About MAAPS

MAAPS guides architectural and interior transformations of homes, hotels and complex buildings.

We are most often engaged where projects carry competing spatial, regulatory, commercial or emotional demands — and where careful judgement is needed before major commitments are made.

Our work spans historic buildings, private homes, hospitality environments and mixed-use projects, often in sensitive or high-friction contexts.

MAAPS is distinguished less by style than by judgement: practical, detailed and quietly rigorous.

We examine how buildings are used, how they age, and how small decisions accumulate into long-term value.

When MAAPS is the right fit

Our role often begins before scope, cost or form are fully defined.

MAAPS are likely to be a good fit if:

the brief is still evolving or unresolved;
the site, building or planning context carries complexity;
thoughtful judgement matters more than speed alone;
you value collaboration and are comfortable with dialogue, iteration and challenge;
important decisions need careful testing before commitments are made.

We are less suited to projects where:

decisions have already been fixed;
design is treated primarily as surface or styling;
the expectation is immediate production without strategic definition;
the lowest fee is the primary selection criterion.

Some clients come to MAAPS with a clear brief. Others arrive with uncertainty, competing priorities or a sense that something is unresolved but not yet fully understood.

Both are valid starting points.

What matters is a willingness to think carefully before committing significant time, cost or construction effort.

If this approach feels aligned, the next step is usually an initial conversation to understand the project, its context, and whether there is a meaningful fit on both sides.

How MAAPS work

Clarity Before Action

We resist activity for its own sake.

Many projects arrive with urgency already baked in — timelines, assumptions, inherited briefs. Our role is often to pause at the right moment, clarifying intent, constraints and ambition before energy, fees or form are committed.

We believe action has value only when it is aligned. Taking time early reduces risk, sharpens decision-making and allows design effort to be directed where it genuinely matters.

Understanding the Problem

Design is not the act of filling space. It is the act of understanding it.

Before we draw, we listen. We interrogate the brief, test constraints, and look for what shouldn’t be designed as much as what should. This early work rarely photographs well, but it underpins everything that follows.

Collaborative by Nature

Good projects are not authored alone.

We work openly with clients, consultants and contractors, valuing shared intelligence over individual certainty. The best ideas often emerge through dialogue — including the unexpected or accidental moments that reveal new possibilities.

Compositional, Not Decorative

Our work begins with structure, proportion and spatial energy — not surface treatment.

We design from the inside out, shaping form, light and sequence before attending to finishes or detail. Restraint is not the absence of creativity; it is how clarity becomes spatially legible.

Comfortable with Friction

Not every conversation is easy — and that’s intentional.

We will challenge assumptions, question decisions, and push back when clarity is missing. This friction is not obstruction; it is care. It’s how risk is reduced and long-term value is protected.

Designed to Last

Our work is judged over time, not at handover.

We design for longevity — spatially, materially and environmentally — creating places that adapt, endure and remain relevant beyond trends or immediate pressures.

Intention sets the conditions / Accident determines the form / Repetition confers legitimacy.

We are careful about what we control — and equally careful about what we allow.

We work best with clients who see design as an investment.

If this approach resonates, we’d be pleased to hear from you.

MAAPS Team

A Shared Way of Thinking

MAAPS is a design-led studio built on shared judgement rather than individual authorship.

Our backgrounds and experience vary, united by a common belief: that clarity, care and thoughtful decision-making are the foundation of lasting design value. We approach projects collectively, testing ideas through dialogue and bringing different perspectives to the same problem.

The people you work with at MAAPS are not simply delivering instructions — they are actively shaping decisions, challenging assumptions and guiding projects through complexity with calm authority.

Our strength lies in how we think together.

Peter leads MAAPS with a deep commitment to craft, clarity and long-term value. His work spans a wide range of sectors and scales, driven by a genuine enjoyment of the design process and a fascination with how buildings are conceived, made and experienced over time.

At the heart of Peter’s approach is the belief that good design emerges from understanding — of context, structure, use and intent — and that the right answer should take the form it needs, rather than be shaped by pre-set stylistic ideas or decorative tropes. He is particularly engaged at the early stages of projects, working closely with clients to define direction, test assumptions and arrive at confident, well-considered decisions before action is taken.

Alongside his role as studio leader, Peter remains closely involved in the technical resolution of projects. He takes genuine pleasure in the craft of building and in sharing knowledge, skills and experience with the wider team, mentoring others to ensure that design intent is matched by rigour, buildability and long-term performance.

Spencer supports MAAPS through business development and marketing activity, helping the studio communicate its work clearly and consistently. His role sits alongside the design team rather than within project delivery.

Beyond the studio, Spencer is a published expert on the Art Deco architecture of Shanghai’s French Concession. His research reflects a broader interest in architectural history, culture, and the long view of cities — values that quietly inform the practice’s ethos.

Louise looks after accounts and bookkeeping at MAAPS, ensuring the studio’s financial administration is handled with care, accuracy and consistency.

Alongside this role, Louise brings a lively and outgoing energy to the studio and is often involved in supporting marketing activity and client outreach. Her natural confidence and warmth make her a positive presence in conversations both inside and beyond the practice.

Mr alert and attentive to the end.

Fred is remembered for his unwavering vigilance, warm paws, mischievous energy and constant presence around the studio. A dependable guardian of doors, desks and daily routine, he brought comfort, character and a quiet sense of watchfulness to MAAPS.

His contribution to studio life was felt every day, and he is greatly missed. RIP.

Zoomer is an insistent and much-loved presence in the MAAPS studio. Known for his glamorous soft sable coat, resonant purr and unwavering confidence, he has a habit of making himself part of every conversation — whether invited or not.

While not directly involved in design decisions, Zoomer contributes daily to studio life, reminding us of the value of comfort, attentiveness and the occasional pause. His presence brings warmth, rhythm and a certain feline authority to the workday.

Services

Design at Moments of Decision

Our services are structured around key moments of decision — when direction is unclear, risk is live, or value needs to be defined before action is taken.

Clients often come to us before scope, cost or form are fixed. Our role at this stage is to bring clarity: testing assumptions, exploring options and helping define the right direction before commitments are made.

Defining Direction

Early-stage work focused on clarity, alignment and intent.

This includes feasibility studies, strategic briefing, options testing and spatial strategy — supporting clients in understanding what is possible, what matters most, and where design effort will add the greatest value.

Designing the Architecture

Architectural design that translates clarity into form.

From concept through delivery, we shape structure, proportion, light and spatial experience — ensuring that early decisions remain legible as projects progress.

Shaping the Interior

Interior architecture designed from the inside out.

We focus on use, movement and atmosphere first, allowing materiality and detail to emerge from the spatial intent rather than applied decoration.

Not every project requires all of these services. What matters is identifying the right ones at the right time — and understanding how each contributes to long-term value.

Start a Conversation

Thank you for reaching out.

Every project begins differently. Some arrive clearly defined; others begin with uncertainty, competing priorities or unresolved questions.

The information below helps us understand the context before arranging an initial conversation.

Name

Location of Project

Type of Project

Tell us about the project, site or decision you are navigating

Current Stage

Approximate Project Scale (optional)

Supporting Material (optional) - Plans, photographs, sketches, precedent images or planning information can be uploaded here if helpful. Supported file formats: PDF, JPG, PNG. Max upload size 10mb.

I understand MAAPS may challenge assumptions, test direction and recommend against unnecessary intervention where appropriate.