"For us design is a powerful tool for good, both social and environmental. At its best it improves the quality of people’s lives and lifts their spirit, while drawing on a minimum of the earth’s limited resources."

David Marks and Julia Barfield

Practice

We live in exceptional times. A time of planetary emergency with potentially catastrophic climate breakdown and biodiversity loss. Marks Barfield recognise that buildings and construction account for nearly 40% of energy related CO2 emissions are therefore a signatory (+ a founder) of the Architects Declare Climate and Biodiversity Emergency. We are committing to work collaboratively with clients and colleagues to  make the fundamental shift needed to ensure that we meet the needs of our clients and society without breaching the earth’s ecological boundaries – moving towards regenerative and self-sustaining solutions.

Every project is a product of an approach that strives to stay free of preconceptions, open to possibility and change, yet informed by analysis, understanding and experience. Our designs start with the client’s needs and aspirations together with a response to the site and its context, followed by research, exploration and collaboration with others.  They often lead to unexpected, bespoke  solutions.

Marks Barfield is ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certified.

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People

Awards
The Lantern External View to Entrance

The Lantern, 75 Hampstead Road

  • British Council for Offices (BCO) Commercial Workplace 2023
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Cambridge Mosque

  • Shortlisted RIBA Stirling Prize 2021
  • RIBA East Award 2021
  • RIBA East Building of the Year 2021
  • RIBA East Client of the Year 2021
  • RIBA East Project Architect of the Year 2021
  • RIBA National Award 2021
  • Brick Awards - Brick Development Association - 2019 - Best public building
  • AJ Architecture Awards - 2019 - Best community & faith project
  • Wood awards - 2019 - Structural award
  • Wood awards - 2019 - Best education and public project
  • Structural Timber Awards - 2019 - Engineer of the year - Blumer Lehmann
  • Structural Timber Awards - 2019 - Installer of the year - Blumer Lehmann
  • Structural Timber Awards  - 2019 - Winner of winners
  • Structural Timber Awards  - 2019 - Project of the year
  • BCIA (British Construction Industry Awards)  - 2019 - Best Culture & Leisure project
  • RTPI Awards - 2019 - Planning Excellence
  • Offsite awards  - 2019 - Contractor of the year - Gilbert Ash
  • Offsite awards - 2019 - Installer of the year - Blumer Lehmann
  • Offsite awards - 2019 - Best use of timber technology - Blumer Lehmann
  • Civic Trust - 2020 - National Finalist
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British Airways i360

  • The National Steel Prize 2018 – non residential building / construction
  • The Scottish Design Awards 2018 – Lighting by DO Architecture
  • Visit England’s Awards for Excellence 2018 – Gold Award for Innovation in Tourism
  • Tourism South East’s Beautiful South Awards 2017 – Café / Tearoom of the Year for West Pier Tea Room
  • Tourism south East’s Beautiful South Awards 2017 – Gold Award for Business and Venue Tourism
  • Structural Awards 2017 – Supreme Award for Structural Engineering
  • Structural Awards 2017 – Award for Tall or Slender Structures
  • Constructing Excellence National Awards – Commendation in Innovation
  • British Guild of Travel Writers Awards – Merit Award for Best UK Tourism Project
  • RICS National Awards 2017 – Design through Innovation
  • BCI Awards 2017 – The Judge’s Special Award
  • North West Structural Awards 2017 – Project Constructed Outside of the North West Region
  • ICE South East England Award, Engineering Excellence Awards 2017 – Innovation
  • Sussex heritage Trust Awards, 2017 – Public and Community
  • Constructing Excellence in London and the South East Awards, 2017 – Innovation
  • LABC South East Building Excellence Awards 2017 – Best Public Service Building
  • RIBA National Awards, 2017
  • RIBA Regional Awards, 2017 – South East Award
  • RICS South East Awards, 2017 – Project of the Year
  • RICS South East Awards, 2017 – Tourism & Leisure
  • RICS South East Awards, 2017 – Design Through Innovation
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University of Cambridge Primary School

  • RIBA East Award, 2017
  • Cambridge Design and Construction Awards, 2016 - Best New Large Building, Highly Commended
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Greenwich Gateway Pavilions

  • RIBA National Award, 2016
  • RIBA London Award, 2016
  • LABC Awards, Best Small Commercial Building, 2016
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82 Baker Street

  • New London Architecture Awards, 2015 - Commendation for Conservation and Retrofit
  • The Lux Awards, 2015 - Commended
  • AJ Retrofit Awards, 2015 - Finalist
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Clapham Old Town

  • Civic Trust Awards, 2016 - Regional Finalist
  • New London Architecture Awards, 2015 - Public Space
  • London Planning Award, 2015 - Best New Public Space
  • Placemaking Awards, 2015 - Highly Commended for Design
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Practice

  • BD Architect of the Year, 2009
  • BD Architects of the Year, 2008 - Public Buildings runner up
  • Innovation Award, 2004 – Space Oasis
  • BT Vision 100 Index, 2002 - Visionary Top Team Award
  • Architectural Practice of the Year, 2001 - Awarded to MBA at the Building Awards
  • FX International Design Awards - Blueprint Award, 2001 - Best New Public Building
  • D & A D Awards 2001 - Gold & Silver Award for The Most Outstanding Environmental Design and Architecture
  • Design Week Special Award 2001 - Awarded to MBA honouring creative excellence in design
  • Walpole Awards 2001 - Best British Innovation Award
  • AIA Design Award 2000 - Overall Winner (awarded jointly)
  • Dupont Benedictus Awards for Innovation, 2000 - Honoured for Special Merit
  • Investors in People, 2004
  • ISO 9001: 2000 Quality Management, 2004
  • ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, 2007
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London Eye

  • CoolBrands 2005
  • CoolBrands 2004
  • CoolBrands 2003
  • Queens Award for Enterprise 2003
  • Civic Trust Award 2002
  • BT Vision 100 Index 2002
  • ISE Structural Awards 2001
  • FX International Design Awards 2001
  • D&AD Awards 2001
  • Design Week Special Award 2001
  • RIBA Award for Architecture 2000
  • Prince Phillip Designers Prize 2000
  • Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Awards 2000
  • London Tourism Awards 2000,People’s Choice Award
  • European Award for Steel Structures, 2001
    Overall winner throughout Europe for outstanding design and construction.
  • Corus Construction Award, 2000
  • National Steel Award 2000
    Winner in the infrastructure category, awarded to Hollandia
  • Structural Special Award, 2000
    Awarded by The Institution of Structural Engineers
  • Tourism & Marketing
    THEA Awards, 2002
    ‘Creating an Icon’ awarded by the themed Entertainment Association
  • London Tourism Awards 2000, People’s Choice Award for London Eye
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Spiral Café

  • RIBA Award 2006
  • Structural Steel Awards – Certificate of Merit 2006
  • Civic Trust Award 2006
  • Quality in Construction Award for Small Project of the Year, 2006
  • BDI Awards – Places & Genius Overall Winner 2005
  • BDI Awards – Excellence in Architecture 2005
  • Copper in Architecture 2005
  • Retail Design Awards 2005
  • West Midlands RIBA Yearbook Editor’s Choice 2005
  • D&AD Awards 2005
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Personal

  • Pride of Britain Award for Innovation, 2001
    Awarded LWT, Daily Mirror and Virgin Group
  • ACCA New Accountant of the Year 2001
    Awarded to Leigh Jostins, Finance Director
  • Faculty of Building, Barbara Miller Trophy, 2001
    Awarded to David Marks by Faculty of Building
  • Prince Philip Designers Prize, 2000
    Special Commendation Presented by Prince Philip
  • MBE, 2000
    Presented to David Marks and Julia Barfield by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace
  • Times PA of the Year, 2006 – Runner Up
    Awarded to Lucy Smallwood, PA to David Marks and Julia Barfield
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Hyper Tower

  • Royal Academy Summer Exhibition Prize Winner, 2010
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ThinkTank

  • RIBA Award 2010
  • EM RIBA 2009, Environmental
  • Initiative Award
  • EM RIBA 2009
  • LABC Chairs Award 2009
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Kew Gardens Treetop Walkway

  • ICE Structural Award 2009
  • Civic Trust Awards 2009
  • RIBA Award 2009
  • Structural Steel Design Awards 2009
  • BD Architect of the Year 2009
  • Conde Nast Travel Awards 2008
  • FX Awards - Leisure & Entertainment Sector 2008
  • People's Choice Award - The Observer 2008
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Michael Tippett School

  • Civic Trust Awards 2009 - Commendation
  • Excellence in BSF Awards 2008 - Best Design for a New School & Grand Prix Award
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Lightbox

  • SCALA Award 2009
  • Civic Building of the Year (for Sustainability)
    World Architecture Community 2008
  • RIBA Award, South East 2008
  • RICS, South East 2008
  • Arts Fund Prize 2008
  • Civic Trust Award 2008
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Liverpool One Costa Cafe

  • People’s Choice Awards, The Observer 2008
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Millbank Millennium Pier

  • RIBA Award 2004
  • D&AD Award 2004
  • Institution of Civil Engineers 2003 - London Region – Commendation for the fusion of imagination and functionality of design
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Hackney Watersports Centre

  • Civic Trust Award, 2002
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Liverpool Watersports Centre

  • Liverpool Architecture and Design Trust Award
  • Order of Merit by The Structural Steel Design
  • BBC Design Award, finalist
  • The British Construction Industry Awards, short-listed
  • RIBA Award for Liverpool Watersports Centre, Queens Dock, Liverpool 1995/1996