‘Uber for architecture’ moves in to Birmingham

HOKO Design has opened a studio in Birmingham following a £400,000 investment and a record month for the residential architect.

The move into the city comes on the back of a record month in February, placing the growing firm on target to be working on 1,000 projects nationwide by the end of the year.

Scottish architect and entrepreneur Danny Campbell founded HOKO in 2019 creating a ‘one-stop-shop’ for homeowners seeking to improve their living spaces with the help of architecture and design experts.

The streamlined HOKO process features technology including virtual reality (VR) and a full interior design service to help clients realise their interior design visions.

The new Birmingham studio will be managed by project architect Jo Ellson, a Birmingham School of Architecture-trained architect who has spent her near 25-year career working at firms across Birmingham, Warwickshire and the West Midlands.

Campbell said: “The HOKO mission has always been to provide the perfect home remodelling experience for homeowners.

“The traditional architecture process can be complicated, inaccessible, and out of line with advances in customer experience in other industries, and that’s why hundreds of homeowners are turning to HOKO.

“As news of our success spreads, we have seen rising demand for our brand of residential architecture across the West Midlands, particularly during lockdown, and Birmingham is the perfect place to base our operation.

“Jo is part of our team of talented architects working nationwide to deliver HOKO’s streamlined one-stop shop experience, customer experience. Working with a fantastic network of local suppliers and tradespeople, we are able to take the hassle out of home improvement, and deliver the highest quality projects from start to finish.”

Ellson said: “The response to our arrival in Birmingham has been excellent, and already we are working with clients across the West Midlands who are loving the HOKO experience.

“It’s a privilege to be part of such a forward-thinking business, which is seeking to make positive, client-focused changes to an industry that needs a refresh. It’s a great place to work, and clients love the work we do.”