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:
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.
