ZAP Architecture

What ZAP Architecture does

ZAP Architecture is a London-based bespoke architecture studio founded in 2013 by Pol Gallagher, who previously trained at Hopkins and Grimshaw. The firm operates with a 5-person team across headquarters in Stratford, East London, and secondary offices in Donegal (Ireland) and Barcelona (Spain). It serves two primary segments: affluent residential clients seeking distinctive, design-forward homes, and commercial clients in hospitality, entertainment, markets, and education. Notable commercial projects include Pergola rooftop bars (with Incipio), the Dublin City University entrance sculpture, Bohemia Place Hackney, Jaegos House (Little Houses Group), and the forthcoming Padel Social Club at O2 Greenwich.

The firm delivers a full-service architecture offering — concept through practical completion — spanning planning applications, meanwhile-use design, event spaces, sculpture and landscaping, placemaking, hospitality design, set design, and investment pitches. Underlying tooling is standard practice: 3D modelling, CAD, visualisations, drawings, and walk-through animations. ZAP also operates a small merchandise sub-brand, UEL Prints, selling A2 reproduction posters through its own e-commerce storefront at £35 per print plus £5 P&P.

ZAP's revenue model is professional services (project-based fees, quote-based, not publicly disclosed) supplemented by a minor one-time e-commerce revenue stream from prints. The go-to-market is hybrid: a competition-driven model that has generated awards including the Airbnb OMG! International Prize ($100,000), the RIAI international competition for DCU (£1m prize), and the Chelsea Flower Show Medal 2016, paired with direct enterprise client engagement. The firm is bootstrapped, founder-owned, and operates without external investment.

Name

ZAP Architecture

Legal name

ZAP Architecture

Website

https://zaparchitecture.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ZAP Architecture is a 5-person London-based bespoke architecture studio founded by Pol Gallagher, serving affluent residential clients and commercial clients in hospitality, entertainment, and education across the UK, Ireland, and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Residential architecture
• Hospitality design
• Placemaking services
• Urban regeneration design

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Bespoke architecture and design services for residential and commercial clients including hospitality venues, markets, educational facilities, and event spaces. Projects range from residential homes to large commercial developments.
2. Art Prints and Reproductions: Sale of high-quality reproduction posters (£35 per A2 image with £5 P&P), black frames (£40 per image), and bespoke screen prints in UEL colours (approx £95 per print). These are creative outlets by founder Pol Gallagher.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ZAP Architecture is a multi-service architecture and design studio delivering bespoke projects for a select clientele. Core offerings span residential homes, commercial venues (hospitality, markets, event spaces, sports facilities), placemaking, sculpture, landscaping, planning submissions, and meanwhile-use design, plus a small retail line of UEL art reproduction prints.

Product overview

ZAP Architecture is an architectural firm operating as a multi-service design studio rather than a unified software platform. The company offers residential architecture services creating bespoke homes, commercial architecture services for venues and social spaces, and a range of specialized design services including planning applications, meanwhile use design, event and social spaces, sculpture and landscapes, placemaking, hospitality design, set design and installations, street food markets, and investment ideas. Additionally, ZAP operates a print merchandise line called UEL Prints offering high-quality architectural reproduction posters. The portfolio includes notable commercial projects such as Pergola rooftop bars, Padel Social Club at the O2, Bohemia Place Hackney, Jaegos House, and Dublin City University entrance sculpture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Architecture Services Bespoke residential architectural design services creating bespoke homes for select clientele, injecting playful design energy into every project to craft spaces that challenge convention and spark the soul of inhabitants. Includes new homes, renovations, and extensions.
• Commercial Architecture Services Commercial architectural design services including event venues, social spaces, hospitality venues, placemaking projects, and street food markets. Projects span bars, restaurants, rooftop venues, retail markets, sports facilities, planning submissions, meanwhile-use design, sculpture, landscaping, set design, and investment pitches for hospitality, education, and entertainment operators.
• UEL Prints High-quality reproduction poster prints of architectural drawings and scenes sold directly to consumers via the ZAP e-commerce storefront. A2 prints available for £35 plus £5 P&P, with optional black frames (£40 per image) and bespoke screen prints in UEL colours (~£95 per print). Includes UEL Stratford, UEL Stratford Circus, and UEL Docklands designs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Won £1m RIAI international competition for Dublin City University entrance
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• University of East LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZAP runs a design studio at the University of East London. Founder Pol Gallagher serves as Senior Lecturer and Course Leader in Interior Architecture. This partnership provides teaching, student engagement, and a talent pipeline for the firm.
• Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)coreOthersZAP is a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, providing professional credibility and industry recognition.
• HarrodsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerZAP worked with Harrods to create an award-winning 'animated' garden at Chelsea Flower Show 2016 with TV gardener Diarmuid Gavin.
• IncipioflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerZAP has designed and built almost all of Incipio's famous rooftop pop-up bars and social venues (Pergola) over the last ten years in London.
• Little Houses GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerZAP created the concept and layout design for Jaegos House - a multi-use family club including creche, nursery, soft play, co-working, gym, restaurant for the Little Houses Group. This led to additional work for their Parsons Green site.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Internationally recognized practice built on playful, narrative-driven, competition-winning design. Comparable to ZAP in aesthetic sensibility and competition-led brand building, though operating globally with hundreds of staff and at much larger project scale.
• Grimshaw Architects: Major global architecture practice and one of ZAP founder Pol Gallagher's former employers. Comparable as a London-headquartered firm with strong transport, hospitality and public-realm credentials, though at vastly greater scale and a more conventional engineering-led portfolio.
• Hopkins Architects: Award-winning UK architecture practice and the other of ZAP founder's former employers (alongside Grimshaw). Comparable as a London practice with strong cultural, education and public-sector portfolios, though operating at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• DRMM Architects: London architecture practice known for award-winning cultural, education, residential and mixed-use projects, including competition-led entries. Comparable to ZAP as a similarly sized UK studio with strong award credentials and a portfolio spanning residential, public realm and hospitality.
• Heatherwick Studio: London-based design studio known for highly expressive, sculptural and experiential architecture and installations. Comparable to ZAP for its playful, identity-driven design philosophy, competition-led reputation-building, and crossover into cultural/place-making commissions.
• Mikhail Riches: Award-winning London architecture practice recognised for design-led residential and housing work, including competition wins such as the RIBA Stirling Prize. Comparable to ZAP as a similarly profile-elevated London practice with strong residential and competition pedigree.
• Something & Son: London-based socially engaged architecture and design practice working on meanwhile-use, placemaking and community projects. Closely comparable to ZAP for its overlap on temporary/event venues, public realm, and unconventional hospitality spaces in London.
• SODA Studio: London architecture and design studio with a strong track record in hospitality, leisure and entertainment venues. Directly comparable to ZAP for its focus on bars, restaurants, leisure venues and experiential commercial spaces.
• Studio Egret West: Mid-sized London architecture practice active in residential, hospitality, retail and placemaking. Comparable to ZAP across multiple of the same client segments (developers, hospitality, public realm) though at larger scale.
• Moxon Architects: Boutique London architecture studio with a strong reputation in residential and hospitality design. Comparable to ZAP as a similarly sized practice competing in the same London bespoke residential and small-scale commercial segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/zaparch_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zap-architecture

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 ZAP Architecture