhibition stand designed by young people under mentorship.
- Greater London AuthoritycoreTom Bell serves as RIBA Client Advisor and Steering Group member. GLA/TfL Architecture and Urbanism framework (ADUP3) member. Multiple community projects with Good Growth by Design principles.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Freehaus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mikhail Riches: London-based architecture practice of comparable size focused on sustainable, Passivhaus-aligned residential and community projects. Strongly comparable on sustainability credentials, award track record, and community-focused public-sector client base.
- Coffey Architects: London architecture practice named alongside Freehaus in the Meridian Water Four consortium. Similar scale, public-sector exposure, and community/residential portfolio focus.
- Karakusevic Carson Architects: London practice specialising in housing, community, and public-realm projects with strong local-authority client relationships. Directly comparable on community-focused mission and public-sector pipeline.
- Duggan Morris Architects: London practice of comparable size with strong cultural, education, and residential portfolio. Comparable in scale, award profile, and London-centred geographic footprint.
- Bell Phillips Architects: London architecture practice with a similar focus on community, cultural, and publicly funded projects. Comparable in scale, sector mix, and emphasis on socially engaged design.
- Haworth Tompkins: Established London practice with comparable cultural and theatre/civic portfolio and similar award pedigree. Slightly larger but operating in the same cultural and community niche with comparable UK regional footprint.
- Studio Egret West: London-based practice working across cultural, residential, and community sectors with comparable scale and sector mix. Strong overlap on heritage-sensitive and public-realm projects.
- dMFK Architects: London-based practice of similar scale working across residential, cultural, and education sectors. Comparable in size, London concentration, and mixed-use project profile.
- Proctor & Matthews Architects: London practice with comparable cultural, heritage, and public-sector portfolio. Similar scale and emphasis on contextually sensitive, award-winning UK architecture.
- Morris+Company: London architecture practice that Freehaus partnered with on the Meridian Water Four consortium. Similar sector mix across community, residential, and cultural projects; comparable awards profile.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Freehaus social profiles
Digital presenceFreehaus compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Freehaus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Freehaus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Freehaus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Freehaus M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Freehaus
What does Freehaus do?
Freehaus is a RIBA Chartered architectural design practice delivering full-service architectural design across residential, cultural, community, heritage, hospitality, education, rural, and workspace sectors. The practice specialises in Passivhaus-certified sustainable design, RIBA Conservation Registrant heritage expertise, and community-led design methodologies. It also produces bespoke physical products including the Puzzle Table and Tuba Handles under collaborative arrangements with product designers.
Is Freehaus a public or private company?
Freehaus is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Freehaus founded?
Freehaus was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Freehaus based?
Freehaus is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Freehaus make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Architectural Services are the primary driver. The others are bespoke Product Design.
Who are Freehaus's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mikhail Riches, Coffey Architects, Karakusevic Carson Architects, Duggan Morris Architects, Bell Phillips Architects, Haworth Tompkins, Studio Egret West, dMFK Architects, Proctor & Matthews Architects and Morris+Company.
Does Freehaus have an API?
No public API is recorded for Freehaus.