Finding imaginative yet carefully considered solutions. Architecture that delights. Beautifully designed with clarity and purpose. The everyday reimagined.
Our studio enjoys involvement in projects of all different scales and types, each being client focused and context led. Using 3D immersive technology, we encourage our clients to engage in the design dialogue to communicate their aspirations and desires for the project. We have years of big practice experience that drives a pragmatic approach combined with our desire to find imaginative solutions to redefine the everyday and ordinary. This refined approach creates carefully considered solutions with both clarity and beauty.
George Guest ARB
With a career spanning over 14 years prior to co-founding Studio Elephant, George has built a broad and in-depth knowledge of architectural projects across a wide range of scales and typologies. He has a particular passion for crafting highly creative design solutions for the everyday spaces and places that shape how we live and interact.
After graduating from Oxford Brookes and the University of Westminster, George began his career at the acclaimed Heatherwick Studio, where he worked under the renowned designer Thomas Heatherwick on projects such as the Bombay Sapphire Distillery and the London 2012 Olympic Cauldron. This experience led to his involvement in the confidential design team for the London 2012 Opening Ceremony, collaborating with Danny Boyle and a close-knit group of film and costume designers to develop the set and narrative for the world stage.
George later joined Foster + Partners and then Make Architects, where he spent eight years contributing to a number of significant projects, including The Hiscox Building in York, Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, 48 Leicester Square, and 5 Broadgate in London. He subsequently moved to Jo Cowen Architects to explore the more intimate scale of domestic architecture — a shift that deepened his appreciation for the intricacy, design detail, and immediacy that smaller-scale projects afford.
Lara Orska ARB Cantab
Lara is passionate about creating imaginative yet practical design solutions that are tailored to each client's unique needs, ensuring every project feels personal and distinctive. Beyond a strong client focus, she believes that successful architecture must be site-specific and sustainable — responding thoughtfully to the local context through materiality, scale, and a celebration of natural light.
Her commitment to sustainable design began with her thesis on living building materials at the University of Cambridge and has remained a central theme throughout her architectural career.
Before co-founding Studio Elephant, Lara spent eight years at Make Architects, where she contributed to a diverse range of projects — from cutting-edge workplaces in Shoreditch and Westminster to sculptural weathered steel bridges in the City of London. During this time, she developed extensive experience in landscape and interior design, working closely with consultants to deliver well co-ordinated, high-quality outcomes.
At Studio Elephant, collaboration is at the heart of our approach. We work as an integrated team with our clients and consultants to bring thoughtful, context-driven designs to life.