As we all know, architecture is a tough practice involving a lot of competition. It usually takes years for architecture firms to build strong portfolios and establish their voice.
Yet some special firms manage to cause global impact almost overnight. Working in a small architecture firm provides special benefits—these young architects don’t just aim to transform the earth’s builtscape; they change people’s lives. Here are three young architecture firms set to change the world.
What Makes Young Architecture Firms So Impactful?
Young architecture firms often succeed because they approach problems with fresh eyes and fewer preconceptions. They tend to be more agile, willing to experiment with unconventional materials and construction methods, and deeply connected to the communities they serve. Unlike larger, more established practices burdened by overhead and tradition, these firms can pivot quickly and take on projects that might seem too risky or unprofitable for mainstream architecture.
How Do Young Architecture Firms Compete with Established Ones?
Rather than competing directly for the same large-scale commercial projects, young firms carve out niches where they can excel. They focus on social impact, sustainability, community engagement, and innovative construction techniques. Their size becomes an advantage—they can offer personalized attention, direct principal involvement, and designs that challenge conventional thinking. Many find their first clients through grassroots networking, social media storytelling, and published work that showcases their unique approach.
3 Young Architecture Firms Set to Change the World:
1. People’s Architecture Office (PAO)
PAO is a Chinese firm whose mission is to serve the masses. Their buildings address daily realities in different communities at an international level. These startups approach each design as a set of problems to arrive at the most humane solutions.
Photography by © Rui Zhu
Their Courtyard Plugin House, for example, was created for millennium-old courtyards where families informally resided. It’s a modular system that one can literally ‘plug’ into the courtyard to provide dwellers with modern living facilities. How so? The plugin house is made of light panels that provide structure, insulation, wiring, plumbing, and openings all packed in one piece. Watch its assembly by clicking the image below:
Courtesy of PAO
Likewise, their Tricycle House, Mrs. Fan’s Plugin House, and Plugin Tower are all low-impact structures—some with no foundations—that promote sustainability, affordability, and healthy lifestyles. These projects demonstrate how young firms can tackle housing crises with nimble, scalable solutions that larger practices might overlook.
2. TYIN Tegnestue Architects
Norwegian graduates Andreas G. Gjertsen and Yashar Hanstad came together to form this firm in 2008. Their objective is to provide realistic and immediate solutions for people living in poor and underdeveloped countries around the world. Up till now, they have life-changing projects in Thailand, Burma, Haiti, and Uganda.
Photography by © Pasi Aalto
Community participation is a key element of their design approach. For this reason, they first spend at least a few months making genuine connections with the people they’ll build for. As a result, locals actively contribute to the design and building processes, ensuring each structure truly serves its community.
TYIN Architects are also pretty fond of reusing different objects in their structures in creative ways. We can see this strategy in their use of old tires to make urinals for an orphanage in Thailand.
Courtesy of TYIN Tegnestue
The firm also teaches us how one simple structure can transform a slum into a well-functioning, sustainable community. TYIN Architects built the Klong Toe Community Lantern in Bangkok’s largest slum, where crime and drug abuse were widespread. They kept a central football court, limiting the structure’s footprint to 12m x 1.2m while the height went up to 5m. This low-budget project utilized available materials to create an open-air space with seating, metal railings, and playful climbing areas. The Community Lantern turned Klong Toe into a safe, enjoyable, and social area in the heart of Bangkok.
You can learn plenty of practical architectural solutions to solve social problems at their website.
3. NLÉ
Led by Kunlé Adeyemi, NLÉ aims to improve social, economic, and environmental conditions through their work. The firm has groundbreaking projects in China, Korea, Italy, and Nigeria. Their main interest is tackling problems resulting from climatic changes and rapid urban growth in coastal communities.
Photography by © Laurian Ghinitoiu
Examples include the floating school in Makoko (a flood-prone area of Lagos) and MFS II, the floating school in Venice. Both designs adapt well to their local conditions and are easy to assemble—it takes a maximum of 10 days and 4 builders to assemble each. This rapid deployment shows how young firms can respond to urgent humanitarian needs with elegant, repeatable solutions.
NLÉ’s other contemporary projects are also strictly embedded in their urban contexts, like the Green Line Arts Center in Chicago. The Center welcomes local as well as international arts to form an identity for the neighborhood it’s built in.
What defines a “young” architecture firm?
Typically, a young architecture firm is one founded within the last 5-10 years, often led by emerging architects under 40. What matters more than age is their innovative approach and fresh perspective on design challenges.
How do young architecture firms get their first major projects?
Many start with small residential renovations, community projects, or competition wins. They build momentum through strategic networking, compelling digital presence, and projects that generate media interest. Some even start their own practices right after graduation, learning as they build.
What skills are most important for architects in young firms?
Beyond design talent, young firm architects need business acumen, project management skills, and strong communication abilities. They must be comfortable with everything from client relations to construction oversight. If you’re building your career, check out what skills you need to add to your resume to join high profile architecture firms.
Can visiting other firms help young practices grow?
Absolutely. Taking a short visit to prominent architecture firms can provide invaluable insights into different workflows, studio cultures, and business models. It’s one of the best ways to learn what might work for your own practice.
We hope these three young architecture firms continue to inspire and innovate for decades to come. Their work reminds us that architecture’s power lies not just in creating beautiful buildings, but in solving real problems for real people.
Explore More Architecture Firms
If you’re inspired by these emerging practices, you might also want to explore:
– 23 of the Best Architecture Firms in Chicago Dominating the Field
– More Young Architecture Firms making waves globally
– Young Architects in Small Firms and the unique advantages they offer
Urwa Shahid is an urban development professional with a Master’s in Urban Development Planning from UCL’s Development Planning Unit. With a foundation in architecture, she focuses on using design thinking to address complex urban challenges. Urwa has contributed to impactful projects, including work with the UN-Habitat Cities Investment Facility, where she supported sustainable city-building initiatives. Her approach blends architectural creativity with strategic urban planning, guided by her personal philosophy: “I like to use architecture to solve urban problems. Sketching is my style—architecture is not my goal.” Through international collaborations and academic excellence, Urwa brings a thoughtful, solution-oriented mindset to shaping inclusive and resilient urban spaces.