What The Decorators does

The Decorators is a London-based architecture and design studio founded in 2011 that specializes in temporary architecture, public space activation, and community-focused design interventions. The studio delivers site-specific installations, pop-up structures, and participatory design projects that transform underutilized public spaces into community venues — examples include Croydon Parklets, the Southbank Bell Tower, Streatham Pocket Commons, and the Imagination Lab at Lambeth's Old Fire Station. Its work spans small-scale street interventions to major museum installations, with a portfolio of 30+ completed projects delivered across the UK and internationally (Dublin, Brussels, New York, Portugal).

The studio operates on a project-based professional services model, securing commissions directly from UK local councils (Croydon, Hackney, Lambeth, Waltham Forest, Brent, Bexley, Hillingdon), cultural institutions (V&A, Museum of London, Southbank Centre, Architecture Foundation, Fashion Space Gallery), and select international public bodies (Dún Laoghaire County Council, HSE). Revenue is generated through individual project fees rather than recurring contracts, and pricing is not publicly disclosed. The practice is privately held with no disclosed external investment, is led by a small team of 13 employees, and relies on a portfolio website as its primary marketing channel. Collaborations with architects (DK-CM, Atelier Chan Chan), artists (Verity-Jane Keefe), and community-space operators (Meanwhile Space, Institute of Imagination) extend delivery capacity on a project-by-project basis.

Name

The Decorators

Legal name

The Decorators

Website

https://the-decorators.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Decorators is a London-based design studio specializing in temporary architecture and public space activation. It serves UK local councils, cultural institutions, and event organizers through commissioned projects that transform underutilized public spaces into community venues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture & Design Services

NAICS

Interior Design Services (54141)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Decor Design & Styling (HSACAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Signage, Props & Custom Installations (HSACAOAG), Event Design, Decor & Styling (HSACAAAB)

Keywords

• Temporary architecture design
• Public space activation
• Community design installations
• Exhibition space design
• Urban intervention 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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Commissioned Design Projects: Project-based commissions from councils, cultural institutions, and private clients for temporary architecture, installations, and public space interventions. Revenue is generated through specific project fees rather than recurring contracts.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

The Decorators is a London-based architecture and design studio that designs and delivers temporary architecture, public space installations, and community-focused space activation projects. They work through commissioned projects for UK local councils, cultural institutions (museums, galleries), and event organisers, producing site-specific installations ranging from parklets and community spaces to museum exhibitions and festival structures. Their practice emphasises participatory design and engaging local communities in the transformation of underutilised public spaces.

Product overview

The Decorators is an architecture and design studio offering a portfolio of public space installations, temporary architecture, and community activation projects. Their offering is not a unified software product but rather a collection of site-specific installations and design services. The portfolio includes: temporary public installations (Parklets, Lighthouse projects, Landmark Features); community space activations (Urban Room, Imagination Lab, Pocket Commons); architectural research and exhibitions (Visible Award Temporary Parliament, Transformations of the City, Adult Architecture Cinema); food and market-related projects (Nomadic Tables, Ridley's Temporary Restaurant, The Barking Food Court); publications and guides (Recipes for Food and Architecture, Of Decoration zine); and collaborative projects with councils, cultural institutions, and private clients across the UK and internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Croydon Parklets Parklet intervention commissioned by Croydon Council that converts parking spaces into public gathering areas, located at College Road and High Street, Croydon.
• Public Age Meeting House A commission for Dún Laoghaire County Council, Irish Architecture Foundation, and HSE in Dublin exploring public ageing and community meeting spaces.
• Visible Award Temporary Parliament A temporary parliament installation at Queens Museum, New York, exploring democratic space design for the Visible Award.
• Nomadic Tables An installation project exploring human eating behaviours across time and cultures, displayed at the Museum of London and The Silk Mill Museum, Derby.
• Imagination Lab Design of a multi-use space with over 100 possible uses at The Old Fire Station, Lambeth, commissioned by the Institute of Imagination (iOi).
• Urban Room Folkestone An installation at Customs House, Folkestone, designed as the first place passengers from Calais and Boulogne would pass through upon arrival.
• Erith Lighthouse A lighthouse activation project in Erith, Bexley, launched in collaboration with architecture practice DK-CM.
• Hayes Landmark Features Design and delivery of three landmark features for Hayes Town Centre, Hillingdon, including a clock tower, canopy-stage and additional features.
• Recipes for Food and Architecture A practical guide to space activation and temporary architecture, serving as a limited edition publication by Ridley's.
• "Of Decoration" Zine A self-published zine edited and published by The Decorators, limited edition of 25 hand-sewn copies bound into vintage materials.
• Hackney Circle A community design project developed with Hackney Council for Hackney's over 60s demographic in Dalston, Hackney.
• The Southbank Bell Tower A bell tower built for Southbank Centre's Festival of the Neighbourhood in June 2013.
• Transformations of the City A re-contextualized, re-scaled, re-enactment project at The Edge, Bath, exploring 1968 student protests.

Named customers10 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Atelier Chan ChanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Ridley's Temporary Restaurant project, a joint design effort for a temporary dining experience at Ridley Road Market in Hackney.
• Verity-Jane KeefeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with artist on The Barking Food Court project at Barking Magistrates Court, bringing to life a Christmas food court activation.
• DK-CMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture practice collaboration on Erith Lighthouse project, launched in summer 2017 to activate public space in Erith, Bexley.
• Meanwhile SpaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorked with Meanwhile Space on Cottrell House enterprise space project in Wembley, initiated by Brent Council.
• Institute of Imagination (iOi)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned for Imagination Lab project at The Old Fire Station in Lambeth, exploring multi-use space design.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Assemble Studio: London-based multidisciplinary design studio working on temporary architecture, community-led regeneration, and public realm projects (Turner Prize-winning). Closely comparable to The Decorators in their focus on participatory, site-specific installations for cultural and public-sector clients.
• We Made That: London-based urbanism and architecture practice working on high streets, public realm, and cultural projects for local authorities. Comparable client base (UK councils) and comparable scale of practice.
• muf architecture/art: UK practice specialising in public realm design, community engagement, and landscape architecture with a strong London borough portfolio. Highly comparable in their participatory, council-commissioned placemaking work and similar scale.
• Public Works: London-based design studio focused on public realm and community-led projects, often working with local authorities and cultural institutions on spatial interventions. Comparable methodology and client overlap.
• Projects Office: Independent design practice working on temporary structures, pavilions, and spatial installations for cultural and public clients. Directly comparable in their temporary-architecture focus and small-studio model.
• vPPR Architects: Practice working on temporary pavilions, public installations, and cultural commissions. Comparable in their focus on temporary architecture and small-studio delivery model.
• Studio Weave: London architecture practice working on temporary installations, pavilions, and public realm projects for cultural events and festivals. Comparable in their temporary/small-scale architecture work.

Broad incumbents

• Tonkin Liu: Established London architecture practice with public realm and cultural sector work, including temporary and permanent installations. Comparable sector exposure but at greater scale and broader architectural scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-decorators

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 The Decorators