ōH Chester Design Foundation

What ōH Chester Design Foundation does

ōH Chester Design Foundation operates commercially as *oH: design studio (also styled ōH Design Studio / oH Design Studio), a small, founder-led multidisciplinary design practice headquartered at 12A White Friars in Chester, United Kingdom. The firm is co-led by architect and strategic consultant Tony Swindells and creative director and designer Monika Swindells, with a stated headcount of around five people. Its core service lines span architecture, interior design, heritage renovation and conservation, adaptive reuse of historic structures, commercial and hospitality interiors, and residential/housing/modular design, delivered under the studio's trademarked proprietary methodology, *oH: Layered Spatial Intelligence™ — a structured approach that connects context, strategy, material thinking, and delivery.

Beyond its built-environment practice, the studio runs an unusually broad slate of adjacent creative projects: co-living concepts (OPEN, a 2022 Emerging Co-Living Concept Awards finalist, and LoopLiv for the over-50s in Stratford-upon-Avon); strategic advisory for modular construction (FLEXABLE); a pop-up gallery and creative space inside a 17th-century Chester Race Company building (ARTLAB); a seven-episode social dining series (ōH Supper Club, co-created with Yuzu Leaf); and fashion, photography, and product collaborations with artisans such as Oscar Munro, BEPO, and Kudera Artelier. Project-based professional services are sold through direct client engagement, developer partnerships (notably Apex on the St Andrews Church, Handbridge adaptive-reuse scheme), and a long-standing channel relationship with estate agent Currans Unique.

The business is privately held and founder-controlled, with no disclosed external investment, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. Revenue is generated entirely through bespoke project fees; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Geographic reach, while anchored in Chester and the North West, extends to Dundee, London, Stoke-on-Trent, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Brighton, indicating selective UK-wide project delivery despite the small team.

Name

ōH Chester Design Foundation

Legal name

oH Design Studio

Website

https://ohfoundation.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ōH Chester Design Foundation is a small, founder-led multidisciplinary design studio in Chester, UK, delivering architecture, interior design, heritage renovation, adaptive reuse, and commercial/hospitality projects under its trademarked Layered Spatial Intelligence™ methodology for property developers, estate agents, and creative-sector clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural & Interior Design Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Interior Fit-Out (Multi-Family & High-End) (IMAFANAE), Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Interior design services
• Adaptive reuse
• Heritage renovation
• Creative direction

Headquarters

HQ city

Chester

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, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Design Services: Architecture, interior design, heritage renovation, adaptive reuse projects, and creative direction services for residential, commercial, and hospitality clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ōH Chester Design Foundation is a multidisciplinary design studio that sells architecture, interior design, adaptive reuse, heritage conservation, and commercial/hospitality design services for residential, commercial, and developer clients across the UK. Beyond core architectural services, the studio delivers strategic advisory for modular construction (FLEXABLE), co-living and housing concepts, creative direction, content production, events, and fashion collaborations, unified by its proprietary *oH: Layered Spatial Intelligence™ methodology.

Product overview

ōH Chester Design Foundation operates as a multidisciplinary design studio offering a unified portfolio of architecture, interior design, adaptive reuse, heritage conservation, commercial/hospitality design, housing and modular solutions, and multidisciplinary creative projects. The studio's core offering comprises architecture and interior design services supplemented by proprietary methodologies like *oH: Layered Spatial Intelligence™. Beyond traditional design services, the portfolio includes specialized offerings such as FLEXABLE (strategic advisory for modular construction), Open Co-living and LoopLiv (co-living design concepts), ARTLAB (pop-up gallery and creative spaces), ōH Supper Club Series (social dining experiences), and various fashion and event projects. The studio functions as a single integrated practice where services interrelate, combining built environment expertise with creative direction, events, and fashion collaborations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FLEXABLE: A strategic advisory, design and delivery support service for modular, adaptable building solutions.
• ARTLAB
• OPEN Co-living

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full-spectrum architectural design services including project appraisal, commercial and residential design, planning applications, heritage projects, consultations, and concept design for property owners, developers, and commercial clients.
• Interior Design Commercial and hospitality interior design, from concept through full project scope delivery, emphasising layered spatial intelligence and storytelling for commercial venues, hospitality operators, and residential clients.
• Adaptive Reuse Conversion and transformation of existing buildings for new purposes, including heritage structures, with minimal intervention and maximum activation outcomes for developers and property owners.
• Heritage & Conservation Specialist heritage renovation and conservation services that respect historic fabric while enabling contemporary use, designed for owners of listed and heritage buildings.
• Commercial & Hospitality Design Space planning and interior design concepts for commercial venues and hospitality environments, including bars, restaurants, and event spaces for hotels, racecourses, and entertainment operators.
• Housing & Modular Design Residential design and modular construction advisory services, including co-living concepts, key worker accommodation, and adaptable building solutions for housing developers and modular construction companies.
• Multidisciplinary Creative Projects Creative and art direction, content production, website curation, events, fashion projects, and branding across diverse creative sectors for clients across fashion, gastronomy, and culture.
• FLEXABLE Strategic Advisory Strategic advisory, design and delivery support service for modular, adaptable building solutions, including brand alignment, marketing approach development, and SOP point creation for modular construction companies.
• OPEN Co-living Concept Holistic co-living design concept finalist in the 2022 Emerging Co-Living Concept Awards, supported by research and collaborative co-creation for new approaches to social living, targeted at housing developers and co-living operators.
• LoopLiv Co-living Concept Groundbreaking co-living concept for the over-50s, balancing functional space planning with diverse living typologies and external form responding to planning requirements, targeted at housing developers and operators.
• ARTLAB Pop-up Gallery Strategically conceived pop-up gallery and multifunctional project space transforming dormant urban spaces into dynamic venues for exhibitions, events, art installations, and experimental pop-up stores, designed for cultural and creative operators.
• ōH Supper Club Series Innovative social dining experience crafted in collaboration with gastronomical designers, spanning seven unique episodes showcasing different culinary and mixology talents, delivered as a curated event series.
• Yoyo Modular Bag Collection (with Oscar Munro) 100% circular, affordable and flexible modular bag collection developed collaboratively with designer Oscar Munro, handmade from sail cloth and hot air balloon offcuts, available as a collaborative product line.
• Monsters & Neons Wedding Soirée Immersive art installation and lavish celebration combining event design, creative direction, styling, and art curation for unique wedding experiences, offered as a bespoke event design service.
• BEPO Open Photoshoot Social experiment and lookbook photography session featuring BEPO apparel, with general public participation and collaborations with other designers, delivered as a fashion photography project.
• Midnight Mode for Kudera Artelier Photography, styling, and creative direction project featuring Kudera Artelier's fashion collection with emphasis on sensuality, empowered femininity, and tactile finishes, delivered as a fashion photography project.

Named customers5 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered key, core and supporting.

• ApexkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient and development partner for St Andrews Church adaptive reuse project in Handbridge, Chester. Apex is developing the former church into 23 self-contained student rooms with associated community spaces. ōH provides architecture and interior design services.
• Currans UniquekeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing estate agent partnership for property design, staging, and exclusive marketing collaborations. ōH has completed multiple projects for Currans including White Friars Cottage, 16 Castle Street Apartment, and the Currans Unique Showroom design. Currans acts as agent for ōH-designed properties.
• FlexablekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic advisory engagement for Flexable, a modular and adaptable building solutions provider. ōH conducted specialist brand review and alignment with strategy shift from product sales to service sales. Created revised vision and marketing approach focusing on team's expertise and SOP points.
• Henderson HeritagecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHeritage consultant Kirsty Henderson provided specialist heritage expertise for St Andrews Church adaptive reuse project, including historic value assessment and conservation guidance.
• University of ChestersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided insight and academic perspective for St Andrews Church student accommodation project, supporting evidence-based design decisions.
• ChattelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigner furniture partner for multiple residential projects including White Friars Cottage. ōH collaborates with Chattels to hand-pick furniture and accessories for completed spaces, with Chattels pieces available for purchase with properties.
• Zest Kitchens & BathroomscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKitchen and bathroom supplier partner for residential and commercial interior design projects, featured in Currans Unique Showroom and Edgely bathroom redesign projects.
• Oscar MunrosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigner of Yoyo modular bag collection. ōH provided mentoring, product optimization, market benchmarking, photography, styling, and limited edition series branding for the 100% circular, affordable, and flexible bag collection made from sail cloth and hot air balloon offcuts.
• Jonathan EdwardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelsh illustrator and comic artist who created mural and visual identity work for Parthian Climbing Gym, artwork for ōH Supper Club invitations, and exhibited at ARTLAB. Ongoing creative collaborator for multidisciplinary projects.
• Dominik SzyndlarewiczcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVisualisation specialist providing architectural visualisations for multiple projects including St Andrews Church, Willison House Dundee, and Stoke-on-Trent Modular accommodation.
• Artlab Artists and CollaboratorssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of artists including Mark Wigan, Suze Schneider, Alena Kudera, Felt Mistress, Jonathan Edwards, Mary Pearson, and fashion studios BEPO & Kudera Artelier who have exhibited and collaborated through ARTLAB pop-up gallery.
• Miles Davidson (Yuzu Leaf)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGastronomical designer and founder of Yuzu Leaf who co-created the ōH Supper Club series - an innovative seven-episode social dining experience blending flavors, sounds, and visual artistry.
• Matt ElsoncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPhotographer providing interior and architectural photography for White Friars Cottage, Heritage Renovation Chester, and other key projects.
• Rachel Kay + Studio TaittsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCeramic artist Rachel Kay and Studio Taitt founder collaborated with ōH on the Origin Collection - a bespoke ceramics line created for White Friars Cottage, featuring flat white mugs, espresso cups, plates, and saucers developed over nine months.
• Chester Race CompanysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwner of the 17th-century building housing ōH Foundation Concept Store and ARTLAB pop-up gallery. Partnership enables creative use of historic retail spaces on Chester's Rows.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Foster + Partners: Global architectural practice with heritage, adaptive reuse, hospitality and interiors capability. Overlaps with ōH on heritage-sensitive and mixed-use projects but operates at vastly larger scale across continents and asset classes.
• Allies and Morrison: Established UK architectural practice with strong heritage, urban regeneration and masterplanning portfolios. Overlaps with ōH on heritage and contextual architecture but operates at significantly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Jestico + Whiles: UK architecture and interiors practice covering hospitality, education, residential and adaptive reuse. Comparable to ōH in multidisciplinary design remit and emphasis on character-rich, contextual design outcomes.
• Heatherwick Studio: London-based, founder-led multidisciplinary design studio spanning architecture, interiors, product and public realm. Comparable to ōH in its founder-driven narrative, brand-led positioning and integration of creative direction with built environment work, though at significantly larger scale.
• Berman Guedes Stretton: Boutique UK architecture practice known for heritage-sensitive residential, education and adaptive-reuse projects. Directly comparable to ōH in scale, heritage specialism and education-sector heritage work.
• Project Orange: Boutique UK architecture and interior design practice focused on hospitality, residential and adaptive-reuse projects. Closely comparable to ōH in scale, sector mix (heritage, hospitality, residential) and design-led studio model.
• Stiff + Trevillion: London-based architecture practice focused on high-quality residential, hospitality and heritage projects. Comparable to ōH in premium residential and hospitality design positioning and founder-led studio ethos.
• Conran and Partners: UK architecture and interior design studio with heritage in hospitality, residential and mixed-use projects. Comparable to ōH in design-led heritage, hospitality and residential repositioning work, though with a longer track record and larger team.
• SHH Architects: London-based architecture and interior design practice with strong residential, hospitality and heritage portfolios. Comparable to ōH in delivering integrated architecture-plus-interiors on premium residential and hospitality commissions.
• 1508 London: High-end interior design and architectural studio working on luxury residential, hospitality and heritage projects in the UK. Directly comparable to ōH in client type, design-led positioning and emphasis on craft, narrative and premium residential/hospitality outcomes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/%C5%8Dh-chester-design-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 ōH Chester Design Foundation