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Unknown Works is an award-winning design studio based in London. The studio’s work spans the fields of architecture, urban design, immersive events, exhibition design, installation art, graphics, and digital media. 

 

We work at all scales; from the creation of cultural and commercial buildings, residential projects, urban design, and infrastructure projects to multi-media performances and immersive interventions. We apply architectural thinking to fields beyond, exploring bold ideas through critical research using writing, exhibitions, film, and illustration. 

 

UW is fascinated by the human condition, the development of cities, the interactions of social and urban environments, and the mechanics of space distribution. From inception to completion, our goal is to uncover the hidden potentials of a project's brief and context in order to arrive at a solution that is architecturally refined, when required, disruptive, and always progressive. We strive to benefit people and places through stimulating projects that have a positive lasting impact.

Who We Work With

We work with a diverse range of commissions within the UK and across the globe, with clients and collaborators in Europe, Central and East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the UK. Our clients range from art institutions, galleries and museums, to community infrastructure including health centres and theatres, commercial spaces, and international developers.

Aegis Energy

Barbican 

Big Penny Social

Bloomberg Associates

Burgess Hill Town Council

Chemical Brothers

City of London

Coopervision

Duravit

Fieldworks

Finsa

Floating Points

Geely Auto

Hackney Cooperative Developments

Hong Kong University

Houghton Festival 

Kings College London

London Design Festival

London Festival of Architecture

Native Land

New London Architecture

PMQ

Refico

Royal Academy of Arts

Salt Salon

Science Museum Group

Scotts

Shine Group

Simbi Foundation

Sisban Development

Southall Black Sisters

Swire Properties

The Design Museum

Thousand Year Trust

Trinity Buoy Wharf

UABB

UNHCR

Univeristy College London

Vortex Jazz Club

Woodlodge

Yoo Lakes

Zeekr

Awards

Our studio work has been recognised by several prestigious awards, including Architecture Journal for People's Choice Small Project, the New London Architecture Don't Move Improve award, and the Creative Review Annual Award.  

NLA Don't Move Improve

2023 Winner

CLT House

AJ People's Choice

2022 Winner

Brightbox

Creative Review Annual Award

2019 Winner

Scotts TKL

Structural Timber Awards

2023 Finalist 

CLT House

Restaurant & Bar Design

2020 Shortlist, Asia Projects

Scott TKL

Architizer +Branding Award

2025 Finalist 

Zeekr Amsterdam HQ 

Dezeen Awards, Interiors

2024 Shortlist 

Energy Revolution Gallery

Dezeen Awards

2023 Shortlist

CLT House

Structural Timber Awards

2024 Finalist 

Armadillo

German Design Council

2019 Shortlist

Scott TKL

Press

Our studio has been featured in numerous national and international publications, including the Guardian, Financial Times, and Wallpaper Magazine. Selected press includes:

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Unknown Works (UW) is an emerging leader in sustainable design and innovation, winning the RIBA Sustainable Development Award in 2021. UW’s commitment aligns with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and addresses local sustainability targets, actively contributing to climate resilience and environmental health. Known for creating one of the first external mass timber structures in the UK, UW’s research-driven designs emphasize environmental harmony.

UW’s commitment to low-carbon design has led to partnerships that develop standards of sustainability across institutions and private residences alike, implementing real circular economy and integrating repurpose and reimagination into both materiality and design function. 

With Passive House Accreditation, UW has developed specialised design tools focused on carbon targeting, particularly vital for our projects set in rural environments. UW understands that effective design integrates thermal proofing from a project’s inception, viewing it as essential to achieving a net-zero carbon future.

The studio specialises in community-driven design and place-making and has extensive experience in navigating complex regulatory landscapes, including collaborations with entities like Natural England to address requirements for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and heritage properties.

UW designs respond to the surrounding landscape, and always intend to merge architecture with nature or the urban environment. 

Sustainability is core to the practice, emphasising innovative material use, detailed testing, and field research. Through sustainable residential designs and collaborations with renewable energy and mobility partners, Unknown Works remains at the forefront of ecological responsibility in design, contributing to the industry’s progress toward a more sustainable future.

Our practice target is Net Zero Carbon 2030 and we pride ourselves in a small carbon footprint.

London Studio:
Studio 8A, Stamford X,
Gillett Street, N16 8JH
London 
Phone:
+44 (0) 2081917134
General enquires:
hello@unknown.works

Please send job applications to:
jobs@unknown.works
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