Prior to setting up his own studio, Butterfield worked at the international office of David Chipperfield Architects. As a Senior Industrial Designer, he was involved in all aspects of architecture, furniture and industrial design. His main role was to design all the furniture, lighting and products for two boutique hotels in New York and Miami.

With a combined construction value of over thirty three million pounds and over four hundred bedrooms, this enabled him to set up an industrial design department within the architectural practice. He assembled and managed a small team of designers to handle the immense level of information and design work that needed to be undertaken.

All areas of the projects had to be managed internationally as the furniture, lighting and bathroom fittings were all manufactured in and around Milan, London and Canada. Visits to these factories become increasingly important to review prototypes, full size mock-up rooms and project timescale management. The Bryant Park and The Shore Club hotel projects have now been reconised as the first ‘post-designer’ hostelry’s, rewriting the rule book on boutique hotel design.

Industrial design projects were undertaken with famous manufacturers such as B&B Italia, Fontana Arte, Driade and Cassina Inter decor. At David Chipperfield Architects, he was also involved with projects ranging from private residences in London, global fashion stores for Dolce and Gabbana, a jewellery shop in Milan for Pasquale Bruni and Nobu’s new restaurant at Miami Beach.

David Chipperfield Architects provided him with a valuable education in different types of high profile clients and dynamic scales of work.