What Eightvillage does

Eightvillage is an Atlanta-based, privately held place-based design and development practice founded by architect Pavan Iyer, operating with 1–10 employees out of Constellations at 135 Auburn Ave. The firm delivers integrated architecture, urban design, master planning, ecological design, community engagement, and — increasingly — real estate development services. Its customer base is a deliberate mix of nonprofit community-development organizations (Focused Community Strategies, Second Story Gardens, Save the Old Atlanta Prison Farm, Sweet Auburn Works, Center for Civic Innovation, Patchwork City Farms, Generator), municipal and government clients (Silver Gate in Montana; Sapelo Island, GA), private developers and enterprises (Bright Tree Village, Toccoa River Estates, Lifestyle Center MD, Cityview townhomes, ION College Park), and direct-to-homeowner consumers via the Backyard ATL ADU platform. Core products and programs include architectural design services, the Backyard ATL turnkey accessory dwelling unit (ADU) development initiative for affordable housing, the 3 Cent Studio creative residency program in Hancock County, GA, and the Residual Guide urban research initiative cataloguing residual urban land for affordable housing. Proprietary design capabilities center on an "empathetic" storytelling-driven process, ecological site integration (bioswales, rainwater capture, preservation of natural features), and aquaponics garden systems at public schools.

The business model is professional-services revenue: custom project-based design and development fees negotiated per engagement, with no publicly disclosed rate card. Distribution is direct via the founder's civic network, partnerships (Generator, FCS, Good Places, PushPush Arts, Village Habitat Design, Flourishing Communities Design Collaborative, and ~20 others), the Backyard ATL direct-to-homeowner channel, and the 3 Cent Studio application-based residency channel. Marketing is essentially portfolio- and referral-driven, amplified through the founder's speaking engagements on affordable housing and urban in-fill policy. Ownership is founder-only with no disclosed institutional backing, funding rounds, or parent company; an advisory board of Brian Korte FAIA, Katie Delp (FCS Executive Director), and Jess Noel (Majority Art Director) provides external counsel. Revenue, ARR, and funding totals are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Eightvillage

Legal name

Eightvillage

Website

https://eightvillage.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Eightvillage is an Atlanta-based place-based architecture, urban design, and development practice founded by Pavan Iyer, serving nonprofits, municipalities, private developers, and homeowners via custom design services, the Backyard ATL ADU affordable-housing platform, the 3 Cent Studio creative residency, and the Residual Guide urban-land research initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Landscape Architectural Services (541320), New Housing For-Sale Builders (236117)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) & Backyard Homes (IMAFABAK), Home Office / Studio Additions (HSAPADAI)

Keywords

• Architecture design services
• Urban master planning
• Community development design
• Affordable housing design
• Place-based design

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Full-service architecture for residential, commercial, and community projects. Services include architectural design, design/build lead, and carpentry for projects of varying scales.
2. Urban Design and Master Planning: Master planning and urban design services for community development projects, including vision planning and development assistance.
3. Real Estate Development - Backyard ATL: As developer and architect for Backyard ATL initiative, eightvillage develops ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) on homeowner properties, creating affordable housing while generating revenue through development and design fees.
4. Community Engagement and Programming: Community engagement, programming, advocacy, and outreach services for various projects including workshops, design charrettes, and educational programming.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Eightvillage is a place-based design and development practice delivering full-service architecture, urban design, master planning, and community engagement that integrates site ecology with community storytelling. The firm works on residential, commercial, and community-scale projects, including large master plans (e.g., Old Atlanta Prison Farm Park, Sapelo Island Recovery Blueprint, JR Farms) and affordable housing initiatives such as the Backyard ATL ADU program. Standalone branded initiatives include Backyard ATL (turnkey ADU development), 3 Cent Studio (creative residency), and Residual Guide (urban residual-space research).

Product overview

eightvillage is a place-based design and development practice that creates positive change in communities through architecture, urban design, ecology, and community development. The company's offering includes design services (full service architecture, master planning, urban design, real estate development, community engagement) along with branded programs: Backyard ATL (a turnkey ADU solution for affordable housing), 3 Cent Studio (a creative residency program), and the Residual Guide (urban development research initiative). eightvillage serves both for-profit and non-profit entities with a focus on community-driven, contextually-focused design solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Backyard ATL: An on-going affordable housing initiative that provides Atlanta homeowners with backyard space a platform to earn additional income with their property. It is a turnkey solution that takes care of the design, financing and construction of a rental unit on a homeowner's lot.
• 3 Cent Studio

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Full-service architecture for residential, commercial, and community projects, including architectural design, design/build lead, and carpentry for projects of varying scales. Targeted at clients seeking context-driven, ecologically sensitive building design.
• Urban Design and Master Planning Master planning and urban design services for community development projects, including vision planning and development assistance for sites ranging from neighborhood corridors to multi-hundred-acre parks and barrier-island recovery blueprints.
• Backyard ATL An on-going affordable housing initiative that provides Atlanta homeowners with backyard space a turnkey platform to earn additional income with their property. Backyard ATL handles the design, financing, and construction of a detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on a homeowner's lot, generating revenue for eightvillage through development and design fees.
• 3 Cent Studio Creative Residency A creative residency program in Hancock County, GA where students stay in historic Sparta for 6-8 weeks doing socially impactful projects related to their creative discipline (architecture, film, and other creative fields), with an emphasis on understanding existing context to foster grassroots ideas from the community.
• Residual Guide A research initiative utilizing analysis of Atlanta's urban fabric to identify residual spaces (leftover land) that can be leveraged as sites for affordable housing, developing an urban catalogue of site typologies and shape grammars.
• Community Engagement and Programming Community engagement, programming, advocacy, and outreach services including workshops, design charrettes, and educational programming for projects such as BuHi Lights and Second Story Gardens aquaponics initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Created 150+ units of affordable housing through partnership with FCS in Historic South Atlanta
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GeneratorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenerator is a nonprofit urban think-tank founded by Ryan Gravel. eightvillage founder Pavan Iyer played an integral role in starting up and piloting Generator. The organizations collaborate on urban research, concept generation, and community engagement projects including Aftervan, Sweet Auburn Walks, and Generator Workshop Buford Highway.
• Focused Community Strategies (FCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCS is a nonprofit community development organization in Historic South Atlanta. Advisory board member Katie Delp serves as Executive Director. eightvillage partnered with FCS on Backyard ATL ADU development tranche and community housing initiatives. FCS has created 150+ affordable housing units in the neighborhood.
• Second Story GardenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond Story Gardens is a Georgia nonprofit building aquaponics gardens at public schools. They served as fiscal sponsor for 3 Cent Studio Summer 2019 program. Collaborated on Tucker High School aquaponics project.
• We Love BuHiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity organization on Buford Highway collaborating on BuHi Lights project, a sculptural inflatable light installation at Pinetree Plaza celebrating the diversity of the international corridor.
• DashboardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal artist agency collaborating on BuHi Lights project with We Love BuHi and eightvillage for building and fostering community through empowerment and placemaking.
• Sweet Auburn WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization collaborating on Sweet Auburn Walks project focused on creative placemaking along Hilliard Street corridor connecting King Memorial MARTA to historic Auburn Ave.
• Save the Old Atlanta Prison FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal advocacy group working to transform the Old Atlanta Prison Farm into a park. eightvillage created a future vision for the site including recreational fields, gardens, historical pavilions, and nature trails.
• Flourishing Communities Design CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorgia Tech-based collaborative that initiated the Better Living Together project for intentional community housing for adults with I/DD.
• Village Habitat DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on Better Living Together master plan for intentional co-housing community combining cottage court design for I/DD individuals, seniors, and neuro-typical residents.
• Good PlacescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment consultancy collaborating on ION College Park arts-centric development and other projects including Ladder (104 Trinity) development.
• Center for Civic InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivic innovation organization serving as anchor for Ladder project at 104 Trinity Ave, focused on socioeconomic mobility and business incubation.
• Marddy's KitchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal food business collaborator on Ladder project bringing food programming and community activation.
• The Drawing RoomminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm collaborating on Glass Box residential addition project in Midtown Atlanta.
• FM StudiominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture studio collaborating on Glass Box project alongside The Drawing Room.
• Cognitive DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign research firm that conducted clinical psychology research on designing for veterans in transition. Collaborating on Dawn Housing project for shared-living veteran housing concept.
• PushPush ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts partner leading arts programming for ION College Park development, an arts-centric mixed-use project combining housing and creative spaces.
• Joel JassuminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitect collaborating on Cityview townhome project and BHNP Field Research Center design.
• Bradley BowersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative collaborator on Arcs monument design honoring Ivan Allen and Maynard Jackson legacies.
• Pablo GneccominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigner collaborator on Arcs monument project.
• Jordan GravesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative collaborator on Arcs monument design.
• Eric RabinowitzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative collaborator on Arcs monument project.
• Big River AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper working with eightvillage on Toccoa River Estates retreat structures along the Toccoa River in Blue Ridge, GA.
• ConstellationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivic, social, and business community hub where eightvillage operates their office space at 135 Auburn Ave, Atlanta.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MASS Design Group: Mission-driven architecture and design practice with deep expertise in community development, affordable housing, and equity-driven built work. Directly comparable to eightvillage's community-engaged, place-based design model.
• Abodu: Prefab ADU provider offering standardized backyard home solutions in select U.S. markets. Directly comparable to Backyard ATL on the productized ADU/turnkey delivery model.
• Clayton Korte: Texas-based architecture studio co-founded by Brian Korte, who serves on eightvillage's advisory board. Operates as a similarly sized, design-led practice serving residential and community-oriented clients.
• The Drawing Room: Atlanta-based architecture firm that has collaborated with eightvillage on residential addition projects (Glass Box). Comparable as a fellow small, design-driven Atlanta practice operating in the residential and community space.
• Generator: Atlanta-based nonprofit urban think-tank co-founded by eightvillage founder Pavan Iyer alongside Ryan Gravel. Closely comparable as a place-based urban ideation partner that frequently co-develops projects with eightvillage.
• Cover: Tech-enabled ADU design and construction company. Directly comparable to eightvillage's Backyard ATL product, as both pursue turnkey ADU solutions that simplify the homeowner journey from design through build.
• Plant Prefab: Prefab ADU and custom home manufacturer with a sustainability-driven design ethos. Comparable to Backyard ATL on the ADU/affordable housing axis and to eightvillage's ecological design differentiation.
• Lake Flato: San Antonio-based architecture studio where eightvillage founder Pavan Iyer previously worked. Comparable as a similarly sized, sustainability- and place-focused architecture practice that blends residential, higher education, and community-oriented projects.
• FM Studio: Atlanta architecture studio collaborating with eightvillage on residential and community work. Comparable as a peer small-scale Atlanta architecture practice serving similar mixed residential/community client bases.

Broad incumbents

• KieranTimberlake: Larger architecture firm recognized for sustainability-forward, research-driven design. Comparable to eightvillage in its integration of architecture, ecological performance, and applied research, though at a meaningfully larger scale and project scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/3centstudio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eightvillage

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Eightvillage