As architects, we promote a positive vision of the future, with the opportunity to solve many of the environmental and economic design challenges of our time.
We are a collaborative, principles-driven design firm that sees the unique characteristics of each place and project as a source of inspiration and innovation to enrich human experience of the world through thoughtful weaving of natural and built environments.
we follow nature’s principles
Cradle to Cradle reframes design as a positive, regenerative force—one that creates footprints to delight in.
In the 2002 book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, William McDonough presented an integration of design and science that put forward a design framework characterized by three principles derived from nature which inform our designs at all scales:
Everything is a resource for something else
Use clean and renewable energy
Celebrate diversity
we design buildings like trees
Buildings that…
are photosynthetic and biologically active
accrue solar energy
cycle nutrients
release oxygen
fix nitrogen
purify water
sequester carbon
provide diverse habitats
create food
build soil and change with the seasons
our goal is to design and model naturally intelligent structures
While each project will respond to its unique culture, site, budget and schedule, our principled approach remains constant.
DESIGN FOR MORE GOOD.
Our ambition is to design for ‘more good’ by being positive and inspirational (e.g. use renewable energy) rather than only minimizing damage (e.g. produce less carbon).
DESIGN FOR THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY.
Interpret the client’s vision and create a design concept through the lens of Cradle to Cradle® thinking.
ANTICIPATE THE FUTURE.
We design for resiliency and for next use through adaptive flexible spaces as needs change and evolve.
CREATE A FRAMEWORK FOR INNOVATION – DESIGN FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.
Encourage improved processes, technologies and infrastructures; support experimentation and the exchange of knowledge.
the Cradle to Cradle Design Framework for the built environment includes what we call
The Five Goods™:
Good Materials
Good Economy
Good Lives
