The built environment is evolving at an unprecedented pace. From the climate emergency to digital disruption, from changing client expectations to the pursuit of healthier, more resilient communities, architecture is being reshaped at its very foundations. At the center of this transformation stands Tim Martin, newly appointed Managing Principal of 10N Collective for the Middle East and South Asia. With over two decades of experience leading complex design strategies, Martin brings both global perspective and local sensitivity to a region undergoing rapid and profound change. 10N is not a conventional architecture firm. It is a collective: a group of leading design studios including Omrania, U+A, 10 Design, WW+P, SvN and Fenwick Iribarren Architects (FIA) working together under the umbrella of the global engineering and consulting leader Egis. This model allows the group to align bold creative thinking with practical delivery and sustainability imperatives. In this conversation, Martin reflects on the future of the profession, explains how 10N’s unique model benefits clients, and shares his vision for how the collective and Egis can shape a more sustainable, human-centered built environment across the region.
Redefining Architecture: Tim Martin on 10N’s Collective Vision for a Sustainable Future
Over the past two decades, the built environment has transformed dramatically. How do you see these shifts sustainability, digital innovation, and client expectations reshaping the role of the architect today?
The architecture profession has been through nothing short of a revolution in the last twenty years. Sustainability, once an optional layer of design, is now a defining standard. Climate change has put our industry at the forefront of responsibility, and the call for carbon neutrality has driven innovation in every aspect of our work, including materials, construction practices, building systems and urban planning. This technical and ethical shift is a validation that architects must align creativity with conscience, and design with the planet as much as with the client in mind.
Technology has also transformed the way we work. Digital tools give us unprecedented capacity to visualise, simulate, and refine ideas. They allow architects to collaborate across geographies in real time, to experiment with concepts that were once beyond reach, and to bring clients into the process with clarity and immediacy. That changes the relationship entirely: yes, we are still delivering drawings, but also engaging in a continuous, informed dialogue.
As a result, the architect’s role has expanded. We are increasingly seen as strategic partners rather than service providers. Our work extends beyond aesthetics to include wellbeing, cultural identity, and community resilience. We curate experiences, safeguard places, and act as catalysts for connection. The future of architecture will be judged on how well we embrace this broader responsibility to create spaces that serve both people and planet, and to do so with integrity and imagination.
10N describes itself as a “collective” rather than a conventional practice. What does that mean in practice, and why does it matter for this region?
The collective model is what sets 10N apart. We are not a single office with one way of thinking, but a group of internationally recognised studios, each with its own identity, expertise, and history - working together as one. U+A contributes contemporary, people-focused architecture rooted in Middle Eastern contexts. 10 Design brings global design excellence and innovation. Omrania offers decades of regional knowledge and delivery capability. FIA provides unrivalled expertise in stadia and large-scale civic projects.
By combining these strengths, 10N can deliver projects that are both globally ambitious and locally grounded. In practice, this means we embed ourselves with clients from the earliest stages, working alongside them to understand their immediate needs and their cultural DNA and long-term aspirations. We listen, we learn, and we design collaboratively.
This matters deeply for the Middle East and South Asia because the region is at a crossroads: cities are growing at extraordinary speed, and with that growth comes both opportunity and responsibility. By coming together, 10N ensures that projects are innovative, sustainable, contextual, and resilient.
Can you share how the collective model enables collaboration across disciplines and geographies?
One of the most exciting aspects of my role is enabling collaboration across this ecosystem of studios. Each member of the collective brings something unique to the table, and my job is to orchestrate those synergies. For example, FIA’s expertise in designing world-class stadiums pairs beautifully with Omrania’s local presence and delivery experience. Together, they can provide full-spectrum services for complex civic projects in the region. Similarly, the design-forward approach of 10 Design can be enriched by U+A’s deep understanding of local lifestyles and markets.
This is where the power of the collective lies: they aren’t competing identities but complementary strengths. We act as one team, pooling resources and perspectives to deliver more than any single firm could achieve alone. For clients, that means a richer, more nuanced design process and, ultimately, better projects.
How does the partnership with Egis strengthen 10N’s position in the Middle East and South Asia?
The partnership with Egis is absolutely transformative. As one of the world’s leading engineering and consulting groups, Egis brings technical depth, delivery expertise, and a global network of specialists. Combined with 10N’s creative vision, we can offer an integrated, end-to-end service: from strategy and design through engineering and implementation.
In the context of the Middle East, this is particularly powerful. The region faces complex challenges such as climate adaptation, rapid urbanisation, and the need for sustainable city-making at scale. Egis provides the engineering backbone to deliver ambitious visions, while 10N provides the creative leadership to ensure those visions are inspiring, human-centred, and future-ready.
Looking ahead, what is your vision for 10N’s contribution to the region?
Our vision is bold but clear: to help define a new era of sustainable urbanism in the region. That means going beyond aesthetics to deliver spaces that prioritise functionality, wellbeing, and cultural resonance. It also means embracing the diversity of the region: its climates, economies, and communities, while bringing the best of global innovation to bear.
Talent will be at the heart of this mission. We are proud of the local expertise already within our teams and committed to nurturing the next generation of architects, designers, and engineers. By creating a culture of collaboration, we aim to transfer knowledge across borders and disciplines, empowering people wherever we work.
On a personal level, I am excited to foster that culture of openness and creativity across the collective. I believe design should never be commoditised; it should be about authentic partnerships with clients, about co-creating solutions that endure. Ultimately, architecture has the power to shape lives and experiences every day. For me, the goal is to ensure 10N and Egis contribute meaningfully to that opportunity.
