About
At haat, we create spaces that you'll seek out, stay in, and return to.
We believe we need to understand the problems you're trying to solve before we start designing your buildings. Before we pick up a pencil, we listen. We want to understand what you actually need from your space – not just what's on your Pinterest board, but the deeper stuff. What feeling are you after? What will this space enable in your life or business?
Understanding why you want something can completely change what you need. And that's where the interesting work begins. We dig into your goals, question assumptions, and figure out the best solution together – the one that actually solves your problem, not just the one that looks good on paper.
Every project begins with a strong concept – a central idea that ties it all together. We'll make sure it connects what you love about your existing space with the new elements we're adding. The result? Something refined, elegant, and probably surprising in the best way.
Being a focused studio means we're nimble. We can move fast, think differently, and go the extra mile. But we also bring serious experience and expertise to handle complex work – we just don't need to be stuffy about it.
Services
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We've Been in Your Shoes
As well as being an architect I'm a co-founder of a yoga studio called Basic Space, where I designed and managed the fit-outs of both our London studios. So when we talk about small businesses doing brand-forward spaces, we're not guessing – we've done it. We know what it's like to watch every penny, to need everything operational from day one, and to understand that your physical space is doing as much brand communication as your Instagram feed.
Design That Pays Its Way
We understand how to protect your cash flow and make sure money is being spent in the right places at the right time. When something needs to be special – the moment a customer walks in, the detail that makes your brand click – that's where we'll focus the budget. Every decision should reinforce who you are and what you're trying to say.
From Concept to Trading
We know how to deliver projects that open on time, stay on budget, and actually work day-to-day. We've navigated planning officers, managed contractors, solved problems at 11pm the night before opening, and figured out how to make spaces that look considered but can take a beating. Whether you're opening your first location or your fifth, we bring deep understanding and unique insight into what makes retail and hospitality spaces succeed.
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Navigate with Confidence
Building or renovating a home is one of the biggest decisions you'll make. Most of our residential clients haven't managed a project like this before, and that's fine – we'll guide you through every stage, from planning applications to choosing door handles. We translate the technical stuff and make sure you understand your options at every step.
Create Something Special
Your home should reflect how you actually live, not just look good in photos, but don’t worry it will. We'll help you articulate what you really want (which may be different from what you think you want) and design a space that works harder and feels better than you imagined.
Get It Built Right
We'll assemble a team you can trust, manage the construction process, and handle any issues that come up. You'll end up with a finished space that matches the vision we developed together, without the drama.
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Create Spaces That Matter
Public buildings are where communities come together. They're libraries where children discover reading, community centres where neighbours become friends, schools where futures are shaped. These projects can be genuinely meaningful – spaces that improve daily life and bring people together. We're experienced at balancing the multiple stakeholders, consultation processes, and statutory requirements that come with public work, while keeping sight of the human impact at the centre of it all.
Think Creatively Within Constraints
Limited budgets don't have to mean compromised design. We're good at finding solutions that deliver high-quality spaces without breaking the bank – knowing where to save money and where to spend it, which battles to fight and which ones to let go. Public buildings deserve thoughtful design that serves their communities well, and we know how to make that happen within realistic budget constraints.
See It Through
From initial feasibility studies through to completion, we'll manage the process and keep your project moving. We understand public sector timelines and procurement processes, and we know how to work within them. We'll handle the reports, tick the boxes, and talk to the planning officers – all while designing spaces that people will genuinely want to use and return to.
Ethics
People First
At the centre of everything we do is you. We treat everyone we work with – clients, collaborators, contractors – with respect and honesty. No jargon, no arrogance, no surprises. We'll tell you plainly what's possible and what it'll take to get there.
Climate Conscious
We're committed to reducing the carbon footprint of every project we touch. That means being thoughtful and data-driven from day one – making sustainable choices the obvious ones, improving building performance, and reusing as much existing fabric as possible. We harness emerging technologies and materials to make this happen, researching new approaches that we can apply broadly across our work.
Transparency
You'll always know where we stand. We're upfront about timelines, budgets, and challenges. If something's not working, we'll tell you. If we find a better solution, we'll tell you that too. Clear communication makes for better buildings and better relationships.
Craft & Technology
We believe in balance. Contemporary digital tools let us iterate faster and dive deeper into problems, finding higher-quality solutions in less time. But buildings are still physical things, put together by human hands. We work alongside talented makers to ensure there's room for intimacy and craft in everything we create.
