More than architecture

Mobile Studio Architects is a London-based architectural practice working across sectors and building types to create extraordinary spaces and places.

Our experience is broad and encompasses cultural, community, commercial, housing and private residential projects.

We work with private individuals, developers, local authorities and large public bodies on projects across a variety of scales. Our work includes award-winning housing design, concept hotels, community-based projects, office fit-outs, innovative family homes, as well as widely acclaimed exhibition and gallery design.

Our design-led approach is inclusive and collaborative, and our diverse experience enables us to take a multifaceted approach that leads to projects that captivate and excite.

We work closely with our clients, listening to their needs and desires, testing the parameters of briefs to reveal the unexpected, whilst managing programme and budget to create value.

Working with Mobile Studio has been an absolute treat. I went to them with a wholly unrealistic proposal and with very little time to make it happen. Astonishingly, their enormous drive, attention to detail and natural style made the brief a reality.

Simon Gould, UCL Museums

Our clients span both the public and private sectors and include Tate Modern, Camden Arts & Tourism, Royal Academy of Arts, King’s College London, New London Architecture, Florence Nightingale Museum and University College London. We also work with private individuals to create unique homes that suit their way of life. Our residential projects range from new-build houses on Anglesey to the refurbishment and restoration of contemporary and listed homes across London.

We are currently designing cultural, hotel, housing and private residential projects across the UK and the Far East. Our work has been recognised for the quality of its design and selected for many awards and competitions.

‘Art, architecture and everything in between’. This is an advantage in a world where architects will have to offer a wider array of services.

Caroline Cole, Colander

At Mobile Studio Architects we are committed to creating architecture that is valuable, transformational and of the highest quality.

We combine expertise across a wide range of design services including:

• Architecture
• Landscape
• Interiors
• Exhibitions
• Consultation
• Furniture
• Branding
• Graphics
• Modular

We believe this interrelated network of services and expertise informs, consolidates and helps to guide our multifaceted approach.

We are excited by collaboration and the possibilities working together can bring. We know that when people come together in a truly collaborative way amazing things can happen. By listening, exploring and developing ideas we have created places, spaces and structures that enthral and delight whilst always meeting the fundamental requirements of our clients.

Our team is energetic and versatile, always looking for new and more efficient ways of working, more elegant methods of communicating, and better means of presentation.

At Mobile Studio Architects we provide a full range of architectural services and work closely with our clients through the design, procurement and construction of projects.

To help you get an understanding of how we work we’ve summarised the process below:

• Initial Enquiry
  From the moment you contact us to discuss a new project we’ll begin to use our skills and experience to help realise your aspirations.
• Preparation and Brief
  Once our appointment has been confirmed we’ll work together to explore ideas and develop the brief while always managing programme and budget to ensure value.
• Concept Design
  When the brief has been established we’ll prepare concept design drawings. By working closely with you throughout this exploratory phase we’ll make sure the design meets the requirements of your brief.
• Developed Design and Planning
  Once the concept design has been approved we’ll begin to develop drawings for Planning Approval.
• Technical Design
  When Planning is granted we’ll produce the detailed technical drawings. At this stage other consultants may join the project and we’ll coordinate their input.
• Construction
  We’ll produce clear construction drawings that allow the contractor to build the project. We will also provide detailed interior drawings and plans.
• Tender and Contracts
  When the time comes to choose a contractor we will recommend a selection that are the right fit for your project and invite them to tender. Once tenders have been received we’ll help you to choose the best value contractor.
• Construction
  Once construction gets underway we’ll regularly visit the site and carry out inspections to ensure work is in accordance with the contract and there are no issues. If issues do arise we’ll work with the contractor to resolve them efficiently and effectively.
• Completion
  When your project finishes we’ll carry out a detailed inspection and resolve any outstanding issues before we certify Practical Completion. Once Practical Completion has been achieved, and you have moved in, we’ll be on hand to carry out further inspections and work with the contractor to fix any defects.

If you have a project in mind, we’d love to hear about it.

Mobile Studio Architects for Lightbulb. Architecture and Interior Photography by Jim Stephenson

Mobile Studio’s mix of intellectual rigour, pragmatism and strong design sensibility has consistently resulted in projects that not only engage but also delight.

Debbie Whitfield, New London Architecture

Chee-Kit Lai, Director

Chee-Kit Lai has led a variety of projects from small-scale residential to substantial public, commercial and cultural sector work. He is keenly attuned to clients’ needs and desires and works alongside them to realise their aspirations while meeting the demands of programme and budget.

He develops and fosters working relationships with the wider team, including contractors, design team members and consultants, both on- and off-site. His ability to lead projects and teams through all stages of the design and delivery process has led to many repeat commissions for the practice.

A graduate of the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, Chee-Kit is a visiting critic at a number of the UK’s leading universities including UCL, Central St Martins, University of Nottingham and University of Westminster. He is also an RIBA Awards Assessor.

Chee-Kit set up the practice in 2008 after working with a variety of award-winning architecture practices. He is involved in all of the studio’s projects and works closely with clients helping them to achieve their aspirations in a personal and insightful way.

Chee-Kit is a keen runner and is fascinated by airports and air travel.

William Atkins, Architectural Designer

Will joined Mobile Studio after graduating in 2015 with a first class honours Bachelors Degree in Architecture from the University of Nottingham.

Will believes in simple and honest design, and its ability to effectively solve creative problems on both small and large scales. During his time at university Will completed several freelance design projects for local clients, helping establish brand identities and online portfolios.

Will enjoys rowing, cycling and being in the great outdoors.

Alexander Barretta, Architectural Designer

Alex joined Mobile Studio in 2013 after graduating from the University of Nottingham with a Bachelors Degree in Architecture.

Alex is a naturally curious and talented architectural designer who has led a number of successful projects including the RIBA Regent Street Windows project and exhibitions for University College London English and Art Museum. He is currently working on a number of competitions.

Alex is inspired by technically simple yet innovative solutions to practical problems. He believes in a playful approach to architecture that teases out an enjoyment of the everyday.

His pastimes include playing rugby and exploring new cities.

Julie Ann Cormie, Architectural Designer

Julie joined Mobile Studio in 2015 and holds a Bachelors of Environmental Design from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg and a Masters in Architecture from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture in Copenhagen.

Julie’s design interests deal with an architecture which offers mediation of differing views which emerge from sites of conflict through an intricate process-based approach. She was involved in the founding of RAW Gallery of Architecture and Design in Winnipeg and has a continued interest in the intersection between art and architecture and the roles of creative institutions in the city. Julie is currently running a number of private residential projects in London.

Julie loves to cycle and build bicycles.

Special thanks to our previous team members:

1. Dominique Chan, Architect
2. Krina Christopoulou, Architectural Designer
3. Nicolas Farkas, Architectural Designer
4. Thomas Leggatt, Architectural Designer
5. Pruek Lertsrimongkol, Architectural Designer
6. Ian Ng, Architectural Designer
7. Henry Svendsen, Architectural Designer
8. Nihal Tamang, Architectural Designer
9. Nicole Teh, Architectural Designer

Just some of the people we’ve worked with over the last year

We’ve really enjoyed the collaboration. It’s been a joy!

Clerkenwell Design Week

Mobile Studio created a home that’s perfect for us and our growing family.

Private client

We work with a diverse range of clients including public bodies, local authorities, developers and private individuals.

We are committed to building long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationships with everyone we work with and are proud to say that many of our projects are repeat commissions.

Selected clients:

1. 176 Project Space
2. Barbican Centre
3. Beam Camp + Beam Center NYC
4. Camden Arts + Tourism
5. Camden Council
6. Centre Pompidou, Paris
7. Clerkenwell Design Week, London
8. EiC – Excellence in Cities
9. Florence Nightingale Museum
10. Giftique, Xintiandi, Shanghai China
11. Icon Magazine, London
12. Jack Spade
13. Jerwood Space
14. King’s College London
15. London Festival of Architecture
16. Manchester Museum
17. New London Architecture
18. Open House London
19. Platform 1 Gallery
20. Private clients
21. Private developers
22. RIBA London
23. Royal Academy of Arts
24. Serpentine Gallery
25. Southwark Council
26. Tate Modern
27. The Building Exploratory
28. University College London
29. Wandsworth Council
30. Wellcome Trust

2024

• Bartlett Summer Show 2024 Awards, winner. Chee-Kit Lai of Mobile Studio recognised for services to exhibitions at The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL
• Art Fund Museum of the Year 2024, shortlisted. See South Asia Gallery (in collaboration with Studio C102, Manijeh Verghese and Sthuthi Ramesh)
• Museum + Heritage Awards 2024 (Permanent Exhibition of the Year category), winner. See South Asia Gallery (in collaboration with Studio C102, Manijeh Verghese and Sthuthi Ramesh)

2023

• Manchester Culture Awards 2023 by Manchester City Council (Best Exhibition category), winner. See South Asia Gallery (in collaboration with Studio C102, Manijeh Verghese and Sthuthi Ramesh)
• Association for Heritage Interpretation (AHI) 2023 (Community Engagement category), shortlisted. See South Asia Gallery (in collaboration with Studio C102, Manijeh Verghese and Sthuthi Ramesh)

2022

• Silver Lovie and People’s Lovie Awards for the Bartlett School of Architecture’s online show platform developed in collaboration with Hello Monday
• V&A East Museum galleries fit-out, shortlisted. See V&A East (in collaboration with Studio C102, Manijeh Verghese and Sthuthi Ramesh)

2021

• Temporary and travelling exhibition design competition for Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, shortlisted (in collaboration with Studio C102, Manijeh Verghese)
• D&AD Awards (Digital Design), shortlisted. See: The Bartlett Summer Show 2020 by Hello Monday
• The Webby Awards, nominated. See: The Bartlett Summer Show 2020 by Hello Monday
• UCL Provost Education Awards (Staff-Student Partnership category), nominated. The Bartlett School of Architecture Virtual Exhibition team – Prof Penelope Haralambidou, Chee-Kit Lai, David Shanks
• UCL Education Awards (Staff-Student Partnership category), winner. The Bartlett School of Architecture Virtual Exhibition team – Prof Penelope Haralambidou, Chee-Kit Lai, David Shanks. Awarded by The Bartlett Faculty, the awards recognise staff making outstanding contributions to the learning experience and success of students

2020

• South Asia Gallery design competition for Manchester Museum (as part of University of Manchester), winner. See South Asia Gallery (in collaboration with Studio C102)
• Reimagining Museums for Climate Action design competition, longlisted (in collaboration with Studio C102)
• Archiboo Web Awards (Best Visual Design), shortlisted. See: The Bartlett Summer Show 2020 by Hello Monday
• FWA (Site of the Month), winner. See: The Bartlett Summer Show 2020 by Hello Monday
• Awwwards (Site of the Day), winner. See: The Bartlett Summer Show 2020 by Hello Monday

2019

• Wonderlab gallery design competition at the National Railway Museum, York, shortlisted. See: Wonderlab Gallery (in collaboration with Studio C102 and Max Fordham)
• Archiboo Web Awards (Best Use of Technology), shortlisted. See: Bartlett, UCL – Spring 2019 Guest Exhibition

2018

• Don’t Move, Improve! 2018 Awards, longlisted. See: Loft House

2017

• Blueprint Awards 2017 (Best Small Project category), shortlisted. See: Universal Play Machine for BEAM Camp

2016

• The Playable City Award 2016, shortlisted. See: Im[press]ion
• The ARUP Prize for Emerging Talent in Architecture, winner. See: Planning Permission, 2010-15
• RIBA Constructing Communities, shortlisted. Design competition for architecture and community. See: Flipping Bricks (in collaboration with Piper Haywood)
• BEAM Camp Project 2016, winner. Design competition for a collaborative installation. See: Universal Play Machine
• Wembley Park Drive Placemaking competition, shortlisted. Urban regeneration competition. See: Elevate for WPD

2015

• New Ideas for Housing London competition, shortlisted. Ideas competition by NLA in partnership with the Mayor of London. See: PAYD Housing

2014

• Mud House Design (USD6k Challenge) competition, shortlisted. Ideas competition for an open source, repeatable, modular house. See: K.House for Ghana
• Loughborough Junction competition, shortlisted. Regeneration competition by Meanwhile Space to overhaul two railway arches in South London

2013

• Housing in the Private Rental Market competition, longlisted. Ideas competition by RIBA + Wates Group. See: Pay As Your Develop Houses

2012

• NLA New London Awards 2012, shortlisted. See: Portable Gallery
• UCL Research Images as Art/Art Images as Research Competition 2012, runner-up. See: Portable Gallery

2011

• The Resourceful Architect Competition, shortlisted. See: The Architects’ Adhocracy
• AJ Small Projects Awards 2011, shortlisted. See: North Lodge Gallery

2010

• Wandsworth Council, Cultural Wealth Fund
• Story of London 2010, Greater London Authority, shortlisted
• Design for London, Funding for International Architecture Student Festival

2009

• Victoria and Albert Museum Residency 2010, runner-up
• Bartlett Architecture Research Fund

2008

• BD Young Architect of the Year Award (YAYA), longlisted
• Arts Council England, ACE funding award for Visual Arts
• Camden Council, Grant for Visual Arts

2007

• Arts Council England, ACE funding award for Visual Arts
• Camden Council, Grant for Visual Arts

2006

• Arts Council England, ACE funding award for Visual Arts

Modular Display Frames, available for hire

2021

• Giant Flip Machine, Kanazawa Citizen’s Art Center (20 Mar)

2020

• Ars Electronica, ‘The London Garden of Heterotopias, BSc Unit 9 HUB, The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL‘ with Jessica In (10 – 13 Sep)
• Don’t Move, Improve! New London Architecture (23 Jan – 27 Apr)

2019

• Paper Castles, Victoria & Albert Museum. Flights of Fancy by Mobile Studio in collaboration with Ian Ng as part of group show for London Festival of Architecture (1 – 30 Jun)

2018

• Chee-Kit Lai, director of Mobile Studio Architects, appointed Acting Director of Exhibitions at The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL (Oct 2018 – Jun 2019)
• Don’t Move, Improve! New London Architecture (26 Jan – 30 Mar)

2016

• Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts (13 Jun – 21 Aug)
• RIBA Constructing Communites, Peckham Levels (2 – 30 Jun)

2015

• New Ideas for Housing London. NLA’s major Autumn 2015 exhibition, uncovers 100 new innovative ideas to solve the housing crisis (includes PAYD Housing by Mobile Studio Architects). The result of a major NLA International Ideas Competition organised in collaboration with the Mayor of London (15 Oct – 17 Dec)

2014

• Reuse of Modular Flat-Pack Plinths for Clerkenwell Design Week (Clerkenwell Design Week), London. Modular design system by Mobile Studio Architects for CDW14 in London, as above (May)
• PUSH 2014 (Pop-Up Singapore House), London. Mobile Studio as part of group show for Singapore Day 2014 in London, UK (29 Mar)

2013

• Clerkenwell Design Week 2013, London. Mobile Studio designs a folly and a new modular plinth for Clerkenwell Design Week (21 – 23 May)

2012

• SUPERPOSITION, Vienna. Mobile Studio’s Style Wars Chess Set is exhibited in a new gallery, SWDZ, address: Gartnergasse 14, 1030 Vienna (29 Sep – 30 Nov)
• DesignJunction, London Design Festival. Mobile Studio Architects collaborates with DeMagazine at DesignJunction event for London Design Festival 2012 (19 – 23 Sep)
• Display for a Display, Dreamspace Gallery. First solo show of Mobile Studio’s display system designs for museums and galleries (4 – 27 Apr)
  Display Systems in the show are available for hire, please contact us for more information.

2011

• 100% Design, Mobile Studio has been invited by Blueprint Magazine to ‘Look Again’ at redesigning old-fashioned British road signs. The results are published in the October issue and exhibited at 100% Design (22 – 25 Sept)
• London Design Festival 2011, Mobile Studio exhibits new range of colour chess sets at ‘A Few Friends’ an exhibition curated by Will Alsop. Other exhibitors include Will Alsop, Vivienne Westwood, Richard Wentworth, Bruce McLean, Nigel Coates, Squint Opera, etc
• UCL Cities Methodologies 2011, Group exhibition to showcase innovative + diverse methods in urban research (4 – 7 May)
• AJ Small Projects, Exhibition to showcase AJ’s recognition of the ‘best architecture built for a contract value of less than £250,000’ at NLA Building Centre (10 Feb – 9 Mar)

2010

• The House as Body, late night event for ‘The Surreal House’ at Barbican Art Gallery (exhibition design + curator)
• Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts
• Design Real Saturday Seminar, Serpentine Gallery
• Lost Goldfinger’s Cottage, Wandsworth Arts Festival, Platform 1 Gallery (with Somi Umolu)

2009

• Paper City: Urban Uptopias, Royal Academy of Arts (in association with Blueprint)
• Paper City: Urban Uptopias,Workshop (in association with Blueprint)
• [Un]Representative House, curator for an art + architecture group show, 48 Gordon Square, UCL
• Build, curated by Sarah Williams, Blyth Gallery, Visual Arts at Imperial
• O/A Stiff Bandeau, curated by Gareth Bell Jones, Tricycle Theatre Gallery Kilburn
• Design Your Own Cabanon, organised by Blueprint for Le Corbusier’s Cabanon 1952/2006 – The Interior 1:1, RIBA

2008

• Scenario 2050: Museum of Memory, Centre Pompidou Paris (with Raw Canvas Tate Modern)
• 176 Flesh + Blood, in conjunction with ‘Material Presence’, Project Space 176
• The Gaze of the Auto-Icon, The Big Draw, Wellcome Trust and UCL (with Dr.P Haralambidou)
• BeAmazed, Open House London, Ambika at P3 Space
• Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts
• This is Tomorrow Too, built pavilion for London Festival of Architecture LFA 2008
• Young People + Families Workshop for LFA 2008, (with Somi Umolu and Chiara Marchini)

2007

• Aquarium, Centre for Recent Drawing, London
• Cast Away!: Doris Salcedo, Tate Modern
• Construction in Colours: Hélio Oiticica, young people exhibition at Tate Modern
• London Vauxhall Art Car Boot Sale, (with Richard Clegg)
• Ways of World Making, Swiss Cottage Gallery (with Paul Richards)
• Young People + Families Workshop, for Swiss Cottage Gallery, Architecture Week 2007
• Itchy Park IVI: Duality, curated by Emily Wardill, El Vonne Brown and Laura Lord, Limehouse Town Hall
• Spazi Aperti, Romanian Academy, Rome
• Transit_2, British School in Rome
• Transit_1, British School in Rome
• Transit_1, Hotel Emila, Bologna

2006

• Brief City 2051, Hoxton Gallery with Dr.V.Watson
• Incomplete House, Dilston Grove

2005

• The New Jerwood Museum, Jerwood Café Space, London
• Centrifuge, curated by Paul Richards and Marcus Verhagen, The Drawing Rooms, London
• Inspire, Dreams, Plan, Visions of Oxford 2015, Modern Art Oxford with Paul Richards
• New Architecture, Fragner Gallery, Prague (supported by British Council)

2004

• Let’s Play It By Ear, curated by Dr.Peg Rawes, Slade Galleries

2003

• e-Art Gallery, Hong Kong

2002

• UIA Berlin, Germany

2023

• DesignCurial, ‘Brief Encounters‘ (2 Aug)
• FX Magazine, ‘Manchester Museum boasts a new, permanent gallery that speaks of South Asia’s history and also the lived experience of its people who have, through choice of emergency, moved to the UK’ (Jul/Aug)
• Vogue India, ‘The Manchester Museum’s South Asia Gallery is a salve to the wounds dealt by Britain’s imperialist past‘ (14 Jul)
• Recessed Space, ‘Expanding imagination‘ (18 Apr)
• STIRworld, ‘Manchester Museum’s South Asia Gallery gives a voice to diasporic art‘ (18 Mar)
• The Architect’s Journal, ‘Manchester Museum opens with new South Asia Gallery‘ (10 Mar)
• The Times of India, ‘New gallery at UK museum gives voice to South Asian diaspora‘ (10 Mar)
• Dhaka Tribune, ‘Manchester Museum exhibits contributions of South Asian diaspora, including Bangladesh‘ (27 Feb)
• Design Week, ‘Designing the UK’s first permanent gallery dedicated to South Asian culture‘ (21 Feb)
• Financial Times, ‘Manchester Museum’s new South Asia Gallery focuses on personal stories‘ (20 Feb)
• Asia News, ‘Manchester Museum reopens; South Asian Gallery achieves overwhelming response‘ (8 Mar)
• The New Indian Express, ‘United colours of homeland: South Asia gallery at UK’s Manchester Museum‘ (5 Mar)
• Apollo, ‘The Manchester Museum is put on community service‘ (22 Feb)
• Aaj News, ‘Manchester Museum launches first ever South Asia Gallery‘ (21 Feb)
• The Featurist, ‘A museum like no other‘ (20 Feb)
• Architectural Digest, ‘The South Asia Gallery at Manchester Museum bills itself as the voice of young British-Asians‘ (18 Feb)
• Reasons to be Cheerful ‘These Museums Are Curated by The People They Represent‘ (17 Feb)
• The Guardian, ‘Reopened Manchester Museum gives voice to south Asian diaspora‘ (16 Feb)
• BBC, ‘Manchester Museum’s £15m revamp puts spotlight on South Asian culture‘ (16 Feb)
• Heritage Fund, ‘Hello Future: Manchester Museum to reopen following ambitious transformation‘ (16 Feb)
• CN Traveller, ‘The Manchester gallery paying homage to the South Asian diaspora‘ (15 Feb)
• Lancashire Telegraph, ‘Manchester Museum South Asia gallery features Gandhi in Darwen‘ (1 Feb)
• Platform Magazine, ‘The South Asia Gallery by Manchester‘ (Feb)
• Speaker Newspaper, ‘Being South Asian at the New Manchester Museum‘ (Feb)
• Asian Image, ‘What to expect at Manchester Museum’s new South Asia gallery‘ (25 Jan)
• Meer – Art, ‘South Asia Gallery‘(10 Jan)
• The Hindu, ‘Manchester Museum and its celebration of all things South Asian ‘ (6 Jan)
• Country & Townhouse , ‘UK’s first permanent South Asia Gallery will be unveiled in early 2023‘ (Jan)

2022

• The Architect’s Journal, ‘Young stars named on shortlist for V&A East Museum galleries fit-out‘ (27 Jun)

2021

• Travel Between Pages ‘Flipping Brilliant‘ (12 Apr)
• Bigumigu, ‘Mekanik Düzene?e Sahip Devasa Flipbook‘ (8 Apr)
• Giant Flip Machine, ‘El Culturista‘
• The Kids Should See This, ‘A Giant Flipbook Machine for the Kanazawa Citizen’s Art Center‘
• It’s Nice That, ‘Giant flipbook installed in Kanazawa allows public to mechanically operate an animation‘ (30 Mar)

2020

• The Architecture Insight, ‘Manchester Museum South Asia Gallery‘ (11 Nov)
• University College London, ‘The Bartlett’s Chee-Kit Lai to Co-Design Manchester Museum’s South Asia Gallery‘ (30 Oct)
• University College London, ‘The Bartlett Summer Show 2020 Shortlisted for Digital Award‘ (26 Oct)
• Museum+Heritage Advisor, ‘Machester Museum appoints design duo to bring South Asia Gallery vision to life‘ (20 Oct)
• e-architect, ‘Manchester Museum South Asia Gallery Designer‘ (17 Oct)
• University of Manchester, ‘Manchester Museum appoints South Asia Gallery designer‘ (16 Oct)
• Live-Manchester, ‘Manchester Museum appoints design team for new South Asia Gallery‘ (16 Oct)
• Ars Electronica, ‘The London Garden of Heterotopias, BSc Unit 9 HUB, The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL‘ (10 Sep)
• Evening Standard – Homes & Property, ‘Removing and adapting walls: Small-budget changes can make a big difference to your living space‘ (21 Apr)

2019

• Dezeen, ‘Paper Castles exhibition dangles architecture’s future over its past‘ (5 Jun)
• Dezeen, ‘VR film offers preview of Amateur Architecture Studio’s Lin’an History Museum‘ (11 Mar)

2018

• Wallpaper, ‘Sto Werkstatt gallery celebrates architectural photography in a show designed by Mobile Studio Architects‘ (9 Feb)

2016

• Lost At E Minor, ‘Giant Flip Books in the Forest Create Whimsical Scenes at Night‘ (18 Nov)
• Drawing Futures, Speculations in Contemporary Drawing for Art and Architecture, ‘House for a House by Chee-Kit Lai‘, pg 254-5 (11 Nov)
• The Creators Project VICE, ‘Students Planted Giant Flip Books in a New Hampshire Forest‘ (4 Nov)
• Lonely Planet, ‘Giant Flipbooks in this New Hampshire Forest are Blowing Peoples’ Minds‘ (2 Nov)
• Bustle, ‘These Giant Flip Books Are Bringing Some Magic To The New Hampshire Forest‘ (25 Oct)
• WIRED, ‘Giant Flipbooks are Hiding in the Wood of New Hampshire‘ (24 Oct)
• The Architect’s Journal, ‘Mobile Studio Creates Super-Sized Mechanical Flipbooks‘ (21 Oct)
• Dezeen, ‘Mobile Studio Architects Installs Giant Flipbooks in the Forests of New Hampshire‘ (20 Oct)
• Catalogo Diseno, ‘Mobile Studio Architects crea un flipbook gigante en medio de un campamento de verano‘ (20 Oct)
• DesignBoom, ‘Universal Play Machine by Mobile Studio Architects Wins BEAM Camp 2016‘ (19 Oct)
• BoredPanda, ‘World’s Largest Mechanical Flipbooks‘ (12 Oct)
• CityMetric, ‘Interactive Signposts and Pedestrian Crossing Parties‘ (18 Oct)
• It’s Nice That, ‘Usher in the weekend with Best of the Web‘ (7 Oct)
• DesignWeek, ‘Universal Play Machine by Mobile Studio Architects‘ (6 Oct)
• TechSpark, ‘Let People Know Your Favourite Playable City Shortlisted Project to Help Them Win £30K Prize‘ (4 Oct)
• Imperica, ‘Shortlist Announced for Playable City 2016‘ (3 Oct)
• Creative Pool, ‘Playable City Announce 2016 Shortlist of Schemes Imagining the Cities of the Future‘ (28 Sep)
• DesignWeek, ‘New Playable Cities Schemes Reimagine the Future City‘ (27 Sep)
• Gamasutra, ‘Fourth international Playable City Award Shortlist Revealed‘ (27 Sep)
• Design conference, Kanazawa 21C Museum of Contemporary Art, ‘TO•KYO•TO Anglo-Japanese Architectural Propositions‘, in collaboration with Jessica In and Issui Shioura (14 – 17 Sep)
• Architecture InPlay Conference Lisbon, ‘h(t)yper – Interactivity and performance in the exploration of architectural narratives’, pg 37-44, in collaboration with Jessica In (11 – 12 Jul)
• RIBA Journal, ‘What might have been‘ (24 Jun)
• The Architects’ Journal, ‘Prizes at Royal Academy Summer Exhibition‘ (22 Jun)

2015

• The Architects’ Journal, ‘Focus on China: Ai Weiwei’s Architecture‘ written by Chee-Kit Lai, director of Mobile Studio Architects (28 Oct)
• PAYD Housing as featured in New Ideas for Housing London published by NLA (14 Oct)
• RIBA Shanghai Windows Project 2015. Mobile Studio Architects designs window installation using modular system for retailer Giftique at XinTianDi, Shanghai. As featured in The Architects’ Journal and Building Design (9 Apr)
• RIBA Shanghai Windows Project. Concept image of Mobile Studio’s window installation for Giftique at Xintiandi, Shanghai, China as featured in The Architects’ Journal and RIBA online (6 Feb)

2014

• The Architects’ Journal, ‘Mobile Studio reveals King’s College pop-up Uppe Folly for KCL Arts + Humanities Festival‘ (15 Oct)
• RIBA Regent St Windows Project, Mobile Studio’s window installation for Jack Spade as featured in Evening Standard, Dezeen, The Icon Design Trail + Menswear Insight (Sep)
• Disegno, The 2014 Graduate Shows Review: Architecture by Chee-Kit Lai, director of Mobile Studio Architects + BSc Unit 9 tutor at the Bartlett School of Architecture UCL (22 Jul)
• Temporary Architecture by Lisa Baker, ‘Portable Gallery for UCL Museums’ has been featured in publication by Braun (13 Jun)
• DesignCurial/Blueprint Magazine, ‘Mobile Studio runs architecture workshop for A-Level Students‘ for attRAct/Royal Academy of Arts + Sensing Spaces (3 Apr)
• The Unpublishables, London. Chee-Kit Lai (Mobile Studio) in collaboration with Victoria Watson contributes an article entitled, ‘Living Architecture: Chilcot Close’ to the second edition of THE UNPUBLISHABLES by Zoe Berman (Mar)

2013

• University College London, ‘Mobile Studio Architects longlisted for housing competition‘ (11 Dec)
• TimeOut, London, ‘Exhibition design by Mobile Studio for UCLoo Festival at UCL as featured in TimeOut‘ (19 Nov)
• Icon Magazine, London, Mirare Maze Folly and Modular Flat-Pack Plinth by Chee-Kit Lai as featured in Clerkenwell Design Week (Aug)
• The Unpublishables, London, Chee-Kit Lai (Mobile Studio) contributes an article entitled, ‘In Between Spaces’ to the first edition of THE UNPUBLISHABLES by Zoe Berman (Jun)

2012

• Design Exchange Magazine, China, Mobile Studio’s Chess Set featured in DeMagazine, London, Vol.2 (Aug)
• Youth VISION Magazine, China, ‘London Talk’ – Mobile Studio Architects featured (Aug)
• University College London, ‘Mobile Studio Architects Shortlisted – New London Awards 2012‘ (25 Jun)
• Design Exchange Magazine, ‘One Day in the City’ exhibition + pop-up launch event designed by Mobile Studio Architects for UCL Festival of London + Literature and Man Booker Prize Evening 2012′

2011

• University College London, ‘New Exhibition System by Mobile Studio‘
• The Streatham and Brixton Chess Club, ‘They Have Designs On Us’, Style Wars chess set at London Design Festival 2011′
• Blueprint Magazine, Mobile Studio has been invited by Blueprint Magazine to ‘Look Again’ at redesigning old-fashioned British road signs. The results are published in the October issue and exhibited at 100% Design (Oct)
• British Council ‘The ADF Papers’ explores new directions in British architecture, design and fashion. Mobile Studio is one of five architects to feature in ‘A1 Paper: Thinking Architcture’ by Clare Melhuish (Jul)
• Blueprint Magazine ‘Best of the Student Shows 2011’
• Boidus: Blogs ‘UCL The Bartlett Summer Exhibition Review’
• The Architects’ Journal, ‘Top 100 Architects on Twitter’ (29 Jun)
• The Architects’ Journal, Mobile Studio + Yesomi Umolu’s shortlisted joint entry for The Resourceful Architect competition held by the RSA and Architecture Foundation (12 May)
• The Architects’ Journal’ Mobile Studio’s design for North Lodge Gallery (UCL Museums and Collections) has been published in the AJ Small Projects (3 Feb)
• Royal Academy of Arts (Architecture Programme),  ‘Jan – May 2011’

2010

• IconEye, ‘The Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts’
• The Streatham and Brixton Chess Club, ‘Style Wars (Chess Set)’ (6 Aug)
• The Architects’ Journal, Astragal for ‘The House as Body’ for The Surreal House at Barbican Art Gallery (29 Jul)
• The Architects’ Journal, ‘Forgotten Spaces Competition’(27 May)
• The Architects’ Journal, ‘Mobile Studio rethinks Goldfinger ruin’ (13 May)
• Time Out London, listing for ‘Design Real Saturday Seminar’ by Mobile Studio
• IconEye, listing for ‘Design Real Saturday Seminar’ by Mobile Studio
• Russian Architectural News Agency, ‘In from the Cold, London-Moscow’ lecture (18 Jan)
• Theory and Practice (Russia/Denmark), ‘In from the Cold, London-Moscow’ lecture (18 Jan)
• C:CA / Centre of Contemporary Architecture in Russia, ‘In from the Cold, London-Moscow’ lecture (18 Jan)
• Building Design, ‘BD’s guide to your cultural New Year’ (6 Jan)

2009

• Building Design, ‘BD Practices 2009 – Careers Supplement Guide’ (25 Sep)
• Blueprint Magazine, ‘Paper City workshops: Arnold Schwarzman, Mobile Studio and Laurie Chetwood’
• Building Magazine, ‘Pick of the Day’ (18 Sep)
• Architecture Centre Network, listing for ‘[Un]Representative House’ exhibition by Mobile Studio
• Building Design, ‘Modernists Take on Traditionalists at Chess’, review of ‘Build’ exhibition
• The Architects’ Journal, ‘Five Things To Do Today: 22 June – Style Wars The Chess Set’, review of ‘Build’ exhibition
• Art Rabbit, review of ‘Build’ exhibition (24 Jun)
• Architecture Centre Network, listing of ‘Build’ exhibition
• ‘Basic Interior Architecture – Drawing out the Interior’, by Ro Spankie, AVA Academia
• Blueprint Magazine, ‘Design Your Own Cabanon’

2008

• Building Design, ‘YAYA Longlist Unveiled‘ (2 Oct)
• Architecture Centre Network, ‘Debate and Innovate’ a film by Mobile Studio and Tate Modern Raw Canvas ‘Scenario 2050: Museum of Memory’
• Building Design, ‘Bloomsbury LFA Installation Becomes Interactive’, review of ‘This is Tomorrow Too’ pavilion (10 Jul)

2007

• Blueprint Magazine, ‘Paper City’
• Wallpaper, ‘Architecture Week: Spence, Le Corbusier…and Richard Wilson’, review of ‘Ways of World Making’ (15 Jun)
• Building Design, ‘Gorbals Legacy’, listing of ‘Ways of World Making’

2006

• Building Design, ‘Concrete Boots’, review of ‘The Skyline of London’
• Icon Magazine, ‘Icon Eye’, review of ‘The Skyline of London’

2005

• Building Design, ‘Paper View’, exhibition review of ‘New Jerwood Museum’ (5 Aug)
• AD Architectural Design, ‘Building the Drawing’ by Prof Jonathan Hill in Bob Sheil, ed. ‘Design by Making’ (9 Jan)

2004

• Armstrong Publications, ‘Armstrong Linoleum Competition Catalogue’, Germany

2003

• South China Morning Post, exhibition review at ‘e-Art Hong Kong’
• Hong Kong Daily News, exhibition review at ‘e-Art Hong Kong’
• The Metro HK, exhibition review at ‘e-Art Hong Kong’
• Arts Channel HK, exhibition review at ‘e-Art Hong Kong’

1999

• Dialogue Art + Architecture Magazine, Taiwan
• PAM Magazine Malaysian Institute of Architects, Malaysia

Mobile Studio made us question the relevance of style in architecture; explaining that good architecture arises not from modernist or traditionalist schools of thought but rather out of discussion, collaboration and game-playing.

Manijeh Verghese, Icon Magazine

The talk was perfectly pitched covering the background to the project and the ideas which spurred it; what all the ‘pieces’ were; how you made it; and what you wanted it to incite. It was a great way of bringing an important issue into the gallery, while at the same time creating a lovely object.

Kate Goodwin, Royal Academy of Arts

• The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL: ‘CRUNCH: The Source of Everyday the Everyday’ replacing the International Lecture Series (2023)
• EAAE European Association for Architectural Education: ‘Judging from a distance’ – Talk, in collaboration with David Shanks (2021)
• Royal Institute of British Architects: Workshop (2020)
• Regent’s University London: Evening Lecture Series (2019)
• The Oxford Architecture Society, Oxford Brookes University: Resilience Lecture Series, En Route by Mobile Studio Architects (Chee-Kit Lai) at JHB Lecture Theatre, School of Architecture (2018)
• The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL: Part 1 Year -Out Professional Practice Lecture Series (2018)
• Royal Academy of Arts: Workshop for Open House (2018)
• Royal Institute of British Architects: Summer School (2018)
• V&A Museum: Architecture Workshops and Bartlett Unit 9 Student Portfolio Presentations (Theo Brader-Tan, Eleanor Evason, Ali Conning-Rowland, George Proud, James Robinson, Ivo Tedbury) for #Futuropolis young people’s festival (2017)
• Royal Institute of British Architects: Architecture Drawing Day (2017)
• Royal Institute of British Architects: Workshop (2017)
• Design conference, Kanazawa 21C Museum of Contemporary Art: ‘TO•KYO•TO Anglo-Japanese Architectural Propositions‘, in collaboration with Jessica In and Issui Shioura (2016)
• Architecture InPlay Conference Lisbon: ‘h(t)yper – Interactivity and performance in the exploration of architectural narratives’, in collaboration with Jessica In (2016)
• Royal Academy of Arts, The Arup Prize for Emerging Talent for Architecture Winner Talk (2016)
• LAX Laboratory for Architecture Experiments, Poland: Workshop + talk with Jessica In (2016)
• Nottingham Trent University: Architecture Talk (2016)
• V&A Museum: Digital Architecture Workshop (2016)
• University of Westminster: Lecture by Mobile Studio Architects (Chee-Kit Lai) for MArch Professional Practice and BA Interior Design (2016)
• The Architectural Association + University of Melbourne: Talk at summer school exchange (2015)
• HEL/LO Let’s Talk: Speaker at event series organised by The Finnish Institute in London in collaboration with Blueprint magazine and is an international satellite event for World Design Capital Helsinki. Full video online (2012)
• RIBA + NESTA: Architecture Workshops for Schools (2011)
• Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL: Participant at the Architecture Research Marathon (2011)
• Royal Academy of Arts: Architecture Programme – Workshop (2011)
• Serpentine Gallery: Seminar / ‘Anish Kapoor’ (2010)
• Royal Academy of Arts: Talk – Curator’s Choice (2010)
• Chelsea School of Art & Design: Design guest critic (2010)
• Centre for Contemporary Architecture (C:CA Russia): Lecture (2010)
• Serpentine Gallery: Seminar / ‘Design Real’ (2010)
• Royal Academy of Arts, ‘Paper City: Urban Uptopias’ Workshop in association with Blueprint (2009)
• FTI-Io Flat Time House: Seminar (2009)
• Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul: Seminar (2009)
• Centre Pompidou, Paris: Film screening and workshop (2008)
• London Festival of Architecture LFA’08: Young People and Families workshop / with Chiara Marchini and Somi Umolu (2008)
• Tate Modern: Seminar and workshops (on-going, since 2007)
• EiC Southwark: Workshop (2007)
• Camden Arts Centre: Discussion / on architecture and David Thorpe (2007)
• Swiss Cottage Gallery: Discussion / Architecture Week (2007)
• Swiss Cottage Gallery: Young People and Families workshop (2007)
• The British School in Rome: Lecture (2007)
• Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL: Design guest critic (on-going, since 2005)
• University of Nottingham: Design guest critic (on-going, since 2005)
• University of Westminster: Design guest critic (on-going, since 2005)

We understand the intrinsic value in the relationship between academia and professional practice and our director, Chee-Kit Lai, has extensive design and architectural teaching experience in a variety of schools and organisations. We believe that this dialogue is an essential part of the creative process and enables us to design and deliver the highest quality of architecture.

Chee-Kit is an Associate Professor (teaching) at The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London. His roles include Director of Exhibitions and BSc Architecture (Unit 9) co-tutor. He is also a visiting critic at a number of the UK’s leading universities.

• Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL: Associate Professor (teaching) (on-going since 2021)
• Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL: Director of Exhibitions (on-going, since 2018 – 24)
• Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL: BSc Unit 9, design master (on-going, since 2007)
• Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL: BSc Architectural and Interdisciplinary Studies (BSc AIS) Module Co-ordinator (2010 – 19)
• Royal Academy of Arts: Workshops for attRAct (on-going)
• Royal Institute of British Architects, RIBA: Workshops for young people (on-going)
• Oxford Brookes University: Practice-Based Route to ARB/RIBA Part II (2015)
• Central Saint Martins: Architecture Summer School with J.Quintero and D.Pierce (2013)
• University College London: Widening Participation (2010)
• Central Saint Martins: MA Creative Practice for Narrative Environments (2010)
• Chelsea College of Art and Design: Foundation Degree (FdA) Interior Design / Live Projects (2010)
• International Architecture Student Festival 2010: students’ mentor for IASF/LFA (2010)
• London Metropolitan University: Media and IT studies BA (Hons) Jewellery and Silversmithing (2001 – 03)
• Middlesex University: Media and IT studies for BA (Hons) Applied Arts (2001 – 03)

Teaching Awards

2024

• 1st Class: Andrew Fan (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Kiran Gosal (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Aocheng Huang (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Libby Ko (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Lily Lin (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class, The AJ Student Prize (nominee): Yaowen Zhang (BSc Y3)
• Award for Ethics & Agency: Alastair Ang (BSc Y2)

2023

• 1st Class: Ina Ioan (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Sze Chun Liu (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Annika Siamwalla (BSc Y3)
• 1st ClassL Yingqi (Izzy) Shen (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class Ilinca Stanescu (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Mateusz Zwijacz (BSc Y3)

2022

• 1st Class: Park Jin Chan (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Eunice Cheung (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Keane Chua (BSc Y3)

2021

• 1st Class, Portfolio Prize & RIBA Bronze Medal (winner): Ben Foulkes (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Xintong Chen (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Tia Duong (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Marie Faivre (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Prim Vudhichamnong (BSc Y3)
• Trevor Sprott History & Theory Prize: Harris Mawardi (BSc Y3)

2020

• 1st Class: Anahita Hosseini Ardehali (BSc Y3)

2019

• 1st Class: Eugene Tan (BSc Y3)
• Victor Kite Prize for Design Technology by AHMM: Ernest Chin (BSc Y2)

2018

• 1st Class: Aleksy Dojnow (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class, Faculty Medal, The AJ Student Prize (nominee), RIBA Bronze Medal (nominee) & Winner of SOM Foundation Fellowships UK: Grey Grierson (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Edward Taft (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Rupert Woods (BSc Y3)

 2017

• 1st Class: Krina Christopoulou (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Janis Ho (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Jaejun Kim (BSc Y3)
• Victor Kite Prize for Design Technology by AHMM: James Robinson (BSc Y2)

2016

• 1st Class: Alessandro Conning-Rowland (BSc Y3)
• iGuzzini Light First Prize: Issui Shioura (BSc Y3)
• Victor Kite Prize for Design Technology by AHMM: Claudia Walton (BSc Y2)

2015

• Narinder Sagoo Drawing Prize: Isaac Simpson (BSc Y2)

2014

• 1st Class & Fitzroy Robinson Drwg Prize: Ivo Tedbury (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class & Advanced Technology Award: Harry Clover (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Robin Fu (BSc Y3)
• Professional Studies Prize: Marcus Cole (BSc Y3)

2013

• 1st Class, Donaldson Medal & RIBA Bronze Medal (nominee): John Chengqi Wan (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Max Friedlander (BSc Y3)

2012

• 1st Class: Sarah Edwards (BSc Y3)
• Making Building Technical Award: Gary Edwards (BSc Y3)

2011

• 1st Class: Emma Swarbrick (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Nada Tayeb (BSc Y3)

2009

• 1st Class: Tim Yue (BSc Y3)
• Professional Studies Prize: Paul Leader-Williams (BSc Y3)

2008

• 1st Class & RIBA Bronze Medal (nominee): James Purkiss (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class, Faculty Medal, History+Theory Prize (nominee) & Donaldson Medal: Luke Jones (BSc Y3)
• 1st Class: Daniel Swift-Gibbs (BSc Y3)
• KPF Bursary Winner: Thomas Kendell (BSc Y2)
• KPF Bursary Winner: Tamsin Hanke (BSc Y2)