What Make Architects Is All About
Make is a different kind of architecture practice. Motivated by imaginative design, they deliver spaces that inspire people and transform lives. Founded in 2004 by Ken Shuttleworth, Make has teams in London, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, providing architecture, interior, and urban design services from concept to completion. Their commitment? Resilient placemaking that creates social value for all.
The Main Benefits of Make’s Approach
Here’s a quick snapshot of what makes Make stand out:
- Creativity without limits: Proudly free from a house style, Make explores the full and unique potential of every client’s brief, site, and budget to ensure the best idea surfaces and evolves.
- Partners in design: As a 100% employee-owned practice, partnership is at the heart of everything. Collaboration and respect flow through the workplace—from recent graduates to project leaders. Clients? They’re co-creators, partners in the process, alongside communities and key stakeholders.
- World-class expertise: Over 100 built schemes worldwide, spanning workplaces of the future, vibrant urban regeneration, luxury interiors, and creative virtual spaces. Their Makers work as One Make—a single studio across three locations.
- Constant discovery: Driven by curiosity, Make asks questions at every design stage, embracing new technologies, materials, and methods, plus cross-sector learning and collaborative thought leadership.
- Resilient legacies: Certified B Corporation status means they’re serious about balancing people, planet, and place. Targeting net zero carbon by 2030 on all projects, they dig deep into environmental, social, and economic factors.
Creativity Without Limits
At Make, creativity isn’t boxed in by a signature style. Instead, the practice dives into the unique potential of each project—whether it’s the client’s brief, the site itself, or the budget constraints. This approach ensures the best ideas don’t just appear but have the right support to grow and evolve. It’s about exploring every angle, pushing boundaries, and making sure the design truly fits the moment and the people it serves.
Partnership as a Core Value
Make’s 100% employee-owned structure means partnership isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a way of life. Collaboration and respect shape the workplace culture, engaging everyone from fresh graduates to seasoned project leaders. Clients aren’t just clients; they’re co-creators, fully involved in the design process. This spirit of inclusivity extends beyond the office walls to communities and key stakeholders, making every project a shared journey.
Global Expertise and One Make
With more than 100 built schemes worldwide, Make draws on a rich pool of cross-sector and global expertise. Their portfolio ranges from futuristic workplaces and lively urban regeneration projects to luxury interiors and innovative virtual spaces. Despite being spread across London, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, their teams operate as One Make—a single, unified studio working seamlessly across continents.
Project Impact and Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Constant Discovery and Resilient Legacies
Curiosity drives Make at every step. They ask questions, research options, and explore ideas—from the tiniest detail to the big-picture ambition. Embracing new technologies, materials, and methods keeps them ahead of industry trends and challenges. As a Certified B Corporation, Make is committed to improving the balance between people, planet, and place. Their sustainability practices include aiming for net zero carbon by 2030 and carefully considering environmental, social, and economic impacts on every project. It’s about leaving behind resilient legacies that matter.
