RESOLVE Collective
RESOLVE Collective is a London-based interdisciplinary design collective, founded in 2016, that combines architecture, technology and art to address social challenges. It serves under-represented communities, art institutions, London boroughs, and community organisations through co-produced projects, installations, and research publications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What RESOLVE Collective does
RESOLVE Collective is an interdisciplinary design collective founded in 2016 and based in London (with a secondary presence in Sheffield), operating across the UK and parts of continental Europe. The practice combines architecture, engineering, technology and art to address social challenges in the built environment, working with under-represented communities, art institutions, and London boroughs on co-produced projects that range from temporary pavilions and artist installations to urban design commissions and research publications. Its portfolio includes named projects such as Rebel Space (Brixton Design Trail 2016), OFF GRID (Haus Der Kulturen Der Welt, Berlin, 2018), Ships At A Distance (Sheffield, 2022), LIDO (De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill, 2022), Greenspace & Us (Oxford, 2022), and the Nurturing Ecologies residency programme piloted in Sheffield in 2023 with Joseph Rowntree Foundation funding.
The collective operates as a professional services practice with a project-based revenue model. Income is generated through commissioned projects with art institutions (Tate Liverpool, Palais de Tokyo, V&A, Barbican, Wellcome Collection, Het Nieuwe Instituut, HKW), public sector clients (London Boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Ealing, Greenwich), and community organisations (SADACCA, Skin Deep, MAIA, Mansions of the Future), supplemented by foundation grants from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Pricing is project-specific and not publicly disclosed. The team consists of three directors (Akil Scafe-Smith, Seth Scafe-Smith, Melissa Haniff) and six additional members, for a total headcount of approximately nine people. Distribution is direct via commissioning relationships rather than through product channels.
In 2026, RESOLVE extended its scope into circular construction as a lead partner in Tipping Point East, the UK's first circular construction hub at Royal Docks, East London, alongside Yes Make and Material Cultures, targeting diversion of approximately 1,000 tons of construction waste from landfills over five years. The collective's go-to-market is community-led and built on long-standing relationships with marginalised communities and cultural institutions; it does not offer standardised commercial products and has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.
RESOLVE Collective firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RESOLVE Collective
- Legal name
- RESOLVE Collective
- Website
- https://resolvecollective.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- RESOLVE Collective is a London-based interdisciplinary design collective, founded in 2016, that combines architecture, technology and art to address social challenges. It serves under-represented communities, art institutions, London boroughs, and community organisations through co-produced projects, installations, and research publications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RESOLVE Collective industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Design and Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Human Rights Organizations (813311)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO)
Keywords
Where RESOLVE Collective is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
RESOLVE Collective business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Project-based commissions and grants: RESOLVE generates revenue through commissioned projects with art institutions, public sector clients, and community organizations. They also receive funding from foundations (Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation) for their residency programs and social initiatives.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
RESOLVE Collective product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RESOLVE Collective is an interdisciplinary design collective that combines architecture, engineering, technology, and art to deliver built social-design projects and installations for communities, art institutions, and public-sector clients. Its work spans urban regeneration schemes, artist-led public-realm installations, residencies, and research publications that centre under-represented groups and address social inequalities.
Product overview
RESOLVE Collective is an interdisciplinary design collective that combines architecture, engineering, technology and art to address social challenges. Their offering consists of a portfolio of distinct projects spanning architecture/urban design, community support work, artist installations, and research publications. They operate through a core offering of Architecture and Urban Design Projects, Community Support Work, Artist Installations, and Research Publications. The Nurturing Ecologies Residency Programme serves as a framework for peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange with marginalised community organisations. Their project portfolio includes named initiatives such as Brixton Bridge with Farouk Agoro, Rebel Space, Brixton Passageway, Greenspace & Us, Summerhouse, LIDO, Ships At A Distance, and Water Messages. Their research output includes publications such as Separation, the Bananas! series (In The Margins, Permanent Infrastructure Precious Spaces, This Used to Be A Record Shop), and Croydon series (Questions Not Answers, A Moving Image).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Community Architecture and Urban Design Projects
Quantifiable outcome
- Tipping Point East aims to divert 1,000 tons of construction waste from landfills over five years
Companies that use RESOLVE Collective
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
RESOLVE Collective technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
RESOLVE Collective partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Yes MakeflagshipLead partner in Tipping Point East, the UK's first circular construction hub in East London's Royal Docks, combining material reuse, low-carbon construction, and programming.
- Material CulturesflagshipLead partner in Tipping Point East project, focusing on sustainable retrofitting practices and material reuse in construction.
- Architectural AssociationcoreRESOLVE leads an undergraduate unit at the Architectural Association, contributing to architectural education and emerging talent development.
- Het Nieuwe InstituutcoreRESOLVE were Research Fellows at Het Nieuwe Instituut in 2020, conducting research and contributing to institutional knowledge production.
- Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)coreRESOLVE are Honorary Fellows of RIBA, recognizing their contribution to architecture and the built environment.
- Theatrum MundicoreRESOLVE member (Akil Scafe-Smith) serves as Chair of Theatrum Mundi, an urban research organization exploring the relationship between performance, governance, and the city.
- Participatory CityminorRESOLVE member holds trustee position at Participatory City, supporting inclusive urban development approaches.
- Wysing Arts CentreminorRESOLVE member serves as advisor for Wysing Arts Centre, contributing to arts programming and institutional development.
- Sheffield TheatresminorPartner in Ships At A Distance project, hosting collaborative installation and community dinners in Sheffield.
- Ark SheffieldminorPartner in Ships At A Distance project, exploring stories of movement, migration, memory, and climate justice.
- Sheffield Hallam UniversityminorAcademic partner in Ships At A Distance project, contributing research and community engagement.
- West Dean CollegeminorPartner in What The Wild Things Are artist research collaboration leading to LIDO project.
- De La Warr PavilionflagshipHost venue for LIDO project - a leisure space and exhibition on the ground floor gallery exploring civic typologies and coastal town heritage.
- Bexhill CollegeminorStudent participants in collaborative design forages for LIDO project at De La Warr Pavilion.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
RESOLVE Collective competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Architecture 00: Architecture 00 is a London-based architecture and research practice working on housing, public realm, and social infrastructure through collective methods. Comparable to RESOLVE on collective structure, London-based practice, and engagement with public sector clients on community-focused briefs.
- Public Works: Public Works is a London-based design collective that works with communities, local authorities, and cultural institutions on socially engaged architecture, public realm, and co-design projects. It shares RESOLVE's collective structure, co-production methodology, and borough/museum client mix.
- muf architecture/art: muf architecture/art is a London-based interdisciplinary architecture and art practice working at the intersection of public realm, art, and social purpose. It is the closest direct peer to RESOLVE — both combine architecture, art, and participatory public engagement, share a similar scale and UK footprint, and serve comparable cultural and public sector clients.
- The Decorators: The Decorators is a London-based collective of architects, designers, and artists working on community-led spatial design, cultural programming, and urban research. Shares RESOLVE's collective model, arts/community client base, and interdisciplinary practice.
- Assemble: Assemble is a Turner Prize-winning London collective of architects, designers and artists working on social, cultural, and community-led projects across the UK. It is a direct peer — similar collective model, comparable client mix (arts institutions, local authorities, communities), and overlapping placemaking practice.
- vPPR Architects: vPPR is a London-based architectural practice working across architecture, urban design, and research with a strong focus on public sector and community-led projects. Comparable to RESOLVE on practice scale, London focus, and urban-design/placemaking service mix.
- Something & Son: Something & Son is a London-based social design practice developing community-led projects, public realm interventions, and creative enterprises with boroughs and cultural institutions. Directly comparable on practice model, client mix, and social-design focus.
- AOC Architecture: AOC is a London-based architecture practice with a long track record in public realm, cultural buildings, and socially engaged projects across the UK. Comparable to RESOLVE on arts/public sector client overlap and built-environment design, though it is a more established, larger practice.
- Studio Polpo: Studio Polpo is a London-based social design practice working with public sector clients and communities on participatory design, place-based research, and creative engagement. It overlaps RESOLVE on co-production methodology, public sector client base, and interdisciplinary practice.
Broad incumbents
- Haworth Tompkins: Haworth Tompkins is a long-established London theatre and cultural architecture practice with deep public sector and arts institution relationships. Comparable on cultural-architecture client mix (notably Sheffield Theatres and arts venues) but operates at a much larger scale and without RESOLVE's community co-production methodology.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
RESOLVE Collective social profiles
Digital presenceRESOLVE Collective financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RESOLVE Collective leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
RESOLVE Collective funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RESOLVE Collective 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 RESOLVE Collective
What does RESOLVE Collective do?
RESOLVE Collective is an interdisciplinary design collective that combines architecture, engineering, technology, and art to deliver built social-design projects and installations for communities, art institutions, and public-sector clients. Its work spans urban regeneration schemes, artist-led public-realm installations, residencies, and research publications that centre under-represented groups and address social inequalities.
Is RESOLVE Collective a public or private company?
RESOLVE Collective is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was RESOLVE Collective founded?
RESOLVE Collective was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is RESOLVE Collective based?
RESOLVE Collective is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does RESOLVE Collective make money?
One revenue line is on record: project-based commissions and grants.
Who are RESOLVE Collective's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Architecture 00, Public Works, muf architecture/art, The Decorators, Assemble, vPPR Architects, Something & Son, AOC Architecture and Studio Polpo. Haworth Tompkins is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does RESOLVE Collective have an API?
No public API is recorded for RESOLVE Collective.
What industry is RESOLVE Collective in?
RESOLVE Collective's product category is Social Design and Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAO, Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises. Its NAICS code is 813410 and its SIC code is 8711.