About Us | Space Group Architects

About Us

‘The level of detail in space group’s planning went far beyond our expectations with careful consideration given to every surface, texture and finish.’

Jennifer Bedlow, client with ghastly good taste
‘Martin oversaw the project from start to finish, and is a pleasure to work with. He is focused and efficient and responds promptly to queries. (..) Martin enabled us to feel confident at each stage of the process.’

Malcom Chisholm, client met through our charity work
‘(..) [Space Group’s] tenacity with the planners resulted in not only an amazing new space in our house but making it large enough to enable us to stay and create a family home.
We will always be eternally grateful to them for that.’

Lucie Newman, repeat client
‘The response to the chop (…) has been very, very good (…).
Everyone thinks it looks fantastic (…).
It’s absolutely brilliant, I love love love it.’

Lisa Anderson, successful businesswoman
‘Martin is reliable, disciplined and hard-working.
He has original design ideas and is very thorough in his approach.’

B. B., clever developer
'Space Group listened carefully to us and very quickly grasped our key wishes and needs for the project.
They took our very initial ideas and developed them in exciting and innovative directions.’

Joanna Griffiths, client come friend
‘We have been very impressed by the service we have received from Space Group Architects.
The design was not one we would have thought of, which is part of its appeal, but has enhanced our home in many ways.’

Pip Chisholm, mother of three children
‘Space Group’s detailing is fantastic.
They have achieved wonderful solutions for little costs without compromising on the overall design.’

R. McKelvey, daring client
‘The design process (…) was extremely enjoyable.
(…) The glass box and kitchen living space downstairs is where we live, which is a mark of how much we both love our home. Thank you.’

A. Wilson, one of our first clients
‘Martin came up with a simply stunning, fresh & unexpected design for my house.
Anyone who sees the finished article is without fail hugely impressed.’

Reuben Heller, a design embracing client

the practice

‘ARCHITECTURAL SCIENTISTS’ IN THE QUEST FOR A HUMANE FUTURE

Here at Space Group Architects, we like to look at ourselves as architectural scientists and look at our office as a laboratory home to innovative creations that stretch the boundaries of what we think is possible. Rather surprisingly, our present works have their roots in both the past, utilising widely forgotten practices, and in future technologies. This amalgamation leads to entirely inimitable outcomes.

Over the last 13 years we have completed well over 200 projects. We have created more than 150 unique family homes, exciting workspaces, apartment blocks and various public spaces. We typically carry a project from the brief through the Planning process, Building Control compliance, all the way through the construction until completion. Over all these years we have managed to maintain a Planning Approval track record of 97% approved applications. Our projects range from small (typically from £100k) to large (up to £5m). Our mission is to have a considered approach that encourages creative dialogue with both other design experts and the client.

We consider ourselves as architectural scientists combining methods of old with technologies of the future to create the exceptional. We view our office as a laboratory where we are continuously experimenting to stay at the forefront of industry evolution.

Every project, built or un-built, follows a key-narrative that is identified at an early stage. Once found, it is rolled out over the entire project - no matter what scale. This enables an enforced design statement and ideas start to complement each other. These are the reasons why we prefer to be involved in projects down to the last detail – from the urban context to the architectural space to the finishes and furniture.

The key to our successful approach to architecture is our focus on constant evolution and iteration. There is a constant, unconstrained progress whether it is through re-discovering historical techniques or researching, creating and testing new methods and radical ideas. In the search for ever more sustainable solutions research becomes essential.

innovate with us

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Projects he was involved in include:

Wedges, London
Shoreditch Church Penthouse, London
Ny Valer Church, Oslo
Vauxhall Bridge Road Offices, London
The Green Knot, Austria
The Brunswick Centre Apartment, London
Infinite Shapes of Benetton, Iran
One Angel Court, London
Finsbury Circus, London
Watermark Place / One Angel Lane, London
Kilternan Golf & Country Club Hotel, Dublin
Garden Apartment, London
Light House, London
Seoul Performing Arts Centre, South Korea
Building Envelope Optimisation (in collaboration with ARUP Research)
World Trade Centre Tower, Mumbai, India
Tate in Space (Supported by Prof. Urs Hirschberg, Harvard University, Graduate School Of Design)

the founder

Martin Gruenanger

Dipl Ing Architect RIBA ARB
Director

Martin Gruenanger completed his architectural training at the Technical University of Graz, Austria. Following on from some work experience in the United Arabian Emirates, he arrived in London with the benefit of a scholarship. London has since become his base to work from. As a qualified and registered architect in the UK he is a member of the ARB and a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

His previous roles enabled him to work on exciting projects in the UK, Ireland and India for highly regarded London-based practices. His positions included Project Architect and facade expert at Fletcher Priest Architects, Associate at Project Orange and Project Architect at Gianni Botsford Architects.

In 2007, he formed Space Group of Architects, an RIBA chartered practice, and began to take on domestic and commercial projects in the UK and abroad. More ambitious recent projects include the design of a church near Oslo, a 9ha master-planning scheme in Austria and sustainable mixed-use buildings in London.

His areas of expertise include sustainable design, facade development and future technologies, and their integration into life and architecture. In 2010, he was runner up for the prestigious BD Young Architect of the Year Award. He has been a guest lecturer at various institutions including Rochester (NY), Oxford and South Bank university.

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our team

Martin Gruenanger

Charles Rocha

Judy Köhler

Diego Sebastian

Alex Wright

Tracey Elasmar

Theodora Lymboura

Salvatore Piazza

Cristian Suba

Szőnyi Piroska

Matthew Lee

Lois Farningham

Nora Claudio Familiar

Alex Alonso

Karbi Yuet Chan

Anas Soufi

Sehr Gupta

awards

Awards, nominations and prizes for successful projects Martin Gruenanger, founder of Space Group Architects, was involved in include:

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Shortlisted for the AJ Retrofit Award 2023 for Best House under £500k
Shortlisted for the AJ Retrofit Award 2022 for Best House under £500k
Special Commendation for the RIBAJ Light Roof Competition 2021
BD Architect of the Year 2021 - Shortlisted for Interior Architect of the Year
NLA 'Don't Move, Improve!' Award 2020 - Longlisted for Best Extension
AJ Tall Building of the Year Award 2017- Shortlisted
City of London Building of the Year Award 2017 - Highly Commended
BD Architect of the Year 2017 - Shortlisted for Interior Architect of the Year
RIBA Award for Best Design of the Regent Street Window Project 2015
NLA 'Don't Move, Improve!' Award 2015 - Shortlisted for Best Extension
NLA 'Don't Move, Improve!' Award 2013/14 - Shortlisted for Home Refurbishment
NLA 'Don't Move, Improve!' Award 2013/14 - Shortlisted for Home Interior Design
NLA 'Don't Move, Improve!' Award 2013/14 - Shortlisted for Office Refurbishment
LEAF International 'Best Use of Space' Award Finalist 2013
LEAF Young Architect of the Year World Finalist 2012

NLA 'Don't Move, Improve!' Award 2011/12 for Home Interior Design
World Architecture News - 21For21 Finalist 2011
BD Young Architect of the Year Runner Up 2010
RIBA Award 2010
The Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects’ New City Architecture Award 2010
City of London District Surveyors Association’s Building Excellence Award 2010 for the Best Sustainability Project
Buildings’ Building Project of the Year Award Runner Up 2010
The Institute of Civil Engineers’ ‘Project of the Year’ Award 2009
RIBA Award 2008
Manser Medal nominee 2008
Grand Designs Best New Build House Finalist 2007
AIA UK Chapter Excellence in Design Award 2007
RIBA Award 2006
Manser Medal nominee 2008
2nd price in Gries 2010 Competition 2002

our clients

Our commercial clients include:

Aldersbrook Primary School

Anderson & Co

Argent

Astana Holdings/Louvre Trust

Austrian Cultural Forum London

Benetton Group

Bhatt Murphy Solicitors

BMUKK

Bundeskanzleramt Austria

Cadogan Estate

City Realty

David Uri Memorial Trust

in2scienceUK

LVMH Fashion Group

MD's

NHS

OeAD/Ennstal

Penhaligon's

Pepsi Co

Rosie Lee

Small Batch Coffee Company

Stadt Graz (supported by the EU)

VOEST Alpine

XAL

Zedra

Zest Essentials

the practice