Transit Studio is a multi disciplinary architecturally focused design studio inspired by transit and transition between places, cultures and people. The studio specialises in Architecture and Interior Design, bringing new life to existing buildings, as well as creating sensitive new build architecture.
Transit studio has a global outlook taking inspiration from the richness of cultural diversity to bring intriguing material palettes, textures and ideas to create truly bespoke, inspiring and engaging spaces.
Transit Studio prides itself on its creative process, which begins by dissecting both a client’s brief and the team’s initial reaction to the site and context within which it is working. In this way, the studio rejects conforming to trends and avoids confining itself to a particular style, which has helped give rise to a distinctive portfolio.
We have recently completed a new floor at London’s Groucho Club, creating a multifunctional event space, as well as a new bar for Members, weaving together the urban fabric to create a more contemporary design. We are currently working on a three country houses set in 20 hectares of land in rural Sicily. In London we are working on a broad variety of projects, from a number of residential refurbishments as well as a start up hotel brand that seeks to create an entirely new offering within the sector.
The studio was founded by Ben Masterton-Smith in 2017. Ben has worked on a wide variety of restaurant, bar and hotel and residential projects, both in London and internationally. He has worked from inception to completion on a diverse mix of complex and challenging projects achieving striking and innovative designs on time and on budget.
He previously worked for the notable design and architecture practices of Foster + Partners, Conran & Partners and Michaelis Boyd Associates. From 2009 to 2016, Ben worked at Michaelis Boyd Associates, most recently as an Associate Director, overseeing a diverse range of projects especially within the refurbishment sector for both commercial and residential clients including experience with a number of listed buildings. He worked with clients such as The Groucho Club, The Soho House Group, Battersea Power Station Development Company, Aju Hotels & Resorts, The Press Room Group, Tom Aikens & Byron.
He has a strong interest in travel which informs the work and direction of the studio.
In 2017 he took part in the MADE labs program in Ortygia. As the inaugural recipient of the RIBA Norman Foster Travelling Scholarship in 2007, Ben visited North Korea (D.P.R.K), China and Vietnam as part of his project entitled Emerging East: Exploring and Experiencing the Asian Communist City.