London Architects Studio Bark - Read About The Studio Here

About our Practice
Meet the Team
Awards and Selected Press

Studio Bark is an award-winning architecture practice creating inspiring and ambitious buildings.

We are a collaborative team of architects, designers and makers based in East London. As a young studio, our work is diverse, interesting and constantly evolving. We believe in the transformational potential of the built-environment and have a passion for outstanding environmentally-driven architecture.

We deliver bespoke, unconventional buildings which are inherently contextual and inspired by meaningful investigation of site. Environmental design is a core part of the process: our work incorporates best practice principles while attempting to push the boundaries of ecologically-conscious architecture. We believe that compelling architecture can realise the latent potential of a site and bring joy to people’s lives.

Our portfolio of built work encompasses residential, commercial and community projects with a particular specialism in bespoke homes. We have a successful track record, securing planning permission for ambitious designs on challenging urban, suburban and rural sites across the UK. We have extensive experience delivering projects through Paragraph 79 (previously para 55 – the ‘country house exception clause’) of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Through a continuous dialogue with academia, we are investing in the next generation of architects, periodically running educational construction projects to explore the rich territory between the speculative and the pragmatic.

Specialist construction and fabrication services are provided through our contracting arm, Studio Bark Projects where required. We also developed the U-Build flat pack self build system for the benefit of our clients.

Wilf is a leading multidisciplinary designer with 10 years of experience and a passion for creating affordable, elegant and liveable environmental architecture. With a passion for the ‘hands on’ elements of the job; small construction or specialist sub-contractor roles, Wilf can often be found co-ordinating a student live-build. Wilf envisages a future where environmentally-focused designers wrestle back ‘sustainability’ from the commercially-focused market.

Nick joined the practice with a wealth of experience working on some of the UK’s foremost low energy developments for ECD and Bere:architects. Nick’s experience spans traditional carpentry, government funded research programmes, deep energy retrofits and contemporary one-off designs Nick creates a style of architecture that is at once thoughtfully considered, environmentally responsible, and highly emotive. Nick is our in-house Certified Passivhaus Designer and regularly contributes to publications and conferences in the field. He was also named as a 2014 ‘Rising Sustainability Star’ in Building magazine and was previously Head of Sustainability at ECD Architects.

Steph previously worked in London for an award winning practice gaining experience on a number of projects ranging from large mixed use developments to small, bespoke refurbishments. He also gained experience working on a number of small scale construction projects, and still enjoys getting his hands dirty during the Bark Live Build projects. In the Studio he is interested in finding new solutions to everyday problems, creating unique designs with a strong environmental focus. Steph has a passion for the craft and detail in architecture and is a strong advocate of designing though making. Steph studied at the Mackintosh School of Architecture and London Metropolitan University.

Esin has a background in design and communications, and previously worked with award winning architecture firms in London undertaking management and pr roles. She studied Product Design in Italy and graduated from Goldsmiths University with a MA degree Design Futures. Having lived and worked in different countries helped Esin gain an understanding of how business and creativity can co-exist. Esin is passionate about applying design thinking and values onto a business to create a positive impact. She combines her education with experience to support Studio Bark with management processes.

Tom is an architect with experience across a diversity of scales and typologies, from installations and temporary structures to low-energy residential and public buildings. Prior to joining Studio Bark, he worked for artist Wolfgang Buttress and was a core member of the competition-winning team for the highly-acclaimed UK Pavilion (now ‘the Hive at Kew’).

Tom has a passion for the experiential potential of architecture, including it’s poetic and performative aspects. His specialisms include environmental design, parametric modelling and digital fabrication. Tom studied at the University of Nottingham where he is now an external tutor, working with undergraduate and masters students.

Sarah’s passion for hand-drawing is central to her design process, complimenting the team’s creativity methodology.

Prior to working at Studio Bark, Sarah worked with local authorities and community groups across Yorkshire. This provided a valuable framework for understanding planning processes, policy and the complexities of delivering high quality spaces.

Sarah completed a postgraduate degree in Professional Practice in Architecture in 2019.

Hannah is interested in how the built environment effects user experience. She has developed her passion for environmental and affordable design working on a number of community building projects. Hannah joined the studio after graduating from the University of Sheffield’s Collaborative Practice course, and has worked on a number of residential and education projects in London and Sheffield.

Sarah Bland is a former member of the Studio Bark team. During Sarah’s time here (as a Director at Studio Bark), she was the Project Architect of the Black Barn. Sarah continued to consult for Studio Bark on the Black Barn through the construction and post occupation phases, whilst setting up her new company Studio Wic