Mixed disciplines make for rich projects
BanfieldWood is a London-based team of architects and engineers.
Founded in 2022 by two lifelong friends, the practice was born from a shared desire to create spaces that are crafted, unique to their users, and shaped by the interplay of different disciplines. We aim to disrupt the traditional designer-engineer-contrractor relationship by offering a joined-up whole-service approach.
This ethos means we often take on building and fabrication alongside design and engineering, weaving buildability and craftsmanship into every project.
We’ve grown into an agile team of 2-4 practitioners, working on diverse and challenging briefs for a variety of interesting clients.
With over forty years of combined experience, our work spans scales and disciplines, offering a holistic view on how buildings and spaces come together.
Simon Banfield
Simon leads the architecture and interiors team, bringing broad experience in hospitality and high-end residential projects across London and the UK.
Educated at the University of Westminster, The London School of Architecture, and the Architectural Association, Simon’s career includes time at leading practices such as McLaren Excell, Rural Office, and Liddicoat & Goldhill.
At Liddicoat & Goldhill, he discovered his passion for hands-on construction through the ‘Makers House’ self-build project, nominated for House of the Year.
Simon also designed, built, and co-owned a bar in Liverpool during the pandemic - an experience that sparked the founding of BanfieldWood and gives him firsthand insight into the realities, trends, and challenges of the hospitality sector.
He values the tactile side of architecture, whether fabricating project elements or building models to help clients connect with their future spaces.
Simon is an ARB registered Architect, and a RIBA Chartered practitioner.
Matthew Wood
Matthew leads the engineering and building consultancy side, drawing on over a decade of experience at leading multinational firms as well as from smaller-scale public and residential projects.
A structural and civil engineer trained at Imperial College London, Matthew has worked on pioneering schemes including Passivhaus retrofits of Camden’s Edwardian housing, the award-winning Agar Grove regeneration with Mae Architects, and self-built hydro-power projects in Africa.
Passionate about sustainable building and using innovative methods for challenging sites, Matthew relishes an architecturally-led detail.
Like Simon, he embraces the hands-on nature of making and is involved early on in all projects to help ensure a smoother build process on site.
Matthew is an IStructE-accredited engineer.