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The studio

A small studio, by design.

Harrison & Vale is an interior architecture practice in Northern Quarter, Manchester. We are eleven people, and we keep it that way so that every project gets the attention of the two of us who started it.

Black and white photograph of an architect standing in a stripped-back mill interior during a site visit

We work slowly at the start so the building can be quick to live in.

01

Architecture first

We start with the walls, openings and proportions of a building, and furnish only once the rooms are right.

02

Materials that age

Oak, stone, lime and linen, chosen because they look better in twenty years than on the day we finish.

03

One team, start to finish

The person who draws your house is the person on site when it is built, and the one who places the last lamp.

An architect holding up a large sheet of plans in the studio

Drawing review, Stevenson Square

Founders

Founded in Manchester in 2016, Harrison & Vale works with a small collaborative team of architects, interior designers, craftspeople, fabricators, artists, and builders.

Black and white portrait of Claire Harrison sitting on a timber floor against a white wall

Claire Harrison

Creative Director

Claire leads the studio's interior and creative direction.

Her work focuses on natural materials, furniture, art, and creating interiors that feel personal without becoming overly styled.

Black and white portrait of Ethan Vale by a window, half in shadow

Ethan Vale

Principal Architect

Ethan leads architecture, planning, detailing, and construction.

His work focuses on proportion, material relationships, adaptive reuse, and integrating contemporary architecture within historic environments.

(03) Philosophy

We design spaces meant to become more beautiful with time.

Our approach begins with architecture and proportion. Materials are chosen for how they age, light is treated as part of the architecture, and every object is considered in relation to the space around it.

How we work

From first visit to the final object.

Most projects take between twelve months and two years. One of us leads from the first walk-round to the day the last lamp goes in.

  1. 01

    Discovery

    Understanding the property, client, lifestyle, architecture, and ambitions for the project.

  2. 02

    Concept

    Establishing spatial direction, materials, atmosphere, and architectural language.

  3. 03

    Design Development

    Refining layouts, millwork, lighting, finishes, furniture, and architectural details.

  4. 04

    Documentation

    Preparing detailed drawings, specifications, schedules, and construction information.

  5. 05

    Construction

    Working closely with contractors, craftspeople, fabricators, and consultants throughout execution.

  6. 06

    Installation

    Furniture, artwork, objects, styling, and final project completion.

They understood that we wanted the apartment to feel refined without ever feeling precious. The finished home feels completely natural to us.
— Daniel & Emily CarterAncoats, Manchester
The studio managed to preserve everything we loved about the townhouse while completely changing the way we live inside it.
— Michael ReynoldsWest Didsbury, Manchester
Every decision felt considered. Materials, lighting, furniture, and architecture all feel like they belong together.
— Sarah MitchellAltrincham, Cheshire

Press

Selected Press

  • Architectural Digest2026
  • Dezeen2025
  • Dwell2025
  • The Local Project2024
  • Wallpaper*2024