Takeshi is a qualified architect with 25 years of experience in London, specialising in community-led, craft-based, and co-design approaches. Having studied in Tokyo and London, and worked at leading practices including David Chipperfield Architects, Haworth Tompkins and 6a architects, he founded Hayatsu Architects in 2017 to pursue a participatory model of practice.

His work engages communities in shaping their built environment, from historic refurbishments such as Catford House Community Pub to public realm projects including The Blue Market in Bermondsey and Devonshire Square in Palmers Green. By embedding local stories, skills, and heritage into design, he promotes inclusive ownership, social resilience, and long-term stewardship of places.

Alongside practice, he is a Senior Lecturer at Kingston University and Unit Master at the Architectural Association, and serves on Harrow Council’s Design Review Panel.

Ethan is a RIBA Part 3 architect with over 5 years of experience in practices in London and Hong Kong. He has worked on public realm and housing projects at varying scales before joining Hayatsu Architects, where he is involved in the technical design and construction stages of a major refurbishment of a public house for Lewisham Council and a private residential project. He is currently involved in the concept design stages of an ecologically and community-driven public realm project for New Malden’s town centre. 

Ethan shares Hayatsu Architects’ interest in exploring local craft and social histories, developing on his research interests in the cultural histories of the landscape garden and spatial agency during his time at university.

Dot has experience working across Hayatsu Architects’ projects from public realm to private housing, most recently on the restoration of a Grade II listed Medieval Hall in Harrow. Her skills lie in producing design drawings as well as hand drawing, physical model making, surveying and research. 

Dot has developed a strong interest in the process of making and craftsmanship. She is fascinated by projects that emphasise inclusive and socially-conscious design. Her thesis project at Royal College of Arts explores unusual histories and new typologies in London through the lens of ‘strangeness’, using models and the format of a performative lecture to highlight memories and shared human experiences.