Erbar Mattes is a London-based international architecture practice established by Demian Erbar and Holger Mattes.

We are committed to the creation of thoughtful and timeless architecture that is firmly rooted in context. Our work seeks to distil and enhance the essential ‘found’ qualities and spirit of a place, creating buildings that are unique and belong.

With a strong interest in the quality of the built environment and long-term impact of construction, we strive to find sustainable solutions through adaptability, retrofit, and low-carbon / low-energy design. From early creative sketches through construction detailing and site supervision, we carefully evaluate spatial relationships, proportions, light, materials, and details to deliver architecture that is full of character, practical and lasting. The quality of our design and built work has been recognised through multiple awards and publications.

Our founding partners bring extensive UK and international experience leading the design and construction of highly acclaimed buildings within the arts, hospitality, housing, and office sectors, including the public art galleries The Hepworth Wakefield and Turner Contemporary in Margate.

Demian Erbar

Demian studied architecture at La Sapienza University in Rome and the Technical University in Aachen, graduating in 2006. He gained professional experience in Germany, Argentina, and the UK, qualifying as an architect in 2009. Living in London since 2008, and prior to setting up Erbar Mattes Architects as co-founding director in 2015, Demian worked for five years at David Chipperfield Architects. There he led a number of high profile hospitality, residential, and cultural projects, including the interior design of the celebrated Hepworth Wakefield public art gallery in West Yorkshire and a studio for the artist Antony Gormley in Norfolk. Demian is an ARB registered architect and chartered member of the RIBA. He has taught as lecturer and design studio tutor, and is regularly engaged as design critic across various schools of architecture in the UK.

Holger Mattes

Holger studied architecture at the Technical Universities in Aachen, Delft, and Berlin, graduating in 2002. He gained professional experience in Germany and The Netherlands, qualifying as an architect in 2005. Holger moved to London in 2007 to join David Chipperfield Architects where he was an Associate from 2009 until 2013. He was in charge of the acclaimed Turner Contemporary public art gallery in Margate and a number of high profile residential and hospitality schemes in the UK, US, and the Middle East. In 2013/14 he collaborated with Mae Architects where he led large-scale London housing developments Agar Grove and Brentford Lock West. In 2015 Holger co-founded Erbar Mattes Architects as a director. He is registered as architect in the UK and The Netherlands and a chartered member of the RIBA. He taught architecture at the Technical University Aachen and the University for the Creative Arts in Canterbury, and has been a design critic at the Bartlett, UCL, London Metropolitan University, and the Welsh School of Architecture.

Erbar Mattes
Unit 6D, Thane Works
London N7 7NU

+44 20 3865 8066

General enquiries:
studio@erbarmattes.com

Instagram (@erbarmattes)

Employment enquiries:
vacancies@erbarmattes.com

Terms, copyright, and company info

Selected Awards

Architects' Journal Retrofit Awards 2022
Blockmakers Arms is a Finalist in the "House £500k and over" category

Haringey Design Awards 2018
Harvey Road wins the "Best House" Award

BD Architect of the Year Award 2017
Finalist "Small Project Architect of the Year" Award

New London Architecture Don’t Move, Improve! 2017 Awards
Harvey Road wins the "Best Use of Materials" Award

RIBAJ Microarchitecture Award 2015
Writer’s Cabin in Kent is a Finalist

Selected Press

Baumeister, 11 April 2022
Blockmakers Arms: Früher Brauerei, heute Familienwohnen

Divisare Journal, 7 March 2022
Erbar Mattes Blockmakers Arms

Dezeen, 27 February 2022
Erbar Mattes strips back and extends flats in former London pub

Architecture Today, 23 February 2022
The Blockmakers Arms: Erbar Mattes Architects has skilfully remodelled a former pub in north London to create a home for an expanding family

Architects' Journal, 15 February 2022
Erbar Mattes Architects extends former pub into five-bed duplex

Building Design, 20 January 2022
Erbar Mattes completes refurb of former London pub

Architects' Journal, 16 December 2021
AJ Retrofit Awards 2022 shortlist: Houses and Housing (House £500k and over)

The Modern House Journal
How to convert a period home – five architecture studios share their advice

TEC21 – Schweizerische Bauzeitung, Zürich, 18 September 2017, No.36
Grenzenloser Mikrokosmos

Divisare, 25 October 2016
Erbar Mattes Harvey Road

Dezeen, 16 October 2016
Erbar Mattes adds pale brick extension to Edwardian house in north London