Gagarin Studio Limited
Gagarin Studio Limited is a Halifax-based RIBA Chartered architecture and design practice delivering RIBA stages 0-7 across residential, heritage, community, arts, housing and infrastructure projects in Northern England and selectively in London and Ireland, with specialisation in the creative reuse of existing buildings, Passivhaus design and listed-building work.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersHalifax, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Gagarin Studio Limited does
Gagarin Studio Limited is a private UK architecture and design practice founded in 2011 and headquartered in Halifax, West Yorkshire, with fewer than ten employees. Co-founded by Gayle Appleyard and Steve Gittner, who together bring more than 60 years of combined creative and commercial experience, the practice operates across six sectors — arts and culture, residential, community, heritage, housing and infrastructure — with particular specialisation in the creative reuse of existing buildings and in landscape-led infrastructure. It is a RIBA Chartered Practice and ARB-registered firm.
The practice delivers a full suite of professional services across all RIBA Plan of Work stages (0-7) organised into ten service lines: Architecture Services, Lead Designer, Consultation and Engagement, Gaining Consents, Sustainability and Passivhaus, Interior Design, Landscape Design, Contract Administration, Principal Designer (CDM), and Visualisation. Its core differentiators are listed-building and sensitive-site expertise (Grade I/II/II* buildings, AONB, SSSI, National Parks), an in-house certified Passivhaus Designer, and a track record coordinating multi-consultant teams in heritage, community and public-realm settings.
Gagarin earns professional services fees through tiered Gold, Silver and Bronze engagement models mapped to RIBA stages, with multi-year contracts and fixed-sum fees at each stage that allow clients to progress step by step. Go-to-market is sales-led, driven by direct client relationships, referrals, competitive tendering and a portfolio of industry awards (RIBA, Civic Trust, British Homes, National Infrastructure Commission Design). Customers range from individual residential clients and self-builders to community organisations (e.g. Square Chapel, Halifax Opportunities Trust, Industrial Museum Trust), housing developers (Citu), and statutory or NGO partners (RSPB, Historic England-adjacent projects) across Northern England and selectively in London and Cork, Ireland.
Gagarin Studio Limited firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gagarin Studio Limited
- Legal name
- Gagarin Studio Limited
- Website
- https://gagarinstudio.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Gagarin Studio Limited is a Halifax-based RIBA Chartered architecture and design practice delivering RIBA stages 0-7 across residential, heritage, community, arts, housing and infrastructure projects in Northern England and selectively in London and Ireland, with specialisation in the creative reuse of existing buildings, Passivhaus design and listed-building work.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gagarin Studio Limited industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Design Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Interior Design Services (541410), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE), Residential Interior Fit-Out (Multi-Family & High-End) (IMAFANAE), Construction Program Management (Multi-site/Portfolio) (IMAFAAAF)
Keywords
Where Gagarin Studio Limited is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Halifax
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gagarin Studio Limited business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architectural Services Fees: Professional architectural and design services billed through a tiered fee structure (Gold, Silver, Bronze) aligned to RIBA Plan of Work stages. Fees are set as fixed sums for each stage, allowing clients to progress step by step while maintaining budget control. The practice follows RIBA stages from initial consultation through to post-occupancy evaluation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Gold - Full-service architectural support for complex projects |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Silver - Planning and technical design with limited construction support |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Bronze - Concept design and planning submission |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Gagarin Studio Limited product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gagarin Studio is an architectural and design practice delivering projects across all RIBA work stages (0–7), from initial strategy through to post-occupancy evaluation. Core offerings cover full architectural services, lead designer and contract administration, planning and consents (including listed buildings), sustainability and Passivhaus design, interior design, landscape design, consultation and engagement, and visualisation. The practice specialises in creative reuse of existing buildings, heritage projects, sustainable design, and landscape-led infrastructure, delivered through Gold, Silver and Bronze service tiers aligned to project complexity.
Product overview
Gagarin Studio Limited is an architectural practice offering a comprehensive suite of design services organized around ten core service offerings: Architecture Services (0-7) providing full RIBA-stage architectural delivery; Lead Designer Services for team coordination; Consultation & Engagement for stakeholder involvement; Gaining Consents for planning and regulatory approvals; Sustainability & Passivhaus for energy-efficient design; Interior Design; Landscape Design; Contract Administration; Principal Designer (CDM) services; and Visualisation for 3D modeling and presentations. The practice specializes in creative re-use of existing buildings, heritage projects, sustainable design, and infrastructure. Services are delivered through tiered fee structures (Gold, Silver, Bronze) providing flexibility for projects of varying complexity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architecture Services (RIBA 0–7)
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple RIBA Awards and regional/national recognitions across residential, heritage, and infrastructure projects
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Gagarin Studio Limited
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Gagarin Studio Limited technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Gagarin Studio Limited partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Layer (Landscape Architects)coreLandscape architecture partner appointed alongside Gagarin Studio through international competition for the Millom Iron Line project (57-hectare coastal lagoon transformation). The partnership develops landscape-led approaches combining art, heritage and ecology. Team led by Layer and Gagarin Studio, along with Greengage, PLACED, Curtins, BWA and Project Four, won the competition.
- RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)coreKey stakeholder in the Millom Iron Line project, working with Gagarin Studio, local authorities, community groups, Natural England, and Historic England on the 57-hectare former Hodbarrow Iron Ore Works site, now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and RSPB Hodbarrow nature reserve.
- DP Squared (Structural Engineers)coreCollaborative structural engineering partner on multiple infrastructure projects including the Leeds Footbridge over River Aire (50m corten steel footbridge) and the Cork Footbridge and Waterside Masterplan. The partnership combines Gagarin's architectural design with DP Squared's structural engineering expertise for complex bridge and infrastructure projects.
- Miriam O'KeefeminorCork native collaborator on the Footbridge and Waterside Masterplan project, bringing local knowledge and context to the international design competition entry.
- Structural Engineers, M&E Engineers, Quantity SurveyorscoreThe practice collaborates with a wide range of built environment professionals including structural engineers, mechanical and electrical engineers, quantity surveyors, and specialists. This collaborative approach ensures projects are delivered smoothly, efficiently and responsibly, with Gagarin often acting as lead designer and contract administrator.
- Halifax Opportunities TrustcoreWorking alongside Halifax Opportunities Trust to support the revitalisation of Grade II listed Queens Road Neighbourhood Centre, a historic 1874 building. Gagarin is helping shape a vision that balances restoration with modern community needs.
- Square Chapel Centre for the ArtscoreCommissioned by Square Chapel Centre for the Arts to deliver the Orangebox Young People's Centre, funded through the Myplace BIG Scheme. The project was delivered in close collaboration with the client group and a core panel of young people.
- Field Barn ProjectminorAlignment with the Field Barn Project's ambitions for high-quality, sustainable approach to reuse of barns and drystone walls in the Yorkshire Dales landscape, as demonstrated in the Bank Barn Reimagined project.
- Natural EnglandcoreStatutory consultee and stakeholder partner with expertise in consents for sensitive sites. Natural England is involved in projects within AONB, SSSI or National Parks settings, providing guidance on environmental and conservation matters.
- Canal & Rivers TrustcoreStakeholder partner for consents on projects involving waterways, providing input on river containment, flood management, and waterside development schemes.
- Historic EnglandcoreKey stakeholder partner for heritage projects, providing guidance on listed building consents, scheduled monuments, and heritage asset management. Works with Gagarin on sensitive heritage settings including AONB and National Parks.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Gagarin Studio Limited competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gagarin Studio Limited social profiles
Digital presenceGagarin Studio Limited compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Gagarin Studio Limited financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gagarin Studio Limited leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Gagarin Studio Limited funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gagarin Studio Limited 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 Gagarin Studio Limited
What does Gagarin Studio Limited do?
Gagarin Studio is an architectural and design practice delivering projects across all RIBA work stages (0–7), from initial strategy through to post-occupancy evaluation. Core offerings cover full architectural services, lead designer and contract administration, planning and consents (including listed buildings), sustainability and Passivhaus design, interior design, landscape design, consultation and engagement, and visualisation. The practice specialises in creative reuse of existing buildings, heritage projects, sustainable design, and landscape-led infrastructure, delivered through Gold, Silver and Bronze service tiers aligned to project complexity.
Is Gagarin Studio Limited a public or private company?
Gagarin Studio Limited is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Gagarin Studio Limited founded?
Gagarin Studio Limited was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Gagarin Studio Limited based?
Gagarin Studio Limited is headquartered in Halifax, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Gagarin Studio Limited make money?
One revenue line is on record: architectural Services Fees.
Does Gagarin Studio Limited have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gagarin Studio Limited.
What industry is Gagarin Studio Limited in?
Gagarin Studio Limited's product category is Architectural Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAO, Community Engagement & Participatory Planning, with a secondary code of IMAFABAE, Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 8711.