The firm set up by Maccreanor Lavington to target work outside its core UK and Netherlands markets has landed its first jobs in Russia and China.

Based in Rotterdam, MLA+ is chasing work in a number of countries, including Germany, Vietnam, the US and Brazil.

It has hired Markus Appenzeller — the German former director of Dutch practice KCAP Architects & Planners — as one of its three partners, along with Richard Lavington and Gerard Maccreanor.

Appenzeller said the business would focus on housing and masterplanning but was also looking at office and public buildings.

Among its jobs in Russia are masterplanning schemes for Perm and Vladikavkaz in north Ossetia.

Appenzeller said it was unlikely to open an office in Russia but it has one in China at Shanghai. “China is so vast… You need to be there really.”
It now has masterplanning work in Beijing and Shenzhen.