NLQ Issue 61: Home is where the heart is
Louise Rodgers meets AFK Studios to reflect on 10 years of architecture in London and future projects, including a potential new home for NLA. Here are some takeaways from the article below.
“A passionate Londoner with an Australian accent,” is how Earle Arney founder and CEO of AFK Studios, introduces himself. Joining him are Sho Itoh principal architect; Brittany Marquardt associate and head of client relations; and Nick Hacking newly appointed director and head of residential.
“My accent’s stronger since I got off the boat,” Arney laughs. He reflects on leaving Sydney: “The weather there is too perfect. The lack of seasonality dulled my appreciation. London celebrates difference, and my sense of belonging is here.” Marquardt adds, “You don’t need to be born here to be a Londoner. Living here is enough.”
“When you are not from here, there is a search for belonging, or meaning, or connection,” Arney explains.
Hacking, who joined recently, shares, “AFK is the perfect size for exchanging ideas - less hierarchical, and more open. It’s daunting but rewarding to present your story to the team.”
A boutique global studio
Arney established AFK in London a decade ago with a global yet boutique vision. “We believed we didn’t need to be the oldest firm to work with the best clients. Ten years later, our energy has paid off,” he explains. Their ethos, “touching the earth lightly,” prioritises sustainable, people-centric designs.
AFK’s first project was a dual-height tower in Calgary, winning against larger firms. “Opening a London studio with a Canadian project was bizarre,” Arney recalls. This led to designing 750,000 sq ft of Deloitte workspaces in Canada. Itoh notes, “International projects challenge the status quo, keeping us innovative.”
Arney elaborates, “London remains our core, but international work builds resilience in the cyclical UK market. These projects attract talent who bring fresh insights back to London.”
Projects and collaboration
AFK excels at optimising existing projects, notably 100 Bishopsgate , where they unlocked an additional 120,000 sq ft, a 15% uplift. Graham Morrison of Allies and Morrison called it a “seamless” collaboration with “genuine joint authorship.”
“Everyone is trying to get developments over the line on very fine margins,” Hacking says. “That 15% can make all the difference.”
The studio’s portfolio includes tall workplaces like 55 Bishopsgate, luxury residences such as Chelsea Riverview, and affordable housing. Hacking leads residential efforts, including The Bermondsey Project and Park & Sayer at Elephant Park. He is also developing “attainable housing” with Greystar, a scalable private-sector solution to the UK’s housing needs.
“We design from the ‘inside out,’ whether we are doing masterplans or single buildings,” Arney explains. “Understanding how that product works in its context and for its users is key.”
The next chapter
Marking their 10th anniversary, AFK is entering a new phase. “We’ve completed our freshman year and are now growing into our ambitions,” says Arney. “Our clear path is to double our size while maintaining quality. At the end of the day, architects solve problems, and we do that exceptionally well.”
For a deeper dive into AFK’s journey and future plans, read the full article on the NLA website .
