MATA Architects

"We first approached MATA for a relatively small refurbishment of one flat. It became clear very quickly that the value Dan and the team were bringing extended far beyond the original scope. Their ability to think holistically about space, light, layout and how the building functions as a whole led us to expand the commission to include all five apartments. Working with Dan and Alice has been a genuinely collaborative process. They have a strong design point of view, but they also listen. They understand how people live in a space and balance architectural clarity with practicality. Throughout the project, communication was consistent and transparent, and problem-solving was proactive rather than reactive. A large part of the success of the project came from their attention to detail — joinery, bathrooms, kitchens, lighting, proportions — nothing was left unresolved or improvised. The result is a set of homes that feel coherent, calm and thoughtfully made. We are very pleased with the outcome and would happily recommend Dan, Alice and the MATA team to anyone looking for architects who are both creative and meticulous, and who see a project through from first conversation to the final finishing details."

"We engaged MATA back in 2022 for the refurbishment and extension of what was a dilapidated terraced house in Queen's Park. We spoke to four different practices and ultimately chose to work with Dan and the MATA team because from our very first meeting with them we felt we were in safe hands, that they understood our vision and that they wanted to deliver something very special with our home. What differentiated MATA was the time and care they took to understand our brief and present an initial scheme back to us that both incorporated our needs and carried a strong sense of the beautiful MATA design language that we had followed through researching their previous projects. Their initial sketches were superb and the way they presented all of their work really helped us to picture how the final house would look (and thankfully it looks just like the renders!) 18 months after we first met with MATA, we moved in, pretty much on time and on budget. That the process went so smoothly was a testament to Dan, Simona and Alice's full suite of capabilities. The initial design stages were fun and engaging; they kept up a good pace of iterations whilst allowing us the space to think through a number of complex challenges that the house threw at us. They ran a tender process which introduced a fantastic builder and helped us through some difficult value engineering decisions in order to meet our budget. Dan was always available to provide advice and guidance and we felt that he was always on our side. They project managed the build and were very active in this stage, on site every week and frequently intervening to suggest ideas when they could easily have stepped back and moved their attention elsewhere. We really appreciated the way that Dan had a strong sense of what he wanted to achieve with every room, every finish and every view in the house. He was firm in his ideas and yet careful to let us know that every choice was ultimately ours. Ultimately this made us comfortable to focus in on some key areas where we worked through multiple different approaches, whilst trusting Dan and Simona’s judgement on the majority of details and avoiding decision fatigue. Overall, MATA offered an outstanding mixture of beautiful design, thoughtful advice and detailed project management which meant that our project didn’t just look good on paper, but also became a fantastic, functional family home. It is a warm, calming space which has given our family many happy moments already and I’m sure will provide many more to come."

"I recently had the chance to collaborate with the team at MATA for my residential project. For a start, they were both professional and approachable which I loved. More importantly though, I was beyond impressed with their work. The attention to detail in their designs was impressive and every aspect of the project was executed with precision and care. Their ability to blend form and function was truly remarkable and I was blown away by the results. The team was always available to answer any questions I had and they made the entire process stress-free and enjoyable."

"We engaged MATA to design and obtain planning permission for a full scale transformation of our home, including extension and total refurbishment. Right from the initial conversation, Dan and his team displayed a sensitivity for and understanding of what we wanted to achieve, while bringing their own unique vision to the project. They provided open dialogue, always being willing to accommodate our requirements and listening to what we wanted, while also guiding us with their expert knowledge. The planning permission stage could not have been smoother: it was approved on first review without a single revision to the ambitious design – a testament to the thorough preparation and thought that MATA put into the application. Dan and the team were a delight to deal with throughout and made the whole process seamless. We would thoroughly recommend MATA and would not hesitate to work again with them on any future project."

"I am the co-owner of Monty's Deli in Hoxton, and we chose Dan Marks Studio to help us realise our vision for our restaurant. Right from the start Dan came up with some great ideas and immediately grasped the design and style we wanted to achieve. During the project the team worked tirelessly in all areas of the project, refining the tenders for contract, adjustments due to budget requirements, design and re-design of kitchen , bar, etc..application for planning consent and many more vital tasks that might have been considered beyond their remit but for their commitment to the project. Throughout the whole process a good natured and easy communication was enjoyed by all parties, and I can say wholeheartedly that we are delighted with the result. We now have a beautiful and highly functional restaurant. If you need an architect, then I highly recommend that you choose Dan Marks Studio."