We create positive disruption. We show compassion. We take responsibility.
Meet the Barkers
Ella Thorns
Architect ARB
Wilf Meynell
Founder
Hannah Towler
Associate Director ARB
Steph Chadwick
Founder
Naomi Wright
Architect ARB RIBA
Sarah Broadstock
Director ARB
Nick Newman
Founder ARB RIBA
Sophie Lang
Studio Manager
Misbah Mahmood Asim
Architect ARB
Tom Bennett
Director ARB RIBA
Disruptive Compassionate Responsible
Create disruption
We are science-driven, unable to ignore the facts of the climate emergency and to continue with business as usual. We are forward thinking in our work, vocal in communicating what we believe in, and courageous in our ambitions for our collective future. We engage with our industry and beyond to drive sustainable technologies and conversations forward. We are generous with our knowledge and ideas for how our industry can improve, sharing our programmes and making our research open source.
Show compassion
We are motivated by compassion towards people, the planet and each other. We envision a world where everyone’s social needs and welfare are met. We are passionate about protecting and restoring the planet for future generations. We are dedicated to cultivating a studio grounded in kindness, respect, transparency and fairness, and recognise the need to address the diversity deficit within our industry and wider society. We treat our clients with care and will sit alongside you through the unique journey of your project, providing our knowledge, experience, and a listening ear.
Take responsibility
We take responsibility for our work, are thorough in our research, and committed to project success. We are sincere in our approach to our client's needs, and attentive to the nuanced requirements of your individual project. We are methodical and careful in our business practices, ensuring day-to-day consistency alongside long-term resilience. We place learning in high regard, promoting upskilling within our team to consistently raise our knowledge and abilities, viewing each project as an opportunity to expand our expertise.
Awards + Press
It’s not all about winning prizes and getting attention.
But awards and press do spur us on to push our work further, creating more change and more waves.
That can only be a good thing.
Awards
2024 Winner Archiboo Best Written Content
2024 Winner Archiboo Activism Award
2023 Winner IStructE Yorkshire's Best Small Project
2022 Awarded BUILD’s Leaders in Sustainable Residential Architecture
2019 Winner RIBA East Award
2019 Longlisted Dezeen Awards
2019 Shortlisted BD Sustainability Architect of the Year
2018 Winner of 2018 BD Sustainability Architect of the Year
2018 Shortlisted AJ Small Project Award Holloway Lightbox
2018 Long-listed Dezeen Emerging Architects Award
Press
2024 BE News: At last! Straw is being taken seriously once more as a construction material
2024 RIBA Journal: What is protest architecture and why do we need it?
2024 Dezeen: Top Houses of July 2024
2024 Architects' Journal: Studio Bark designs off-grid Suffolk house
2024 Dezeen: Origami-like roof tops timber home in Suffolk by Studio Bark
2024 Wallpaper*: A Suffolk house by Studio Bark pairs a fresh visual language with low-energy design
2024 Architects' Journal: Capital & Centric tease finalists’ designs for new Wolverhampton neighbourhood
2024 Wallpaper*: The Activism Award 2024 goes to Studio Bark, architecture’s passionate champions
2024 Architects' Journal: Studio Bark to build zero-carbon home next to 15th-century moated manor
2024 Dezeen: Studio Bark designs water-powered Breach House that enables off-grid living
2024 Architects' Journal: Studio Bark's water-powered 'country house clause' scheme approved
2024 Architects' Journal: Stirling Prize winner among finalists for new Wolves neighbourhood
2024 The Planner: Beyond paragraph 84: The potential of paragraph 139 in rural planning
2024 BBC News: Living off grid and the English houses where you can
2023 RIBA London: Practice of the Month December 2023
2023 Architects' Journal: Rethinking the country house clause: is para 134 architects’ new ally?
2023 World Architecture News:
Opinion: How can architects influence carbon-intensive supply chains?
2023 Dezeen:
Studio Bark designs “sculptural forest” timber installation for Leeds City Square
2023 Leeds Year of Culture: Inspired by the ancient forests of Leeds
2023 Architects' Journal: Nest House’s foundation design explored
2023 AJ February Building Study: Generous is Beautiful
2023 Dezeen’s Top 5 Houses of February 2023: Nest House listed as one of the top 5 houses
2022 Enki Magazine: Architect of the Month October 2022 (print)
2022 Dezeen’s COP27: Architects Express Frustration
2022 Dezeen’s Earth Day: Sarah as one of the top 50 architects designers you need to know
2022 Hoxton Mini Press: Work From Shed
2021 IStructE: Measuring carbon: a small practice perspective
2021 COP26: Industry responsibilities by Steve Tompkins
2021 Podcast: Tom B on Building Talks Net Zero Podcast
2021 CoDreaming Climates: Sarah on Climate Conversations ACAN
2021 RIBA Journal: Lessons from history can help decarbonise buildings
2021 BBC News: A Post-Lockdown U-Build
2021 RIBA Books: Small Projects Handbook
2021 RIBA Books: Everything Needs to Change
2021 Architects' Journal: Climate Champions Podcast
2020 Elle Decoration: Ask An Architect Interview
2020 Architects' Journal: The AJ100 Disruptors