Studio aki is a transdisciplinary, architecture and research practice committed to creating, socially-engaged projects. The studio straddles the boundaries of architecture, art and design, drawing on influences from engineering, film and theatre. Projects include small scale objects, branding and installations, up to work at the architectural scale. We have a strong interest in the use of narrative and storytelling to develop spatial propositions and use film and photography research as tools to communicate ideas about architecture and cities.

Working closely with sister organisation theatre collective Appropri8, we seek to engage in participatory process and grassroots projects to activate disused urban spaces.  We are committed to working collaboratively with clients and support our work with research into the socio-economic and cultural context of each project. Our aim is to help make people’s live better through design. We aim to respond to the diversity of people, cultures and contexts that our world is up made of, and add richness and texture to the built environments, whilst catering to everyday need.

Studio founder and Creative Director Sarah is an Architect and Filmmaker, passionate about using the skills gained in filmmaking and photography to conduct research, communicate her ideas and to help others communicate their own vision. She is a graduate of the Architectural Association and has trained as a structural engineer and graphic designer.

Sarah’s passion for photography began during her architecture studies when she began using the camera as a means of reading and documenting the city. This led her to joining Pascal’s Schoning film based unit whilst at the Architectural Association (AA), where filmmaking was employed to as a means of developing narrative and communicating ideas. She is also trained as an actor, having gained an MA in acting from Drama Centre, Central St Martins. Sarah has worked with awarding winning theatre companies, as a filmmaker and performer, her work has been shown internationally and round the UK and she brings knowledge of storytelling, and communication, from this sphere to Studio Aki.

We work closely with our sister organisation, Appropri8, to reactivate disused urban spaces using installations, performance and cinema.