Arquinaut
Arquinaut is a London-based boutique architecture and design consultancy (1-10 staff) founded in 2012 that serves as the exclusive worldwide concept creator and technical representative for ELLE/ELLE DECOR branded real estate, advising luxury developers across 15+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Arquinaut does
Arquinaut is a London-based boutique architecture, design, art consulting, and real estate consultancy founded in 2012 by Gregory Martínez de Riquelme. The firm operates with a 1-10 person headcount and delivers concept design, art curation, and branded-lifestyle advisory across more than 15 countries. Its defining commercial position is an exclusive worldwide mandate as concept creator and technical representative for ELLE and ELLE DECOR branded real estate, licensed by Lagardère. This license underpins a portfolio of luxury branded residences including ELLE Residences Miami (180 units, with Vertical Developments), ELLE Residences Dubai Islands (91 apartments and 7 townhouses, with ANAX Developments), Casa ELLE São Paulo (11 villas, with Meira Mattos Incorporadora), and ELLE Collection São Paulo (14 villas, also with Meira Mattos). The firm uses BIM as its core design technology platform.
Arquinaut's business model is project-based fee-for-service: developers pay concept design, brand-integrated interior and amenity programming, and ongoing technical representation fees tied to luxury residential developments carrying the ELLE co-brand. The ELLE exclusivity is the central revenue mechanism, functioning as both a marketing channel (through Lagardère's global media reach) and a deal-sourcing funnel for new developer partners. Beyond the branded-residence franchise, Arquinaut maintains a secondary institutional client base that includes InterContinental, Caudalie, Manière De Voir, Forever 21, Assouline, the Royal Air Force Museum, and the University of York, indicating capability in retail, hospitality, cultural, and art-consulting engagements.
The firm is led by founder Gregory Martínez de Riquelme, whose credentials include the XV Pan-American Architecture Biennial Prize (2006) and repeated EDIDA wins (2024, 2026), plus the Branded Living 'Most Fun' Award (2025). Delivery capacity was recently augmented through a partnership with The One Atelier to handle the growing multi-country pipeline. Revenue is concentrated on a small number of developer counterparties operating under a single brand license, making the firm's economics sensitive to the continuity of the ELLE relationship and the conversion rate of the current pipeline into executed projects.
Arquinaut firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Arquinaut
- Legal name
- Arquinaut
- Website
- https://arquinaut.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Arquinaut is a London-based boutique architecture and design consultancy (1-10 staff) founded in 2012 that serves as the exclusive worldwide concept creator and technical representative for ELLE/ELLE DECOR branded real estate, advising luxury developers across 15+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Arquinaut industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architecture and Design Services
- NAICS
- Interior Design Services (54141), Interior Design Services (541410)
- SIC
- Real Estate (6500)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design (BPAHAKAL)
Keywords
Where Arquinaut is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Arquinaut business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architecture & Design Services: Comprehensive architectural design services from concept to completion, including residential, commercial, and institutional projects. Revenue generated through professional fees for design, project management, and construction oversight.
- Branded Real Estate Consultancy: Specialized services connecting developers with brands for branded real estate projects, including concept creation, creative direction, and technical representation. Revenue from consultancy fees and creative direction retainers.
- Interior Design Services: Interior design services combining experience, sustainability, and innovation for functional and inspiring spaces. Revenue through design fees and FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment) specification services.
- Property Development Co-Investment: In selected cases, Arquinaut co-develops properties with clients, investing financially alongside professional expertise. Revenue generated through equity participation and development profits.
- Art Consulting: Bespoke art curation services for residential, commercial, and hospitality spaces, sourcing works from established and emerging artists through gallery partnerships.
- Furniture & Product Design: Custom furniture and bespoke product design services for interiors, from concept to production.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Arquinaut product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Arquinaut is a London-based full-service architecture and design studio offering architecture, interior design, branded real estate consultancy, art consulting, furniture and product design, and select property development co-investment. The firm serves as the exclusive concept creator and technical representative for ELLE and ELLE DECOR branded real estate worldwide, translating lifestyle brand equity into architectural and interior environments for luxury developers, hospitality operators, retail brands, and private clients.
Product overview
Arquinaut is a full-service architecture and design studio as well as art and real estate consultancy based in London. The firm operates as a single integrated offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core services include Architecture (residential, commercial, institutional projects from concept to completion), Interior Design (space planning, material selection, lighting), Branded Real Estate (translating brand identity into architecture, material selection, FF&E specifications, construction supervision), Furniture & Product Design (custom pieces from concept to production), Art Consulting (curated artwork selection, placement, installation), and Property Development (co-developing select projects). Key branded real estate products include ELLE Residences Miami (world's first ELLE branded residences, 180 units), ELLE Residences Dubai Islands (91 apartments and 7 townhouses), ELLE Collection São Paulo (14 villas), and Casa ELLE São Paulo (11 villas). The firm has also delivered numerous retail, hospitality, cultural, and residential design projects globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architecture Services Comprehensive architectural design services covering residential, commercial, and institutional projects from concept to completion, including project management and construction oversight. Projects range from small interiors to masterplans of 4,900,000 square meters, served via BIM-enabled design and delivery.
- Interior Design Services Interior design services combining experience, sustainability, and innovation to create functional and inspiring spaces. Includes space planning, material selection, lighting, and FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment) specification.
- Branded Real Estate Consultancy Specialized consultancy connecting developers with brands for branded real estate projects, including concept creation, creative direction, and technical representation. Arquinaut serves as the exclusive concept creator and technical representative for ELLE and ELLE DECOR branded real estate worldwide.
- Art Consulting Bespoke art curation services for residential, commercial, and hospitality spaces, sourcing works from established and emerging artists through gallery partnerships. Includes artwork selection, placement, and installation.
- Furniture & Product Design Custom furniture and bespoke product design services for interiors, spanning from concept to production. Includes patented and award-winning pieces such as the Barraq portable sales-stand trolley and the Bauhaus grand piano redesign for RUD. IBACH SOHN.
- Property Development Co-Investment Selected project-basis property co-development with clients, investing financially alongside providing professional expertise. Revenue generated through equity participation and development profits.
Quantifiable outcome
- ELLE Residences Dubai Islands sold out 91 apartments and 7 townhouses within months of launch
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Arquinaut
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Arquinaut technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Arquinaut partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and secondary.
- ELLE / Lagardère NewsflagshipARQUINAUT serves as the exclusive concept creator and technical representative for ELLE and ELLE DECOR branded real estate worldwide. Lagardère News owns the ELLE and ELLE DECORATION brands, a global powerhouse with network reaching more than 250 million people globally. ELLE is present in 80 countries with more than 250 licensees in hospitality sectors including ELLE Café, ELLE Salon, ELLE Spa, and ELLE Residences.
- Vertical DevelopmentscoreJoint venture between Location3 Investments and Peru-based V&V Group, formed to address evolving consumer and investor needs for high value real estate opportunities. Portfolio of $1.3 billion with 14 projects distributed in South & Central Florida. Co-developer of ELLE Residences Miami.
- Urban Network Capital GroupcoreCommercial development company specializing in eco-friendly communities, from single-family homes to townhomes and condo-hotels, in Florida and Texas. Led by CEO Robert Thorne with over 20 years of real estate experience. Co-developer of ELLE Residences Miami.
- ANAX DevelopmentsflagshipDubai future-focused real estate development company under ANAX Holding, known for bold design, sustainable approach, and commitment to creating connected communities. Developer partner for ELLE Residences Dubai Islands, scheduled for completion by Q3 2027.
- The One AteliercoreBranded real estate powerhouse with experience collaborating with brands from Fendi to Karl Lagerfeld. Responsible for interiors at ELLE Residences Miami and ELLE Residences Dubai Islands. Also worked on luxury residences for Dolce & Gabbana and Fendi Casa.
- Meira Mattos IncorporadorasecondaryReal estate developer developing high-end real estate projects in São Paulo, blending signature architecture and uncommon residential experiences. Partner for Casa ELLE São Paulo and ELLE Collection São Paulo projects.
- Behar Font & PartnerssecondaryArchitecture firm responsible for ELLE Residences Miami building design, featuring reflective surfaces and glossy wraparound terraces. The 23-story tower design blends ELLE's Parisian roots with Miami's vibrant energy.
- BRAZENOSEsecondaryCollaborated with ARQUINAUT on developing Interior Design Guidelines for the University of York following a rigorous selection process.
- Sinfonia GroupsecondarySupported ARQUINAUT for the highly anticipated flagship of digital-first fashion powerhouse Manière De Voir at Battersea Power Station.
- Location3 InvestmentscorePart of Vertical Developments joint venture, addressing evolving consumer and investor needs for high value real estate opportunities in South & Central Florida.
- V&V GroupcorePeru-based partner in Vertical Developments joint venture, forming the company to address evolving consumer and investor needs for high value real estate opportunities.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Arquinaut competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Gensler: Global architecture and design giant and Arquinaut founder's former employer. Operates at vastly larger scale across hospitality, commercial, and residential, and increasingly competes for branded real estate mandates that Arquinaut also pursues.
- Foster + Partners: Premier global architecture practice working on luxury hospitality and mixed-use developments worldwide. Comparable in targeting high-end international developers and brand-led real estate partnerships, though at much larger scale.
- BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): High-profile international architecture firm with growing branded residential portfolio (e.g., The Spiral, VIA57 West) and luxury hospitality work. Comparable in attracting premium global developers and brand-led mandates.
Direct peers
- The One Atelier: Branded real estate design studio with experience across Fendi, Karl Lagerfeld, Dolce & Gabbana, and Fendi Casa. Listed as an Arquinaut project partner for ELLE Residences Miami and Dubai Islands interiors, and a direct competitor for branded residence mandates globally.
- Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA): Specialist hospitality interior design firm behind many of the world's leading luxury hotel brands. Direct comparable given Arquinaut's hospitality design work (InterContinental Times Square) and shared luxury hotel developer clientele.
- Champalimaud Design: Luxury hospitality and residential interior design practice serving five-star hotel brands and private clients. Comparable in creative-led positioning, premium pricing, and developer / brand partner relationships.
- Yabu Pushelberg: Toronto-based interior design studio known for luxury hotel, residential, and retail work for brand-led clients (e.g., Edition, Four Seasons, Lane Crawford). Directly comparable for luxury hospitality, branded residential, and retail flagship commissions.
- Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (WATG): Global architecture and design firm specializing in hospitality and branded residential. Overlaps with Arquinaut on luxury hotel design and branded residence concept development for international developers.
- 1508 London: Boutique luxury interior design studio focused on super-prime residential, hospitality, and branded residences. Closely comparable in team size, premium positioning, and developer client base.
- YOO (YOO Studio): Pioneer of branded residences founded by Philippe Starck and Jade Jagger, designing celebrity- and designer-branded residential projects globally. Directly comparable niche in branded residential concept creation and design direction.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Arquinaut social profiles
Digital presenceArquinaut financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Arquinaut leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Arquinaut funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Arquinaut 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 Arquinaut
What does Arquinaut do?
Arquinaut is a London-based full-service architecture and design studio offering architecture, interior design, branded real estate consultancy, art consulting, furniture and product design, and select property development co-investment. The firm serves as the exclusive concept creator and technical representative for ELLE and ELLE DECOR branded real estate worldwide, translating lifestyle brand equity into architectural and interior environments for luxury developers, hospitality operators, retail brands, and private clients.
Is Arquinaut a public or private company?
Arquinaut is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Arquinaut founded?
Arquinaut was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Arquinaut based?
Arquinaut is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Arquinaut make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Architecture & Design Services are the primary driver. The others are branded Real Estate Consultancy, interior Design Services, property Development Co-Investment, art Consulting and furniture & Product Design.
Who are Arquinaut's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Gensler, Foster + Partners and BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group). Direct peers are The One Atelier, Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), Champalimaud Design, Yabu Pushelberg, Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (WATG), 1508 London and YOO (YOO Studio).
Does Arquinaut have an API?
No public API is recorded for Arquinaut.
What industry is Arquinaut in?
Arquinaut's product category is Architecture and Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAB, Interior Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAL, Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design. Its NAICS code is 54141 and its SIC code is 6500.