Building a Sense of Belonging
Your home, Your community, Your public spaces. We specialise in build spaces that reflects who you are, your beliefs, your values, your stories.
Tell Us about Your Project
Whether you're planning a home renovation, launching a restaurant, or reimagining a cultural space, we'd love to hear your story
Email: hello@polysmiths.com
Phone: +44 7786 675961 (Charles Wu, Director)
What We Create
We're a London-based architecture practice guided by a simple mission: building a sense of belonging. From homes to restaurants, galleries to public infrastructure, we create spaces where people feel comfortable being themselves—alone and together. Founded by Charles Wu, Polysmiths works across residential, hospitality, cultural, and public realm architecture. We don't have a house style. What we have is a commitment to listening, to timeless quality, to creating value that endures.
Our Approach
Storytelling
Every client has a story. We spend time understanding your history, vision, and values. Your narrative gives us clues to the architecture.
Example: Our Gibraltar clients' Mediterranean upbringing shaped Arch House's structural arches and material warmth.
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Problem Solving
We're problem solvers, not style makers. Every project balances quality, cost, and time. We work with trusted collaborators to find creative solutions within real-world constraints.
Example: Arch House used structural arches instead of expensive steel beams, cost-effective AND created the Mediterranean reference.
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Value Creation
Value means different things to different clients. For some it's profit, for others it's pride in a home that reflects who they are. We deliver what matters to you.
Example: We've helped investors generate returns, homeowners create dream spaces, and brands find authentic expression.
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Self-Builds as R&D
Alongside client work, we invest in self-build projects—Cork House, Pine House—as laboratories. We test materials, spatial ideas, and approaches before introducing them to client projects.
Example: Cork House proved carbon-negative materials can be beautiful and affordable.
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What We Do
From listed renovations to contemporary new builds, we create homes that reflect who you are. Every project begins with your story - your history, your vision, your daily rituals.
We work with clients on projects typically ranging from £300k to £1M+, balancing quality, craft, and value.
Heritage & Conservation Areas
We have extensive experience with listed buildings and conservation area projects across London, including Camden, Kensington & Chelsea, and Westminster.
Charles Wu's background includes public realm projects (The Stratford Shoal, 2012 Olympics) requiring extensive stakeholder coordination and planning navigation. We understand heritage planning processes and work collaboratively with conservation officers to achieve planning consent while protecting design intent.
Our approach balances heritage sensitivity with contemporary living needs—we don't create pastiche, but we respect context and use high-quality materials that enhance conservation area character.
Projects: Chelsea Mews House (Conservation Area), Kensington Apartment (Grade II Listed), South Kensington Gallery (Grade II Listed)
Homes
Galleries, aparthotels, and public realm projects where communities gather and belong. We apply our design philosophy to spaces that bring people together—from cultural institutions to infrastructure that serves neighborhoods.
Recent work includes gallery interiors, boutique aparthotel conversions, and public realm competition shortlists.
Public
Selected Projects
Cork House
Carbon-negative architecture | Self-Build | East London, 2021
Walden
Urban retreat with garden connection | Residential | Kentish Town, 2022
Helsinki Museum of the Future
Flexible cultural space | Public | Helsinki, 2024
Urban Collective Berlin
70s Office building to boutique aparthotel | Public | Wedding, Berlin (In Progress)
Self-build projects as laboratories
Alongside client work, we undertake self-invested projects as laboratories: testing materials, spatial ideas, and construction approaches before introducing them to client projects.
Carbon-Negative Architecture: Cork House
Exploring cork as a primary cladding material. A garden infill house reimagined as a carbon-negative home that challenges planning assumptions and proves sustainable materials can be beautiful, practical, and affordable.
RIBA London Award Shortlist 2023.
American Institute of Architects (AIA) Winner 2023.
NLA Awards Shortlist 2023.
Rethinking the Victorian Terrace: Pine House
Rethink London's most common housing typology in terms of spatial and material use. Spatial innovation within a tight footprint, challenging conventional extension approaches and testing value engineering strategies.
Completed 2026.
Recognition
Polysmiths projects are recognised by the RIBA London Awards, New London Awards, Surface Design Awards, AIA (American Institute of Architects) London chapter Design awards, Dezeen Awards.
Polysmiths projects are also widely published, with stories in the Grand Designs, Sunday Times, Dezeen, the London Evening Standard, Wallpaper* and Livingetc.
Tell Us About Your Project
Whether you're planning a home renovation, launching a restaurant, or reimagining a cultural space, we'd love to hear your story
Email: hello@polysmiths.com
Phone: +44 7786 675961 (Charles Wu, Director)