About Adam Nathaniel

Trained in architecture, Furman (he/him) is an internationally recognised artist and designer based in London, whose work embodies contemporary themes and issues through a passionate and lifelong exploration of the 'meaningfully decorative', and the 'potently aesthetic'. His approach which blends irreverence and rigour, tradition and innovation, always with an eye to the beautifully made and the emotionally resonant, has led to a career creating everything from products, to furniture, sculptures, interiors, and large-scale public spaces and artworks that sit comfortably within traditional -or normative- contexts whilst being highly singular admixtures of exquisitely articulated, sensuous uplift.

Exhibited, published and collected internationally, Adam Nathaniel's work is held in the permanent collections of the Design Museum (London), the Sir John Soane’s Museum, the Carnegie Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Victoria, the National Museum (of Norway), the Abet Museum, & the Architectural Association. His work has been published worldwide, and he is known as a unique voice and thinker, having co-founded and directed (for 11 years) the influential Saturated Space research Group on colour in architecture and urbanism at the Architectural Association, founded and taught the Productive Exuberance studio at Central St Martins, and published the award-winning book Queer Spaces, An Atlas of LGBTQIA+ Places and stories for the Royal Institute of British Architects, as well as Revisiting Postmodernism and the upcoming Chromatic Architecture with the same publishers. He was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2024 for his services to British Architecture.

Awards:

Croydon Colonnade wins Worshipful Company of Tylers & Bricklayers Triennial Award 2024

Croydon Colonnade wins Tile Association Award for Best Large Project 2024

Awarded Honorary Fellowship by the Royal Institute of British Architects for services to architecture, 2024

Croydon Colonnade one of the Observer/Guardian's five best projects of 2023

Booklaunch Architectural Reference Book of the Year Award 2023

Architectural Book of the Year Award Winner 2023

One of the Mayor of London's Architecture and Urbanism (A+U) framework practices 2023-2027

Kings Cross Artist in Residence 2021

FX Product Designer of the Year Award 2019

One of Icon Magazine’s “100 talents of 2018-19”

Blueprint Award for Best Small Project 2018

Progress 1000, one of the Evening Standard’s “most Influential Londoners of 2018”

Elle Decor Italia “New Talent for 2018”

Metropolis Magazine “New Talent” 2017

One of the Observer’s four “Rising Stars” of 2017

L’Uomo Vogue Italia “Design Star” 2016

Architecture Foundation “New Architect” 2016

UK Rome Prize for Architecture 2014-15

Blueprint Award for Design Innovation 2014

Design Museum Designer In Residence 2013-14

Architectural Association Prize 2007

Royal Institute of British Architects Bronze Commendation 2005

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Specializing in the visual focal points that define major public destinations, Adam Nathaniel Furman works across scales from train stations to public squares, lobbies, facades, and immersive environments. Collaborating with top-tier clients (British Land, Moda Living, Argent, Mitsubishi Estate, ITV, Canary Wharf Group), he delivers monumental sculptures and integrated architectural art that act as powerful anchors for place identity. His practice bridges high-level commercial strategy with the British Arts & Crafts tradition, prioritizing rigorous manufacturing and material quality to elevate the quotidian environment. By utilizing durable, bespoke materials—such as architectural ceramics and vitreous enamel—Furman creates permanent, high-craft interventions that drive footfall and distinctiveness in the public realm. A leading voice in urbanism and co-author of Queer Spaces (RIBA), he turns functional spaces into vibrant, inclusive, universal landmarks.