About the practice

Studio Bua’s London-based architecture and interior design practice is grounded in a human-centred approach to creating spaces that hold a quiet gravitas. Founded by Mark Smyth and Sigrún Sumarliðadóttir in 2017, Bua (meaning ‘to inhabit’ in Icelandic) believes in making sensitive observations of existing environments and how our clients wish to thrive within them. This leads to collaborative projects that form a harmony with their surroundings through impeccable craftsmanship and sustainable materiality. Working on cultural, commercial and private buildings, as well as interior, landscape and exhibition design, we respect the cultural heritage of each context while introducing a sophisticated language that delights in its unexpected details. This enduring dialogue between the grand and the intimate, the raw and the refined, the ancient and the modern, results in thoughtfully told stories that confirm our belief that how we live – and where we inhabit – is nurtured by robust, honest design.