Header: Courtesy of Kris Lin International Design
With so many architecture and interior design studios flooding our news and social media feeds each day, it can sometimes feel difficult to discern which are definitely breaking the boundaries of the industry. However, there are a few that manage to stand out, and some have even consistently received industry recognition for their work, particularly at the BLT Built Design Awards, which highlight excellence in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and construction.
Since 2021, the 15 studios mentioned in this article have earned multiple awards for their projects, which only goes to show their influence in the industry and how much they deserve to stay on your radar. From large-scale urban developments to detailed interiors, these studios apply their unique design philosophies to each project they take on. Whether working with sustainable materials and solutions or integrating advanced digital tools, each of these studios is shaping contemporary design as we speak—or write. So, here is a selection of 15 studios that we believe are worth following.
1. Studio Mk27
Studio MK27, founded in the late 1970s by architect Marcio Kogan, is based in São Paulo and consists of 56 members along with collaborators worldwide. The studio operates under a cooperative work model established in 2001 and is structured into three main teams: Diana Radomysler leads the interior design team, Renata Furlanetto and Suzana Glogowski direct the architecture team, and Mariana Simas, the executive director, manages new projects, human resources, finance, and communications. The studio’s work follows the principles of Brazilian modernism: formal simplicity and precise detailing. Studio MK27 has received over 250 national and international awards, including recognition from the Institute of Brazilian Architects (IAB), the São Paulo Architectural Biennial, the World Architecture Festival (WAF), Architectural Review, and the Venice Biennale in 2012.
Flag House (2020)
One of Studio MK27’s projects that has received a lot of international attention is Flag House, designed to integrate with its natural surroundings in Whistler, Canada. The house consists of three levels: a semi-sunken lower ground with a garage and cellar, a first floor with a guest bedroom and main entrance, and a fully glazed upper level that serves as the primary living space. Although the structure doesn’t lack space, it actually appears as a single-story home with a cantilevered volume extending over the landscape.
The house’s glass facade reflects all that surrounds, perfectly blending it with its surroundings. Furthermore, the materials used were selected to reinforce this connection—Dinesen oak, local Ocean Pearl Flagstone, a concrete base, and a metal upper frame. The interior was left minimally furnished, emphasising the same openness of the surrounding landscape.
2. Kris Lin International Design
KLID International Architecture Design Office, based in Taipei and operating in Shanghai for 19 years, specialises in large-scale real estate projects in China and Southeast Asia. The firm works with the top 100 real estate developers, covering a range of project types, including sales offices, clubs, art centres, hotels, luxury villas, model apartments, offices, and commercial spaces. Daguan is one of the few domestic firms offering integrated services across architectural design, interior design, soft decoration, and landscape planning. Due to this, and under the leadership of Ling Zida, the firm has completed several large-scale four-in-one projects in first-tier cities.
Flow (2020)
Flow is an exhibition space in Chengdu designed with attention to clean energy and smart city technologies, which reveals itself in how the project incorporates “water” and “light” as central themes. When inside, the theme becomes clear: a light cube installation at the entrance is suspended over water, and curved walls mimic the ripples of flowing water. The exhibition space also includes a sand table and scenic area display, creating an environment designed to present a vision of harmonious and human-centred living.
3. Zaha Hadid Architects
Zaha Hadid Architects is one of the most recognisable architecture firms out there, as they develop projects across six continents, working with clients recognised for excellence in their fields. Based in London for over 40 years, the studio has built a portfolio that explores form, space, and structure by always attempting to integrate architecture with its surroundings. Each project is developed after thorough research into advanced digital tools and material innovation, addressing both functional requirements and spatial experience.
Their projects combine structural innovation with adaptable public spaces, integrating natural light, circulation strategies, and responsive materials. With over 50 completed projects worldwide and more than 60 ongoing, the studio is sure to keep winning awards and popping up in our architecture-filled social media feeds.
Masarycka (2023)
Masarycka, one of the firm’s projects, is integrated into Prague’s Masaryk Railway Station, which was renovated to better connect with its surroundings. Located on a previously abandoned site, the project replaces an existing car park with a new public square, creating circulation routes that provide access to civic spaces and connect to adjacent streets.
The building’s façade seems to be ever-changing, as it goes from being horizontal along Na Florenci Street to vertical at its western end, as a response to the scale of Prague’s Old Town. External fins provide shading, with roof gardens, a triple-insulated façade for optimal daylight, and a smart ventilation system helping reduce energy consumption.
4. Richärd | Kennedy Architects
Richärd | Kennedy Architects is an architectural and interior design firm specialising in higher education, research, public and academic libraries, and diplomatic facilities. Founded in 1996 by James Richärd, FAIA, and Stephen Kennedy, AIA, the firm maintains a team of 25 professionals working at an intimate scale. Both of the founders studied at the University of Arizona, an experience that gave them a strong sensitivity to environmental and regional contexts when approaching a new project.
Within the firm, sustainability shapes every aspect of design, from site planning and building systems to interior spaces and furnishings. With a focus on public institutions, their portfolio includes civic buildings, research laboratories, academic facilities, and commercial projects. The studio’s design process also puts a focus on long-term adaptability, ensuring that projects can respond to changing technological and programmatic needs.
Cruzen-Murray Academic Library (2018)
The Cruzen-Murray Academic Library at the College of Idaho is one of the studio’s projects, which can be simply described as an open space filled with light that fosters intellectual exchange. Raised access flooring discreetly houses ventilation, power, and data systems, ensuring that infrastructure can be updated as needed without major renovations.
Sustainability strategies were, of course, integrated throughout the project. Passive and active systems reduce energy and water consumption, and an insulated glass curtain wall, shaded by perforated metal fins, maximises natural daylight while controlling glare and heat gain. Since opening, the library has become a central hub for the campus and surrounding community, hosting a range of events and activities.
5. Mark Cavagnero Associates
Mark Cavagnero Associates is an architecture firm focused on public and institutional projects. Founded in 1988 as “Barnes and Cavagnero” and renamed in 1993, the firm’s portfolio includes institutional, nonprofit, commercial, residential, and workplace projects of several different scales, with each project being approached with attention to budget, schedule, and long-term functionality.
The firm prioritises contextual and sustainable design, integrating site-specific strategies such as light analysis and seasonal variations into its projects. Founder Mark Cavagnero has maintained a strong focus on cultural and historic preservation, incorporating site history and social patterns into each project’s development.
Quest Diagnostic Traveller Lab (2021)
The Quest Diagnostics East Region Development, one of the projects of the firm, was designed to integrate clinical, laboratory, and administrative functions into a single facility. The two-story building is organised with laboratory and support spaces on the ground floor, while offices and amenity areas are set along a linear bar on the second level. A key feature of the design is the addition of a second-story mezzanine, which allows visitors to check out the operations held in the laboratory without interrupting workflow.
6. Sanjay Puri Architect
Sanjay Puri Architects is a firm that focuses on designing spaces that respond to their context, integrating climate considerations and sustainability. Since its creation in 1992, the firm has worked across various typologies, incorporating passive design strategies and region-specific materials. Sanjay Puri, a graduate of the Academy of Architecture, Mumbai, gained experience at Hafeez Contractor’s office before founding his practice. Up until now, the firm has received over 250 awards, including the World Architecture Festival’s Best Housing Project of 2018 and the LEAF Award for the World’s Best Residential Building, and it is consistently recognised among leading global architecture firms.
Mirai House of Arches (2022)
Mirai House of Arches is one of the firm’s projects that has received a big deal of international recognition for its climate-responsive design. Located on a 622 sqm corner plot in Rajasthan, India, the house is designed to minimise heat gain while maximising natural ventilation and indirect daylight. A series of interconnected structures create a mix of open, semi-enclosed, and enclosed spaces across different levels, all done with locally sourced bricks, sandstone, and lime plaster. Furthermore, the sustainable features that brought it fame include water recycling, rainwater harvesting, solar panels for on-site energy generation, plus labour from the area.
7. Cecconi Simone Inc.
Cecconi Simone Inc. is a Toronto-based interior design firm founded in 1982 by Elaine Cecconi and Anna Simone, working across multiple sectors, such as residential and hospitality design, among others. With projects in Canada, the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, the firm is comprised of around 40 professionals, encompassing design, technical, and administrative staff.
With experience spanning over four decades, Cecconi Simone has designed more than 100 residential communities in Toronto, along with numerous international projects. The firm follows a “whole design” approach, integrating various design disciplines to create spaces that reflect contemporary lifestyles, which ensures a holistic interior design paired perfectly with good architecture and urban planning.
Forest Hill Residence (2019)
Their Forest Hill Residence is a 5,700-square-foot custom home designed to accommodate both large gatherings and an intimate family life, having required close collaboration between architects and interior designers. The house’s layout was created to offer private zones at the rear, which are connected to the pool and outdoor lounge areas, and communal spaces where the residents can enjoy spending time with their loved ones.
The living spaces follow this duality between intimacy and community, as instead of a formal living room, the home features a large family room with two seating areas. A large island with seating for six was placed in the kitchen, which is adjacent to the main dining room, with three full-height sliding panels separating the two areas. Regarding the materials used, everything was kept natural and classic.
8. Lead8
Lead8 specialises in architecture, interior design, master planning, and branding, having been created in 2014. Its portfolio includes large-scale, mixed-use developments, transport-orientated hubs, commercial complexes, and hospitality spaces, all created following the studio’s multidisciplinary approach. In each project taken, the studio attempts to create environments that prioritise connectivity between people, spaces, and their broader context, something which has earned it several awards. The team consists of professionals from over 20 nationalities, all of whom share a focus on culturally sensitive designs. By engaging closely with clients and stakeholders, Lead8 is constantly exploring new solutions and innovative techniques.
Nantong Golden Eagle World (2022)
Nantong Golden Eagle World is a large-scale mixed-use development located in the central business district of Nantong that was designed to become an urban landmark. There, the designers added commercial, residential, and hospitality functions, which feature retail spaces, food and beverage streets, office towers, a hotel, and even apartments.
The studio was inspired by the site’s location when designing the structure, especially by the water that surrounds it. The various districts were connected by pathways inspired by the movement of water, and the building’s waterfront was given specific spaces for waterborne transport, outdoor events, and recreational activities.
The skybridge is perhaps the key distinguishable element of this design, as it links the three high-rise towers at a height of 240 meters. There, the designers added gardens, viewing platforms, cultural spaces, and art galleries, successfully accomplishing the project’s main goal of creating a dynamic and multifunctional urban landmark in Nantong.
9. Measured Architecture
Measured Architecture is a Vancouver-based design studio that specialises in modern architecture, hearty interiors, and landscapes. Established in 2007, when the firm takes on a project, the designers provide the full service, from concept to completion. Collaboration is seen as essential, so the firm is known to keep the clients, consultants, contractors, trades, and artisans close to heart when working on a new project.
The studio follows the self-called “situational modernism” approach, where designs are born from the specific conditions of a project rather than a fixed aesthetic. Each design is curated to client aspirations, site conditions, regulatory constraints, budget considerations, and scheduling requirements, so those who choose to work with this studio can be sure that the final result couldn’t fit better into their lives.
Shor House (2022)
Shor House is a family retreat and artist residency that has multiple elements created from salvaged wood. The project focuses greatly on deconstruction and reuse, integrating wood recovered from the site’s former structures—a house and barn—as well as material from a dismantled 100-year-old railway and dairy farm. To accomplish this, the clients and designers spent years material sourcing and collaborating with deconstruction specialists to ensure the minimum environmental impact possible.
The house is constructed using a palette of repurposed materials, which grounds the house to its site. The project shows how intentional reuse can shape contemporary architecture and create a comfortable, modern interior while reducing waste and preserving the stories associated with aged materials.
10. United Units Architects
United Units Architects specialises in architecture, urban design, and interior design, having received several awards for its combination of human-centred design and technical precision. UUA’s portfolio includes a wide range of projects, from small installations to large industrial complexes and master plans. The studio follows a collaborative approach, making sure they include the clients, consultants, and contractors in the whole design and construction process.
The Exo Towers (2021)
The Exo Towers are two high-rise buildings connected by a 70-meter-high central glazed atrium that were designed by the firm in 2021. As the digital finance center for the Bank of Ruifeng, space was key. The designers employed an external structural system that minimises the number of internal columns and, therefore, maximises open office space. At the base, a 27-meter-wide glazed canopy with a 15-meter cantilever forms the entrance, complemented by a cable-net glass curtain wall that makes up the east façade. The structural components, such as anchors and spring assemblies, are concealed within the structure.
11. Arsomsilp Community and Environmental Architect
Arsomsilp Community and Environmental Architect is an architecture studio established as part of the Arsomsilp Institute of the Arts, a non-profit higher education institution from Thailand. The studio functions as a professional practice while also supporting the institute’s “work-based learning” model, where students engage directly in real-world projects alongside faculty and practitioners.
The studio’s design philosophy is based on four core principles: prioritising architecture that benefits people and the environment, emphasising participatory design, creating simple and nature-integrated spaces, and drawing from local traditions and Thai architectural knowledge. These principles guide the studio’s approach to design as a whole, particularly in tropical and vernacular architecture, which ends up ensuring that the designs are always adapted to environmental and cultural needs.
Rabindhorn Building (2019)
The Rabindhorn Building was originally a school gymnasium before being repurposed into an architectural studio that supports Arsomsilp’s educational model. The designers preserved the existing structure while introducing sustainable and locally sourced materials, having created glass-enclosed offices, open learning areas, workshops, and a 100-seat meeting room.
Passive cooling strategies and natural lighting contribute to the building’s energy efficiency, thus reducing its environmental impact, and the whole design process involved architecture students. The completed space is now serving as both a professional workspace and an educational hub, promoting collaboration and community engagement and ensuring the next generation of architects can learn all they need for their future.
12. Derevo Park
Derevo Park is a landscape design company that specialises in both public spaces and private residences. Founded by Andrey Kochetkov in 2009, the company operates across Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), mostly in the premium market. Over the years, Derevo Park has received numerous Russian and international awards for their projects.
Villa Tuscany (2024)
Villa Tuscany was designed for clients who appreciate the landscapes of southern Italy and seek to recreate a similar atmosphere within their own homes. The site of the project already featured a modern-style house, so the only thing missing was a landscape design that could complement and enrich the architecture.
The plot spans 1.5 hectares and features a natural slope, so the landscape design took into account this topography to create harmony between the residence and the environment. A key element of the project is the recreation area, where the designers placed a fireplace perfect for those cold winters. Between this zone and the house, a blooming garden with fruit trees enhances the natural charm of the site, only made better by the numerous walking routes that connect the entire property.
13. Raulino Silva Arquitecto
Raulino Silva is a Portuguese architect who established his own architecture studio in 2011, in a house that previously belonged to his grandparents. The architect primarily focuses on residential architecture and has been featured in several international events and exhibitions. He is also known to participate in lectures and architectural events in Portugal and abroad and, in recent years, Silva has served as a jury member for international design competitions, all while working on his company.
Canine and Feline Hotel (2024)
This unique hotel’s goal is to provide accommodation for dogs and cats while their owners are designed for short stays during their owners’ vacations or work-related absences. In addition to the housing facilities, the hotel also includes a veterinary office, a grooming room, outdoor training areas, and even a swimming pool for the furry guests.
The architect’s main goal was to reduce the overall visual impact of the construction, so the first volume, a single-story structure, contains the reception, a small retail area, storage, restrooms, an office, the veterinary clinic, and the grooming room. The second and third buildings house the boarding areas, one designated for cats and the other for dogs.
14. External Reference
External Reference Architects is a multidisciplinary design studio based in Barcelona, founded in 2007, that works at the intersection of architecture, visual arts, and digital tools. From interior design and retail spaces to large-scale architectural interventions, with a global reach, the studio’s main goal is to integrate spatial design with immersive experiences.
The studio is known for designing spaces that communicate brand identities and cultural narratives through advanced digital and material techniques, since by incorporating digital installations and interactive elements, they enhance visitor engagement and transform physical environments into dynamic experiences—a design philosophy that they call “Artisanship 2.0“.
Spanish Pavilion Exhibition (2021)
The Spanish Pavilion exhibition was designed by the studio to explore the relationship between sustainability and collective intelligence through an immersive, didactic experience. The ground floor is conceived as an open plaza, where visitors are met by installations that highlight Spain’s cultural contributions, particularly its historical connections with Arab culture.
At the heart of the exhibition is the “Bosque de la Inteligencia“, a high-tech forest with trees fabricated using 3D-printed PLA, a bioplastic polymer combined with a mineral compound capable of capturing greenhouse gases. Integrated photo-bioreactors allow for real photosynthesis to occur, with microalgae producing oxygen while reducing atmospheric CO₂.
15. dwp | design worldwide partnership
dwp is an architecture and design firm with over 30 years of experience with offices in Asia and the Middle East. The studio provides architectural, interior, and planning services all around the world, integrating technology and sustainability solutions into each project it works on. The firm’s portfolio includes commercial, residential, hospitality, healthcare, and mixed-use developments.
Whizdom The Forestias (2024)
Whizdom The Forestias is a residential development in Bangna, Bangkok, that consists of two interconnected buildings and a pet-friendly condominium. With several types of residential units comes the need for various amenities, so the designers were sure to include a gym, an onsen, a sauna, a library, a children’s play area, a co-working space, and even landscaped gardens. The materials used were specifically chosen to ensure that the project would have the minimum possible impact on the environment while still creating a comfortable environment for both residents and pets.
