Design-led architecture for homes, places and people
MK40 Architects Ltd, Reg Office Northwood House, 138 Bromham Rd, Bedford, MK40 2QW.
VAT no 988 4296 48.
Andrew Toumazou, BA(Hons) Dip Arch RIBA
Architect / Director
Andrew began his training at the University of Westminster and went on to complete his post-graduate studies in Architecture at Oxford Brookes University, graduating in 1997. He is now a registered architect and is a chartered member of the RIBA.
Andrew began his career at a large commercial signature practice, Chapman Taylor Architects in London, where over the seven years he contributed to several multi award-winning projects in the UK and abroad. Most notably these are, the remodelling and retail strategies for Heathrow Airport (Terminal 3 & Terminal 5), a six-storey office and retail building at DS8 Canary Wharf and plethora of shopping centre projects in Spain, Italy, and France.
Andrew later moved to The Inskip Partnership, in Bedford where he worked on several educational schemes along with residential projects over a period of three years. These involved running projects through all RIBA stages of work, from design through to contract administration. Most notably, Lincroft Middle School’s Sports Hall which gained the RIBA Eastern Region Design Award within the Education Category.
Andrew joined international architects, Archial in 2005 (now relabelled as Archial Norr). As a project architect, he worked mainly on Government and MOD-based projects. The roles within these projects were not only as a project architect, delivering multi-million-pound schemes, but equally involved the hands-on production of the technical packages enabling construction. His most successful scheme to date has been the £8m Junior Rates Galley & Dining Hall at HMS Collingwood which was opened by HRH Princess Royal and went on to be commended by The Fareham Society. Other projects involved a £7m MOD accommodation block and he was part of the team which developed the £28m Chelsea Academy school.
In 2009, Andrew set up mk40 architects and is currently the owner and director of the practice. The practice has been involved in a multitude of sectors that include commercial, educational, and residential buildings. During the last ten years the practice has worked on various projects in connection with The Zoological Society of London, both at ZSL London Zoo and at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.
About mk40 architects
mk40 architects is an award-winning, design-led architectural practice with studios in Bedford and London. Since its founding in 2009, the practice has built a reputation for creating architecture that is clear in concept, thoughtful in execution and grounded in the realities of how people live, work and interact with place. The studio works across a broad range of sectors, delivering residential, commercial, educational, cultural and sustainability-focused projects with the same commitment to design quality, technical rigour and careful attention to context. At the heart of the practice is a belief that good architecture should do more than meet a brief. It should improve the way a place feels and functions, respond intelligently to its setting and bring long-term value to the people who use it. Whether the project is a new-build home, a complex refurbishment, a workplace or a specialist public-facing environment, mk40 architects approaches each commission with a balance of creativity, professionalism and practical delivery.
What we do
We provide a complete architectural service, supporting projects from the earliest ideas through planning, technical design and construction. Our work is collaborative and hands-on, helping clients navigate the design process with clarity and confidence. Some clients come to us with a clear vision and need expert guidance to shape and deliver it. Others are at the very beginning of the journey and want help exploring opportunities, testing options and understanding how a building or site might evolve. In both cases, we bring an approach that is imaginative, responsive and grounded in experience. Alongside architecture, we also offer interior design, master-planning, concept development and visualisation, allowing us to look at projects holistically and create outcomes that feel coherent from the overall strategy down to the details of materiality, space and use.
Sectors
Our portfolio reflects the breadth of the practice and the flexibility of our design approach. We work on bespoke new-build homes, residential extensions and remodelling projects, as well as barn conversions and housing schemes in locations where planning and context are especially important. We also bring experience in commercial and workplace environments, education projects and specialist cultural commissions, giving us the ability to adapt to different briefs, users and operational needs. This range of work means we are comfortable moving between intimate domestic spaces and larger, more publicly visible projects. What connects them is not a fixed house style, but a consistent way of working: listening carefully, understanding the ambitions of the client, responding to the character of the site and developing architecture that feels appropriate, confident and well resolved.
Our approach
We believe the best projects begin with a strong conversation. Every brief contains practical needs, aspirations and constraints, and our role is to turn those into architecture that is both inspiring and achievable. Our process starts by understanding the people behind the project and the qualities of the site itself, from light, landscape and movement to planning conditions, neighbouring buildings and future use. From there, we develop design ideas that are clear, buildable and carefully tested. Creativity is central to what we do, but it is always supported by technical rigour and attention to detail. We think deeply about proportion, layout, materials and the experience of moving through a space, while also considering cost, programme, approvals and construction realities. This balance between design ambition and practical delivery allows us to create spaces that feel effortless in use but are robustly developed behind the scenes.
Leadership
The practice is led by Andrew Toumazou, a RIBA-chartered architect whose experience spans residential, commercial, education and government-related work. That breadth of experience shapes the way mk40 architects operates today: with a strong understanding of design, a clear grasp of project delivery and an appreciation of how buildings need to perform in real life. Leadership within the studio combines creative direction with practical oversight, enabling projects to move confidently from concept through planning and into detailed design and construction. For clients, that means working with a team that values communication, transparency and continuity throughout the process. It also means access to a studio culture that sees architecture not as a standardised service, but as a tailored response to each client, place and brief.
Selected project types
Across the studio’s body of work, a number of project types reflect the character and capabilities of the practice. In residential architecture, this includes individually designed homes, substantial extensions, internal reconfigurations and conversions that bring new life to existing buildings. These projects often require sensitive responses to heritage, rural settings, greenbelt constraints or established neighbourhood character, and they benefit from a design process that can combine ambition with planning awareness. Beyond domestic work, the practice has also contributed to specialist visitor-focused and cultural environments, including projects connected with London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo. Work of this kind calls for thoughtful coordination, technical care and a strong understanding of how design supports public experience, education and day-to-day operation. Together, these project types demonstrate a studio that is comfortable with both the detail of bespoke design and the broader demands of complex, multi-layered briefs.
From bespoke homes to specialist project work, mk40 architects creates architecture that is contextual, carefully considered and made to last. We work closely with clients at every stage, building trusted relationships and shaping solutions that respond to both practical requirements and bigger ambitions. For some, that means designing a home that feels calm, generous and deeply connected to everyday life. For others, it means developing a commercial, educational or public-facing space that performs well, communicates clearly and enhances the experience of those who use it. In every case, our aim is the same: to create architecture with clarity, purpose and presence. The result is work that is not only visually strong, but also functional, buildable and rooted in a genuine understanding of place. As a practice, we value the long view and believe the most successful buildings are those that continue to serve their users well over time. That perspective informs the way we design, the way we collaborate and the way we deliver each project.
