Studio Multi is an architectural studio based in London, led by Nicola Rutt and Seth Rutt.

The ‘Multi’ in our name refers to an open, collaborative, and pluralistic way of working. In our experience, open collaboration with other disciplines and industries is central to the creation of new ideas and innovations. We design sustainable buildings, retrofits, and places with resilience for future adaptation and re-use.

Studio Multi brings the energy of a new practice and the experience of an established one. We have decades of experience delivering projects across many sectors from concept to completion and bring big-practice know-how to a smaller studio where we can fully engage with projects.

Studio Multi began in a time of declared environmental emergency.

We believe in an architecture of efficiency that enables joy – an architecture that is responsible yet optimistic.

We seek energy efficiency and carbon neutrality. We champion Passivhaus design as a viable means of reducing energy in use and increasing comfort. We want to minimise embodied carbon, either through retrofit of existing structures or deployment of lower-impact materials.

We embrace spatial efficiency, so that our buildings generate the most productivity through reduced means. We believe there can be a relationship between economic spatial planning and reduced embodied carbon. We make space for art, positive moments, and spaces that are open to multiple uses.

We imbue our buildings with legibility - through simple forms, rigorous composition, passive façade control and clarity of construction.

We design homes, not units. We have extensive experience in housing design across all tenures and scales - from social housing for families and market sale homes to highly amenitised multi-family apartments and co-living communities.

We understand the intimate sanctuary of home, positive engagement with the outside and plan for street-based neighbourhoods. Residential buildings are long-term structures. We adopt a ‘long-life loose-fit approach’ so that homes can adapt as our circumstances and lifestyles change and to extend the life span of the building. We are committed to designing low energy Passivhaus buildings for future generations.

Studio Multi’s leadership has worked for local authorities, registered providers, institutional investors, and private clients. Much of our experience has been within the London boroughs, and we are informed about current legislation and economics in housing delivery.

Our delivery experience includes modern methods of construction in tall buildings, reuse and refurbishment of existing structures and on-site delivery of low-energy Passivhaus homes.

The environmental challenges we face, together with rapidly evolving changes in technology and the impact of the pandemic have revolutionised how we work. With the boundaries between work and home becoming increasingly blurred, the quality of the workplace is now more important than ever for businesses to attract and retain talent.

Our workplace design is based on a strong narrative, developed closely with our clients, and always grounded in providing the best possible experience for the occupants.

Meaningful spaces for collaboration and amenity are designed into each of our workplace projects as we recognise the positive benefits these bring to individuals and businesses.

Specialising in the transformation of existing buildings and campuses, we bring the experience of leading award- winning workplace projects from £3m to £100m.

Studio Multi’s team has experience in the design and delivery of curatorial space for the exhibition and storage of visual art and historic artifacts. Delivered projects, mostly involving the re-use of heritage structures, include display space for sculpture and works on paper, climate controlled secure storage and interpretive museums.

We think big, strategically and for a more sustainable future. We think beyond the site boundary and bring the ‘what if?’ to a brief.

We have a strong belief that places should be designed for people and from eye level. By adopting a people first approach to masterplanning we create more meaningful public spaces, landscapes, buildings and most importantly experiences.

We work with local communities and immerse ourselves in an area to unlock its potential. This enables us to consider the bigger picture elements of infrastructure, climate adaption, land use, economy, and density. And also, the human related factors that make us want to spend time in places, such as microclimate, somewhere to sit and space to play.

Our varied masterplanning and public realm experience includes planning new residential neighbourhoods, city centre rejuvenation, repurposing large industrial buildings and detailing new streetscapes.

Studio Multi believes in the seamless integration of exterior and interior architecture.

We enjoy the collaborative aspects of designing interior spaces, working alongside our clients with craftspeople, lighting designers, graphic designers, suppliers, and other specialists. We embrace colour and are fascinated by the interface between nature, digital technology and traditional artforms.

As certified Passivhaus designers and Fitwel Ambassadors we understand how our interior environments impact our sense of wellbeing.

Much of our experience lies in both workplace design and museum projects and we understand the technical demands of each, including user experience, space planning and secure storage.

In the case of residential build-to-rent projects, we are used to the detail life-cycle considerations of finishes and equipment at an early stage in the design process.