Responsibility
Responsibility
We believe that every business can be a force for good, and have always strived to make positive change as a practice. We formalised our responsible business programme some years ago, focusing on three broad areas: sustainability, people and community.
Sustainability
We recognise that, in the face of climate change, our best action is not just to re-think the way we work together but the way that we design and build.
Longevity is a key idea behind our practice. Timeless, responsible, sustainable architecture is not driven by fads and fashion, it’s built on fundamentals. So we put the existing fabric first, focus on maximising volume and light, and build in a way that minimises waste and allows future adaptability.
These principles are embedded into our work by an energetic in-house Sustainability Team who share knowledge, evaluate all projects and advocate for best practice. We are signatories and supporters of Architects Declare.
People
Architecture is a social profession. We rely on strong, creative, collaborative relationships inside and outside the studio, and see inclusivity as essential if we are to design with perspective.
We believe in nurturing a strong office culture, built around fair working conditions, excellent training opportunities, and shared values. We help our team to achieve a good work-life balance, supporting their involvement in charity events such as the Club Peloton Cycle to MIPIM, the JLL Property Triathlon and the HD5k among others.
To encourage access to architecture for all, we partner with Blueprint for All (formerly the Stephen Lawrence Trust), HomeGrown+ and The Academy of Real Assets and offer time to student mentoring programmes by the RIBA, Westminster University and the Royal College of Art. We support the RIBA Schools Programme and are financial supporters of HomeGrown+.
We recognise that offering non-traditional routes to qualification improves diversity, and support students with apprenticeships and internships, and through work experience opportunities. We are supporters of the both the Sheffield University and London School of Architecture’s collaborative practice courses.
Community
Our endeavour to be a responsible business extends beyond the studio walls, to our local and professional communities.
We are active members of New London Architecture (NLA), the British Council for Offices (BCO) and other industry organisations, and encourage our team to attend events, talks and seminars, as well as offering a regular CPD programme in the studio.
To improve our professional and creative connections, we are members of the London Society and The Architecture Club, and financial supporters of the Twentieth Century Society and the Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects (WCCA).
With our clients and collaborators we have won many architectural awards, including those given by the RIBA, Civic Trust and BCO, as well as the Architects’ Journal and Building Design.
Policies
Full copies of our practice policies are available on request.