Founder and director of Studio Anyo

James Walsh is a chartered architect (ARB, RIBA) with 25 years’ experience, mostly in housing and hospitality. He founded and leads Studio Anyo, an architecture and interior design practice with studios in London and Limerick and a registered office in County Durham.

James is best known for modern methods of construction (MMC). He designed some of the UK’s best-known modular hotels, including citizenM Tower of London, and now advises developers, investors and operators on when MMC makes sense, which system to use and how to buy it.

What James does

  • Architecture and design leadership. He leads the design on Studio Anyo’s projects, from feasibility and planning to completion.
  • MMC adviser. Independent advice on modular and offsite construction, including design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA).
  • Development management. He takes schemes forward in partnership with clients, from site appraisal to delivery.
  • Building safety and cladding remediation. He leads remediation work on occupied residential buildings, including applications to the Building Safety Regulator.

Recent work includes the conversion of 267 Ballards Lane in Finchley into Cat A offices and the office-to-apartments conversion at Bridgeworks in Doncaster.

Career

James trained first as an architectural technician (BSc, Limerick Regional Technical College) and was a member of the CIOB before studying architecture at Hull School of Architecture.

He then worked for several London practices, including Swanke Hayden Connell, Hamiltons and Sheppard Robson. At Sheppard Robson he became an Associate Partner and led the practice’s hotel portfolio. He was also one of the founders of Axis, Sheppard Robson’s technical studio, where he specialised in modular solutions.

He also founded Samlingen, Studio Anyo’s sister business, which designs Scandinavian-style timber lodges for holiday parks and resorts.

Selected projects

Façades and MMC innovation

James specialises in façade design and has led the façade packages on signature buildings including 480 Oxford Street, Rue du Rhône in Geneva and citizenM Tower of London. He designed and patented a self-sealing façade system for MMC buildings, part of Strukturea, Studio Anyo’s own MMC system.

Approach

James starts every project by agreeing a clear story with the client, and lets that concept drive the design. On modular schemes he argues for a repeatable kit of parts, with most modules identical and the variety coming from interiors, details and façades, much as Victorian terraces did. He is a strong advocate of low-carbon and carbon-positive buildings, using timber and other renewable materials and on-site renewable energy.

He has long admired the work of Daniel Libeskind, and names the Jewish Museum Berlin as his favourite building.

Recognition

  • Shortlisted, Architect of the Year, The Brit List Awards 2023
  • Named one of Hotel Designs’ Top 25 Brit List Hotel Architects of 2023
  • Studio Anyo: BUILD Magazine Sustainable Building Awards 2023
  • Finalist, Private Housing Project of the Year, Offsite Awards 2020 (Berkeley Homes B11)

Speaking

James speaks regularly on MMC and development, including at the Construction IT Alliance’s digital transformation series, The Developers Club’s Future of Development conference and MMC Ireland. Watch his talks and project films in our video library.

In the press

See all our news.

Work with James

Thinking about a hotel, housing scheme or conversion, or wondering whether MMC suits your site? Get in touch, email info@studioanyo.com or call 020 4526 8965. Read more about Studio Anyo.