A better way to design

The pressure on architecture is constant: build faster, spend less, meet the codes, cut carbon, deliver now. In the rush, basic questions get left behind. What kind of places are we creating, who are they for, and will they still matter long after opening day?

We think those questions are the foundation of delivery. When the industry is chasing shortcuts, careful design is the bolder choice.

Bold and buildable

For too long the industry has set vision against practicality, as if a building could be beautiful or efficient, meaningful or low impact, creative or compliant, but never both. We do not accept that trade-off. The best architecture is ambitious and buildable, beautiful and practical, and we aim for that balance on every project.

Starting with the right questions

Architecture is as much about how you think as what you build. For us that means:

• Asking better questions at the start instead of finding excuses at the end
• Thinking about community, longevity and legacy as well as floor areas and finishes
• Using modern techniques while keeping the human touch

That is why we bring Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in from the outset. Good design can work with change. Our guide to MMC in architecture explains more.

Designing for how it will be built

We have seen what happens when design and delivery are disconnected: late redesigns, systems that do not fit, risk that could have been avoided. So we build Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) into our process early. We design for how a building will be put together and, more importantly, how it will perform once it is. See how MMC and DfMA fit together.

Standards and tools

Careful architecture needs rigour as well as intuition. We support PAS 8700, the new national standard for applying MMC in housing. We acted as MMC Adviser for years before the title existed, and we now help clients align each stage of a project with the standard. Our piece on PAS 8700 and the MMC adviser explains what changes.

AI tools such as ChatGPT are entering design work too, automating tasks, exploring options and checking codes. We use new tools, but we keep the judgement. Machines can generate output. Giving a place meaning is the architect’s job. More in is there a ChatGPT for architecture?

What clients pay for

People often ask what an architect usually charges. The number matters, but the better question is what the fee buys. Our clients get clarity, confidence and coordination: design that takes risk out of delivery and improves everyday experience. Our guide to architects’ fees sets out how fees work.

Places that last

Buildings shape how people feel, how they move and how they belong.

Buildings hold memories, rituals and identities, and we take that responsibility seriously. Our job goes further than delivering the brief. We ask better questions, use constraints to find creative answers and design spaces that serve the people they are built for.