Welcome to Mae

Mæ is a finalist for Housing Architect of the Year and Best Architect Employer of the Year in the Architect of the Year Awards 2026

In the Employer category Mæ demonstrate that design excellence and a genuinely progressive, people-first culture are not only compatible, but mutually reinforcing.

At a time when the profession is grappling with wellbeing, retention and equity, we have invested in building a workplace that is rigorous, inclusive and purpose-drive, proving that better employment practices directly enable better architecture.

At the heart of our practice is a clear ethos which shapes both our projects and our workplace culture. This alignment ensures that the values used to design inclusive, resilient places are embedded in the practice by our people. For us people, purpose and design quality are inseparable.

In the Housing category from city-making masterplans to low-carbon homes, and policy reform, Mæ’s influence is reshaping how the country lives.

Our projects serve as living case studies for local authorities and international policymakers. International delegations have visited Mæ to see how we are leading on age-inclusive housing, estate regeneration and large-scale urban Passivhaus.

Every commission is a chance to question, challenge and do things differently. We are consistently redefining what beautifully crafted, socially driven housing can achieve in the UK.

Mae Architect Anna Tebble has become a certified Passivhaus designer. Passivhaus is the fastest growing energy performance standard in the world. It takes a ‘fabric first’ approach to energy performance and human comfort, which can cut heating bills in homes by as much as 90 per cent compared to conventional design. Anna is part of our Mæ Zero programme promoting passivhaus principles across all our projects.

On 11th June at the AIA 2026 Convention in San Diego our Director Alex Ely was elevated to AIA Honorary Fellow- one of eleven architects to receive the honour this year.

An Honorary Fellowship of the American Institute of Architects (Hon. FAIA) is one of the highest distinctions bestowed by the AIA. It is reserved for international (non-U.S.) architects and prominent non-architects whose lifetime body of work has made sustained, significant contributions to the profession and society on a international level.

Congratulations to 2026 Hon. FAIA Class: Fernando Canalas, Minsuk Cho, Frida Escobada, Lina Gotmeh, Roassana Ju-Shan Hu, Yangsong Ma, Dorte Mandrup, Carlo Ratti, Dan Stubbergaard, and Takaharu Tezuka- and to all the new Fellows elevated to the AIA College of Fellows.

Director Alex Ely will be giving a talk about the links between modernism and tradition in the work of Mæ for Docomomo UK on 8th April 2025 19.00-21.00 at the Alan Baxter Associates Gallery, 75 Cowcross Street, London, EC1M 6EL.

At the fascinating intersection of modernist innovation and historical continuity, Mæ's architectural practice weaves a compelling narrative of urban evolution. Drawing inspiration from Frederick Gibberd's revolutionary new town paradigms, the ground breaking spatial compositions in postwar social housing, the humanist approaches of Alvar Aalto and the social consciousness of Bruno Taut, this discourse explores the delicate balance between progress and heritage. At its heart, this exploration reveals how Mæ is forging a new path in sustainable and socially responsible design. Their work demonstrates how architecture can simultaneously honour its modernist inheritance while addressing our most pressing contemporary concerns: environmental sustainability, social equity, and cultural enrichment.

For tickets follow the link below: