An experiment in collective architecture that began with a single project

Immediately after the 2010 financial crisis, a project that began in a closed gas station in London opened up new possibilities in architecture. Assemble emerged into the world through ‘The Cineroleum’ project, which designed and built an abandoned space and transformed it into a movie theater.

Co-founder Anthony Engi Meacock recalled in an interview with a related media outlet, "We designed and built it ourselves, programmed it, made the uniforms and signs, selected the movies, and were in charge of operations." This project, completed with minimal resources and without a formal request, became the starting point for defining Assemble's work method.

Expanded practice beyond architecture

Assemble is a London-based collective studio working across architecture, design, and social engagement. Their work goes beyond simply building a building and also creates conditions for the building to last.

Micock emphasizes “a very holistic view of the activities that come under the category of architecture,” explaining that this encompasses programming, production, and long-term use. This approach allows projects to move beyond the initial construction phase and become embedded within existing communities and systems.

“It’s not just the work we do now that matters. Creating a sustainable framework for the future is key.” Micock's words encapsulate Assemble's philosophy of prioritizing sustainability, adaptability, and shared copyright over fixed outcomes.

Experimental spirit evolved into community infrastructure

Assemble's early improvisational model continues to this day. A representative example is the ‘Blackhorse Workshop’, which was created in Walthamstow after the 2011 riots. Conceived as a 'library of tools', this space was intentionally designed to have only a minimal physical structure and to allow social infrastructure to continue to grow within it.

What is noteworthy is that this project is run as an independent organization separate from the studio. “It’s something we built and then let go,” Micock said, revealing the repetitive goal of building a self-sustaining system beyond the architect’s control.

Craftsmanship that blooms amid constraints

This spirit of experimentation is maintained even in traditional commissioned projects. At the Goldsmiths Center for Contemporary Art, Assemble worked within the existing industrial building structure, developing materials through field testing and fabrication.

With a limited budget, the team created custom elements themselves, from façade components to tiles and finishes. This, says Micock, “allowed us to create a very economical yet artisanal element to the building,” demonstrating that handcrafting could work within institutional constraints.

Creativity created by non-hierarchical structure

Assemble is working on increasingly complex projects while maintaining a non-hierarchical structure. According to Meakock, the initial work was "an attempt to work together again the way we did in college" and "exploring my agency as a designer in the public sphere."

This group, which began as an informal collaboration, later developed into a practice that expands the boundaries of architecture. Assemble's approach is to resist the logic of short-term development and support the sustainability of actual forms of living rather than imagining a utopia.