Welcome to Mae

From City to Room, A manifesto for better living Research News

We are excited to have published a new research and practice book 'From City to Room, A manifesto for better living'.

The book offers an introduction to the integrated thinking that we believe is necessary to solving today's urban, social and environmental challenges. It aims to demonstrate in simple terms, ways to create better places, buildings and homes. It takes as its premise the journey from the large scale to the small, and from the city to each individual room.

The publication forms part of a series of talks and events surrounding this theme.

December 2019

Agar Grove wins The Mayor's Award for Good Growth Project Update

Agar Grove Estate– our scheme for the London Borough of Camden– has scooped the Mayor’s award for best new development at the London Planning Awards 2019 ceremony, which took place at the National Gallery (31 January 2018). As well as winning The Mayor’s Award for Good Growth the project also won The Mayor’s Award for Sustainable and Environmental Planning. Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills, Jules Pipe, said: “The Agar Grove Estate is a great example of how estate regeneration should be done: helping existing residents play an active role in shaping the future of their neighbourhood and ensuring the development works both for them and for future residents."

January 2019 View Project

RIBA Presidents Medals 2019 Practice News

Huge congratulations to our talented architectural assistants Alice Hardy, Kate Ivinson and Tatiana Light who were all nominated for the RIBA President's Medals. Alice and Tatiana were nominated for the Silver and Bronze Medals, whilst Kate was nominated for the Dissertation Medal.

Following the awards ceremony their projects will be displayed at the RIBA in Portland Place, before touring thoughout the UK and internationally.

December 2019 Read more

Refurbish / Reinforce / Remodel Research News

Following the Government’s Estate Regeneration National Strategy initiative, we commissioned a film exploring three approaches to Estate Regeneration; Refurbish / Reinforce / Remodel.

This follows the Prime Minister's proposal back in January 2016 to extend life chances across Britain, with the goal to radically transform 100 estates across the country.

In our short documentary, Alex Ely describes three avenues for transformation being developed by Mæ. 'Refurbish' looks at the reuse and renovation of existing stock, ‘Reinforce’ proposes infilling as a means to intensify and sustain a neighbourhood, and ‘Remodel’ offers a vision of how to positively regenerate failed estates. Each approach aims to improve the quantity and quality of housing on those estates, and to improve the life chances of those who live there.

November 2016 Watch on Vimeo

Mæ selected for the masterplan of Derbent, Russia's oldest city Practice News

We are delighted to have won a competition for the remasterplan of Derbent in Russia, Dagestan's second largest city and one of the oldest cities in Russia.

Our multi-disciplinary and international team has been selected from 144 applications, and our winning strategy is aimed at building in resilience; addressing a lack of housing, education and cultural infrastructure and creating economic opportunity.

Based on the guiding principle of a vibrant city, we have developed a forward looking vision for Derbent which respects the unique identity and qualities of the city.

Derbent is located on the western shore of the Caspian Sea, at the foothills of the Tabasaran Mountains of the Greater Caucasus. The historic city centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its citadel, ancient town, and fortress buildings.

November 2019 Read more

191113 Housing Regeneration In Europe Politecnico Di Milano Aetalk

Housing regeneration in Europe: an opportunity for architecture and architects Practice News

On Friday 15th November Alex Ely will be speaking as part of an international seminar at Politecnico di Milano, Italy.

The seminar is inspired by the increasing number of projects and architectural practices dealing with spatial, typological and technical innovation connected to the regeneration of existing buildings all over Europe.

Exploring different experiences surrounding the regeneration of existing collective housing, peripheral areas and fragile contexts, along with the unconventional reuse of non-residential, underused or abandoned buildings; delegates will discuss a range of issues including typological innovation in relation to contemporary practices, layout articulation, the image of the building, participation of inhabitants, and the effects that these projects can produce on an urban scale.

November 2019 Read more

John Morden Centre Project Update

Construction is well under way at the John Morden Centre in Blackheath with the project on course for completion in the summer of 2020.

The project uses sustainable and modern methods of construction including cross-laminated timber throughout, and creates a day care centre for residents of Morden College. It brings together facilities currently spread across the college site into an innovative, characterful new building designed to tackle social isolation among older residents by providing spaces to interact.

October 2019 View Project

Brentford Lock West wins an RIBA National Award 2019 Project Update

We are delighted to announce that Brentford Lock West has won an RIBA National Award.

The judges commented that 'Internally, the flats are well planned, and the arrangement of linked pavilions enables every flat to have dual aspect and enjoy a pleasant quality of natural light...The entrance hall to each townhouse provides an unusually generous and versatile space...Overall, this is a high quality work of architecture, landscaping and residential environment achieved for a modest budget.'

The RIBA National Awards are given to buildings across the UK recognised as significant contributions to architecture.

June 2019 Read more

New Associates Practice News

We are very pleased to announce the promotion of Romain Muller, Nadine Wagner and Michael Dillon to the position of Associate.

Michael leads our research and development team and is instrumental to our teaching unit at London Met University. Nadine currently leads our technical team and defines best practice in this area, in addition she runs a number of high profile projects including Knight's Walk and Lisson Arches. Romain leads our sustainable and environmental design team and is currently running our Morden College and Aylesbury Estate projects, creating high quality places for older residents.

We are looking forward to the exceptional specialist knowledge that these new members will bring to our senior management team.

October 2019