We are a London-based masterplanning and architecture practice working across Europe and beyond. Founded in 2005, the practice is led by James Craven and Charles Dunnett, whose early work in the Netherlands on complex, mixed-use urban regeneration projects continues to shape our approach.
We work on projects that deal with real urban complexity — from large-scale regeneration and town centres to residential-led mixed-use schemes. In London, this includes regeneration work around Berwick Street Market for the City of Westminster, alongside projects across the capital. Over the past ten years we have designed more than 2,000 homes.
Our work spans Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands, where we have delivered award-winning masterplans, public-realm and mixed-use projects, often following international competitions. Recent work includes the restructuring of the historic centre of Fürth, the Cherrywood town centre extension in south-east Dublin, and projects within the OMA AlmereStad masterplan area.
A major strand of our work focuses on retail and city centres. We understand the role retail plays in shaping lively, resilient places — and how it needs to evolve. Since 2005 we have worked on major retail centres in Milan, Vienna, Stockholm and Moscow, carried out strategic studies for landowners across the UK and Europe, and designed for retailers in urban centres and transport hubs, including Heathrow, Dublin and Venice.
At the heart of our practice is making places for people. Much of what we do is problem-solving: helping places and buildings adapt, recover or find a new purpose. We advise landowners, developers and public bodies on how to unlock long-term value and create places people want to spend time in.
In Germany, DC and Partners won the competition for the restructuring of the historic inner core of Fürth and were retained as supervisors for the plan as a whole as well as architects for key elements of the project. In 2016, following a competition and public consultation, we were commissioned as architects for the 100,000m2 town centre at Cherrywood, the south-east Dublin extension and the project has now received full planning permission from Dun Laoghaire.
In the Netherlands, we have completed award winning mixed use and public realm projects for public private partners, in Zoetermeer Oost and across the OMA AlmereStad masterplan area.
Our major focus is on making places that people enjoy. We understand the key role that retail can play in both energising city centres and driving development and we also understand how it needs to adapt to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. We have either built, reorganised or remodelled major retail centres in Milan, Vienna, Stockholm and Moscow since 2005 and carried out strategic studies for landowners in both the UK and mainland Europe on how to transform existing assets; we also design directly for retailers and in airports such as Heathrow, Dublin and Venice.
We also recognise that cities need to be layered to create the right environment for a rich, enduring mix of uses. Much of our work is problem solving. We develop strategies for restructuring places and buildings that are either struggling or have simply failed. We advise property funds on investment and development opportunities and consult internationally on retail matters.
