Business Details
30 Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Architectural Competition Solutions in London
We are a strategic architectural consultancy based in London with a global reach, specialising in international design competitions and pre-design advisory services. Our expertise lies in crafting content-rich design briefs, developing compelling project narratives, and curating exceptional design teams through competitive selection processes. With over 25 years of experience, we combine architectural knowledge with technical proficiency to deliver grounded, innovative solutions for clients ranging from cultural institutions to government bodies. Our team's diverse backgrounds in architecture, urban design, and communications enable us to understand both client requirements and the creative community.We have successfully facilitated landmark projects across 20+ countries, working with organisations such as the UK Government, Qatar Museums, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. Our approach ensures clients receive tailored strategies that align with international procurement standards while maintaining creative integrity. Through rigorous competition management and ongoing project support, we help organisations achieve world-class architectural outcomes that address both functional needs and aesthetic aspirations.
Services
Architectural Competitions
Design Briefing
Project Narratives
Team Selection
Feasibility Studies
Details
- Year established: 1996
Highlights and features
- We have 25+ years of specialist experience in architectural competitions
- Our global network spans emerging practices to Pritzker laureates
- We create content-rich design briefs that define project success criteria
- Our team understands international procurement rules and compliance requirements
- We provide ongoing project support from concept to construction delivery
What people say
Incredible response to competition
Outstanding work assembling design briefs
Genuine openness of competition process
Excellent job throughout competition process
Thorough and professional approach
Services
Architectural Competitions
We organise international architectural competitions that help clients identify exceptional design teams through competitive selection processes. Our expertise ensures fair evaluation of creative approaches while maintaining compliance with procurement regulations. This approach consistently delivers innovative solutions that balance artistic vision with practical implementation requirements.
Design Briefing
Our team creates comprehensive design briefs that capture client vision, technical requirements, and budget constraints. These documents serve as foundational guides for architectural projects, ensuring all stakeholders share clear objectives from concept through to construction delivery phases.
Project Narratives
We develop compelling project narratives that articulate the unique value proposition of each architectural scheme. These narratives support fundraising efforts, stakeholder engagement, and public relations campaigns while maintaining alignment with the core design objectives.
Team Selection
Our competitive selection processes identify the most suitable design teams for specific projects, balancing creative excellence with technical capability. We manage both open and invited competitions to ensure clients access the best available talent globally.
Feasibility Studies
We conduct thorough feasibility assessments that evaluate technical, financial, and regulatory aspects of architectural proposals. These studies help clients make informed decisions about project progression while identifying potential challenges early in the planning process.
People
Malcolm Reading
Chairman
LVO recipient and RIBA Honorary Fellow with 25+ years' experience in architectural competitions. Former journalist and architectural critic who established MRC in 1996 to promote design excellence through competitive processes.
Catherine Reading
Creative Director
Leads creative strategy and competition narratives. Specialises in developing compelling project briefs that attract high-quality design submissions while maintaining alignment with client objectives and technical requirements.
David Hamilton
Director of Projects
Chartered architect with extensive experience managing international design competitions. Oversees project delivery from initial concept through to final team selection, ensuring compliance with procurement regulations.
John Morgan
Director of Projects
RIBA-registered architect specialising in cultural and heritage projects. Manages complex competition processes for museums, galleries, and listed buildings while maintaining design integrity and functional requirements.
Hussam Dakkak
Director of Projects
Chartered architect with expertise in international competition management. Focuses on developing strategic approaches for clients seeking innovative design solutions across diverse geographical and cultural contexts.
Questions
What types of architectural competitions do you organise?
We manage open and invited competitions for cultural institutions, government bodies, and private clients globally, covering new builds, heritage projects, and urban regeneration schemes.
How do you ensure fair evaluation of design submissions?
Our rigorous two-stage evaluation process involves independent juries, anonymised submissions where appropriate, and compliance with international procurement regulations to maintain transparency and fairness.
Can you help with post-competition project delivery?
Yes, we provide ongoing support throughout the design and construction phases to ensure the selected team maintains alignment with the original competition objectives.
What makes your design briefs different from others?
Our briefs combine technical precision with creative vision, incorporating stakeholder input and market analysis to create comprehensive frameworks that guide successful project delivery.
Do you work with emerging architectural practices?
We actively encourage submissions from emerging studios and provide equal opportunities for new practices to compete against established firms through our fair evaluation processes.
How do you develop project narratives?
We create compelling stories that articulate design vision, cultural significance, and community benefits through collaborative workshops and stakeholder engagement sessions.
