02 — Practice
We are
Forma Studio
Founded
2010
Forma Studio was established in London in 2010 by Edmund Voss, following a decade of practice at award-winning offices in London, Basel, and Tokyo. The practice was founded on a conviction that the most urgent task in architecture is not to create spectacular objects, but to make ordinary buildings — houses, offices, public spaces — of enduring quality.
Today the practice comprises fourteen architects, interior designers, and project managers, working across the full range of scales from private residences to large cultural institutions. Miriam Osei-Bonsu joined as Director in 2013, bringing a rigour and warmth to the practice's residential work that has become one of its defining qualities.
Our projects span the United Kingdom, continental Europe, and East Africa, and have been recognised with RIBA Awards, Civic Trust Awards, and an AJ Architecture Award. We are RIBA Chartered Architects and members of the Architects' Registration Board.
Founding Principles
Honesty of Material
We believe in using materials for what they are, not what they can be made to resemble. Concrete, timber, steel, and stone each have their own logic, their own way of ageing, their own relationship with light. Our buildings are made from things that are willing to be themselves.
Primacy of Site
Every project begins with a thorough reading of its context — the topography, the local climate, the patterns of human movement, the existing built fabric. We believe architecture that ignores its site is incomplete, no matter how resolved it may be in isolation.
Longevity over Fashion
We are interested in buildings that improve with age — that develop character rather than simply deteriorating. This means making choices about structure, material, and detail that prioritise durability over novelty, and that give buildings the adaptability to serve changing needs across generations.
The Team
Edmund Voss
Founding Director
Edmund studied at the Bartlett and ETH Zürich before establishing Forma Studio in 2010. His work has been recognised with RIBA Awards, a Civic Trust Award, and a nomination for the Stirling Prize. He lectures regularly at the Architectural Association.
Miriam Osei-Bonsu
Director
Miriam joined the practice in 2013, having previously worked at Caruso St John and Lina Ghotmeh Architecture in Paris. She leads the practice's residential and mixed-use projects, and is a regular design tutor at the Royal College of Art.
Theo Hartmann
Associate Director
Theo leads the practice's cultural and public sector work. He holds a post-graduate diploma in Conservation Architecture from the University of Edinburgh and brings particular expertise in the sensitive adaptation of historic buildings.
Priya Nair
Senior Associate
Priya oversees the practice's project delivery and technical standards. She joined in 2017 from Arup Associates, where she developed a specialism in sustainable construction methods and environmental building performance.
Recognition
RIBA London Award
Marlow House, Kensington
AJ Architecture Award — Best Workplace
The Foundry, Manchester
Civic Trust Award
Albion Pavilion, Bermondsey
RIBA South West Award
Solstice Centre, Cornwall
Blueprint Award — Best Private House
Moorfield, Somerset