About Eye-Kon

A central London architectural visualisation studio specialising in Verified Views and Accurate Visual Representations for UK planning applications. Established in 2006, we work with architects, developers and planning consultants across the UK.

The Eye-Kon studio in central London, with the team working on 3D architectural models across dual monitors in a converted brick and timber warehouse space.

Our Studio

Architecture, Photography and Technical Accuracy

Three disciplines that have shaped the way we approach Verified Views since 2006.

Eye-Kon was founded from a background in architecture and architectural visualisation, and that grounding still shapes the way we work today. We read drawings as a design team does, understand the decisions behind them and consider what planners, townscape and heritage consultants will need from an image before production begins.

Photography is equally important to our approach. Composition, lighting and lens behaviour are treated as technical decisions rather than finishing touches. For Verified Views, where camera position, focal length, survey data and the digital model all need to work together accurately, that understanding is fundamental.

Every Verified View we produce is built around measured survey control, calibrated camera information and a clearly documented methodology. Just as importantly, it must represent the design faithfully, capturing the architecture, materials and character of the proposal as closely and realistically as possible. The aim is straightforward: to produce visual evidence that is accurate, transparent and true to the designer’s vision, while remaining clear and reliable for design teams, planning officers, heritage consultants and planning committees.

The Team

The People Behind the Work

A small, experienced team, with every commission led by the people you see here.

Marc Sawan, founder of Eye-Kon, trained in architecture and registered with the Ordre des Architectes in France.

Marc Sawan

Founder

Marc founded Eye-Kon in central London in 2006 and has led the studio ever since. He qualified in architecture in 2002 and is registered with the Ordre des Architectes (CROAIF) in France.

He began his career in UK architectural practice, working at John Thompson & Partners and PRC Group on live projects through design and delivery. That experience continues to shape his approach to visualisation today. He understands drawings from a designer’s perspective, the thinking behind them and, importantly, how that design needs to be communicated accurately within a planning image. JTP remains a client today.

Marc came to visualisation through photography, and that influence remains central to his work. Composition, lighting and lens behaviour are treated as technical decisions rather than simply matters of taste. It is an approach particularly suited to Verified Views, where camera position, focal length, survey coordinates and the digital model all need to work together, while the finished image must remain faithful to the architect’s design.

He has led Eye-Kon’s work on a wide range of sensitive and technically demanding planning projects. These include eleven verified viewpoints for a 14-storey scheme on Windsor Road in Slough, including strategic views from Windsor Castle and the Long Walk in support of Savills’ townscape and heritage assessment; nineteen AVR1 and AVR3 views for a 29 and 26-storey mixed-use development at Ley Street in Ilford; and three AVR3 views for Bennetts Associates’ Student Services Centre at the University of Cambridge’s New Museums Site, including views from Peas Hill, the Grand Arcade roof and the tower of Great St Mary’s.

Marc has also been invited to teach architectural representation at the University of Nottingham, the University of East London and the Manchester School of Architecture, contributing as a visiting lecturer on a number of occasions.

Sara Di Conza

Studio Lead

Sara is Studio Lead at Eye-Kon and oversees the delivery of the studio’s Verified View commissions. She graduated in architecture from the University of Cesena (Italy) in 2016.

Her architectural training shapes the way she approaches each project. She reads a scheme as a building rather than simply as a 3D model, understanding the architecture and the relationships between its different elements before considering how they need to be represented. This becomes particularly important on sensitive sites, where a Verified View often needs to answer a very specific planning, townscape or heritage question.

Sara oversees commissions from start to finish, from viewpoint scoping and coordination with the wider project team through to survey and photographic capture, camera matching against survey control and final production to the agreed AVR level. She is closely involved in quality control throughout, checking alignment and architectural information as well as ensuring that the finished images remain both technically accurate and faithful to the design being assessed.

Her recent work includes 32 Type 4 Verified Views across 18 viewpoints, photographed in both summer and winter conditions, for the Lichfields Townscape and Visual Appraisal of High Barnet Place; ten verified viewpoints for an eight-storey development beside the Grade II* listed St Mary’s Church in Slough; seven AVR1 and AVR3 views for the 286-home build-to-rent redevelopment of Royal London House in Wilmslow; and the AVR3 Verified Views produced for jmarchitects’ South London Islamic Centre redevelopment in Lambeth.

Sara Di Conza, Studio Lead at Eye-Kon, who oversees delivery of the studio’s verified view commissions.

Our Clients

Long-Standing Working Relationships

Trusted by architects, developers and planning consultants on projects across the UK.

Our work supports Townscape and Visual Impact Assessments, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments and Heritage Impact Assessments for schemes across the UK, from central London strategic views to sensitive sites in historic town centres.

We work directly with architects and developers, as well as townscape, heritage and planning consultants, often coordinating with landscape designers, photographers and surveyors as part of the wider project team. Our Verified Views have been used to assess tall buildings, urban regeneration and residential developments, as well as proposals affecting conservation areas, listed buildings and other sensitive heritage settings.

Many of these relationships extend across different projects and over many years, with clients returning to Eye-Kon as new schemes and planning challenges arise.

Testimonials

What Our Clients Say

A few words from clients, architects, developers and consultants we’ve worked with over the years.

“We were more than satisfied with the architectural visualisations! They really brought the project alive and I’m excited to get the project underway!”
Anand Shah
Elmhurst Capital Management
“Eye-kon has been key in turning around vital, time sensitive images and Fly-Throughs for FutureBrand. His continued support and brilliant design execution has meant we have been back time and time again. Marc’s ability to create and interpret what can often be a very loose design and bring it to life so realistically is a true testament to his skill. Many times the images produced have been key to selling in major projects to our own clients, along with winning new business for FutureBrand. Marc is truly a valued member of our team.”
Alexander Bell
“The images eye-kon / Marc produced as part of our residential scheme proved critical at planning committee in explaining the qualities of the design and its specific relationship to the context. eye-kon worked well to incorporate our comments and those of the client at different stages. The attention paid to sun positioning and lighting was particularly effective in producing the successful final images.”
Wyn Gilley
“John Thompson & Partners (JTP) have built up a strong and close working relationship with eye-kon, and Marc in particular, over a number of years. We really value Marc’s flexibility, responsiveness, and attention to detail on projects. He has worked with us to realise visions for high density mixed use and suburban developments throughout the UK and internationally. As a Practice whose approach is to work collaboratively with people, the quality of his images are key in selling the concept to our clients, local authorities, neighbours and purchasers.”
Ian Fenn
“eye-kon produced an architectural computer generated animation for The Garden School, Hackney which became a really vital tool for explaining the way the building worked to staff, parents, client and planning. Marc’s attention to detail and interest in architectural details brought the animations to life, ensuring that the project got the support and attention it deserved from the broader community.”
Andy Gollifer
“Thank you for an excellent job visualising our vision – I only hope the completed conservation work along Tottenham High Road looks as good. Marc has not only provided 3D images of our proposals, but high quality photographs and a before/after PDF which shows the changes very effectively. Colleagues now want to commission further work from Marc. His understanding of architecture and heritage make it easy to achieve the desired result.”
Catherine Cavanagh
Project Manager at Haringey Council
“eye-kon’s visuals have helped greatly Malcolm Reading Consultants with the communication of our complex projects. On limited information, Marc and his team are able to produce seductive yet realistic views that attract a professional and non-professional audience alike. As an architect, he is able to interpret requirements and quality expectations, without the need for extensive and exhaustive drafts. As a project partner, Marc is a joy to have in our team.”
David Hamilton
“Marc and his team at eye-kon have supported our projects over the past 4 years. I highly recommend his visuals, which have helped us to present our schemes to a varied audience, from local authority planning teams to the general public. Eye-kon have always been a valued and important member of our project team. Throughout our working relationship, I have had no hesitation in recommending Marc to the architects I know, many of whom he has gone on to work with successfully.”
Alex Bard
“We were more than satisfied with the architectural visualisations! They really brought the project alive and I’m excited to get the project underway!”
Anand Shah
Elmhurst Capital Management
“Eye-kon has been key in turning around vital, time sensitive images and Fly-Throughs for FutureBrand. His continued support and brilliant design execution has meant we have been back time and time again. Marc’s ability to create and interpret what can often be a very loose design and bring it to life so realistically is a true testament to his skill. Many times the images produced have been key to selling in major projects to our own clients, along with winning new business for FutureBrand. Marc is truly a valued member of our team.”
Alexander Bell
“The images eye-kon / Marc produced as part of our residential scheme proved critical at planning committee in explaining the qualities of the design and its specific relationship to the context. eye-kon worked well to incorporate our comments and those of the client at different stages. The attention paid to sun positioning and lighting was particularly effective in producing the successful final images.”
Wyn Gilley
“John Thompson & Partners (JTP) have built up a strong and close working relationship with eye-kon, and Marc in particular, over a number of years. We really value Marc’s flexibility, responsiveness, and attention to detail on projects. He has worked with us to realise visions for high density mixed use and suburban developments throughout the UK and internationally. As a Practice whose approach is to work collaboratively with people, the quality of his images are key in selling the concept to our clients, local authorities, neighbours and purchasers.”
Ian Fenn
“eye-kon produced an architectural computer generated animation for The Garden School, Hackney which became a really vital tool for explaining the way the building worked to staff, parents, client and planning. Marc’s attention to detail and interest in architectural details brought the animations to life, ensuring that the project got the support and attention it deserved from the broader community.”
Andy Gollifer
“Thank you for an excellent job visualising our vision – I only hope the completed conservation work along Tottenham High Road looks as good. Marc has not only provided 3D images of our proposals, but high quality photographs and a before/after PDF which shows the changes very effectively. Colleagues now want to commission further work from Marc. His understanding of architecture and heritage make it easy to achieve the desired result.”
Catherine Cavanagh
Project Manager at Haringey Council
“eye-kon’s visuals have helped greatly Malcolm Reading Consultants with the communication of our complex projects. On limited information, Marc and his team are able to produce seductive yet realistic views that attract a professional and non-professional audience alike. As an architect, he is able to interpret requirements and quality expectations, without the need for extensive and exhaustive drafts. As a project partner, Marc is a joy to have in our team.”
David Hamilton
“Marc and his team at eye-kon have supported our projects over the past 4 years. I highly recommend his visuals, which have helped us to present our schemes to a varied audience, from local authority planning teams to the general public. Eye-kon have always been a valued and important member of our project team. Throughout our working relationship, I have had no hesitation in recommending Marc to the architects I know, many of whom he has gone on to work with successfully.”
Alex Bard
“We were more than satisfied with the architectural visualisations! They really brought the project alive and I’m excited to get the project underway!”
Anand Shah
Elmhurst Capital Management
“Eye-kon has been key in turning around vital, time sensitive images and Fly-Throughs for FutureBrand. His continued support and brilliant design execution has meant we have been back time and time again. Marc’s ability to create and interpret what can often be a very loose design and bring it to life so realistically is a true testament to his skill. Many times the images produced have been key to selling in major projects to our own clients, along with winning new business for FutureBrand. Marc is truly a valued member of our team.”
Alexander Bell
“The images eye-kon / Marc produced as part of our residential scheme proved critical at planning committee in explaining the qualities of the design and its specific relationship to the context. eye-kon worked well to incorporate our comments and those of the client at different stages. The attention paid to sun positioning and lighting was particularly effective in producing the successful final images.”
Wyn Gilley
“John Thompson & Partners (JTP) have built up a strong and close working relationship with eye-kon, and Marc in particular, over a number of years. We really value Marc’s flexibility, responsiveness, and attention to detail on projects. He has worked with us to realise visions for high density mixed use and suburban developments throughout the UK and internationally. As a Practice whose approach is to work collaboratively with people, the quality of his images are key in selling the concept to our clients, local authorities, neighbours and purchasers.”
Ian Fenn
“eye-kon produced an architectural computer generated animation for The Garden School, Hackney which became a really vital tool for explaining the way the building worked to staff, parents, client and planning. Marc’s attention to detail and interest in architectural details brought the animations to life, ensuring that the project got the support and attention it deserved from the broader community.”
Andy Gollifer
“Thank you for an excellent job visualising our vision – I only hope the completed conservation work along Tottenham High Road looks as good. Marc has not only provided 3D images of our proposals, but high quality photographs and a before/after PDF which shows the changes very effectively. Colleagues now want to commission further work from Marc. His understanding of architecture and heritage make it easy to achieve the desired result.”
Catherine Cavanagh
Project Manager at Haringey Council
“eye-kon’s visuals have helped greatly Malcolm Reading Consultants with the communication of our complex projects. On limited information, Marc and his team are able to produce seductive yet realistic views that attract a professional and non-professional audience alike. As an architect, he is able to interpret requirements and quality expectations, without the need for extensive and exhaustive drafts. As a project partner, Marc is a joy to have in our team.”
David Hamilton
“Marc and his team at eye-kon have supported our projects over the past 4 years. I highly recommend his visuals, which have helped us to present our schemes to a varied audience, from local authority planning teams to the general public. Eye-kon have always been a valued and important member of our project team. Throughout our working relationship, I have had no hesitation in recommending Marc to the architects I know, many of whom he has gone on to work with successfully.”
Alex Bard

Our Experience

From Infill Sites to Strategic Views

Experience across different scales, settings and planning challenges throughout the UK.

No two Verified View commissions ask quite the same question. We have worked on individual infill developments, residential and mixed-use schemes, major regeneration projects and tall buildings, as well as proposals within conservation areas and close to listed buildings and other sensitive heritage settings.

The viewpoints can be just as varied. Some assess how a building will sit within its immediate streetscape; others test its visibility across a townscape, skyline or protected view from several kilometres away. We have produced views from streets and public spaces, parks and open land, elevated buildings and strategic locations including Windsor Castle and the Long Walk.

What remains consistent is the approach: understand what the view needs to demonstrate, establish the appropriate technical methodology and represent the proposed design as accurately and realistically as possible within its real-world context.

Selected Projects