Uplifting human spirits for the long-term
Alex spoke to a full house at the Barbican on Tuesday 20th September as part of the ‘Architecture on Stage’ series. His talk ‘Towards a Resilient Architecture’ marks the publication of Mæ’s new book by the same name. ‘Architecture on Stage’ run by the Architecture Foundation, in association with the Barbican, is a programme of talks by the world’s leading architects.
September 2022
Incredible news as Agar Grove Estate, Phases 1a & 1b is announced as winner of the GLA Award for Housing Design Awards 2022.
Tom Copley of Greater London Authority, Deputy Mayor for Housing & Residential Development states:
“In the recent past, the delivery of new homes in london have taken on new challenges, all critical….
Fuel poverty is the biggest issue facing Londoners so this winner is so timely. The award goes to the first 4 blocks in an estate regeneration programme led by a London Council that will provide the country's largest Passivhaus scheme. Passivhaus certification caps heating loadings to less than 10% of the average and residents in the first block delivered have now lived there through two winters. Residents have reported that it works, some even say they can get by with their heating off. What a win for those households, we really need more like this clever scheme.”
Mæ's Agar Grove 1b, consisting of Hazelbury Way & Agar Place, the most recently completed phase of Agar Grove Estate in Camden has been shortlisted for the Architectural Journal (AJ) Awards 2022 for the Housing Project category. A great achievement for the practice as well as all collaborators, consultants and of course our client at London Borough of Camden.
Celebrating and rewarding design excellence in UK architecture, AJ the awards highlight the very best projects across 17+ categories from housing, health and wellbeing to workplace and cultural projects.
The winning projects will be revealed at a celebratory event in London on 23rd November 2022.
August 2022
Mæ are pleased to announce a new starter amongst the team; Tom Jarman, commencing his role as our newest Director.
Tom has a wealth of experience in a whole host of sectors such as masterplanning, commercial, residential, education, arts and culture and is a welcome addition to our team here in Southwark.
He will be responsible for several ongoing projects within the practice and will be an active contributor to the creative and technical leadership of projects across the Mæ portfolio.
August 2022
Re-Set-Go is a hand-on experience and mentoring programme established by the London Practice Forum with the mission diversifying architecture practices. The programme provides opportunities for Black, Asian and multi-ethnic individuals and women from the boroughs of Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark and Wandsworth.
As well as offering mentoring sessions and portfolio & CV surgeries, we also hosted graduate student, Abiba, for a 6-week paid internship. We were delighted that Abiba had chosen to join us as she wasn’t undertaking architectural studies but came from an urban history and culture background. She joined our estate regeneration team working in Hammersmith and Fulham and undertook a detailed and invaluable study on the local community.
We connected with the students being hosted by other London Practice Forum members for weekly catch ups, sharing experiences with each other. They were an extraordinary talented group of young people and we very much look forward to working with them in the future.
July 2022 Read more
When we proposed a day workshop for a group of Year 10 students to our clients at Be First, we knew it would be a wonderful opportunity to talk to this group of twenty 15- to 17-year-olds about what is important to them within their neighbourhood.
The students worked in groups with a Mæ team leader focusing on housing, civic & community, commercial and public realm. After a walk-and-talk, taking photographs and making sketches, the students jointly planned their own ‘ideal’ neighbourhood. As a practice that specialises in community-led regeneration projects, we were able to watch and listen to what was important to these young people, whether it was green spaces, cycle routes, a local shop or a home with outside space and a door to the street.
It's important to us to share our skills and knowledge through our education programmes. However, the ideas and experiences that young people, such as those from the Warren School, share with us are invaluable to our development as stakeholder-led architects.
July 2022
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has revealed the six buildings in the running for the 2022 RIBA Stirling Prize, as announced late July.
Amongst the shortlist sits Mæ Architect's Sands End Arts & Community scheme in Fulham, London. The development and design consists a single-storey building comprising bright, airy and flexible activity spaces and a community café around a disused lodge.
The jury have commended the Mæ team for their "confidence and inventiveness, delivering a highly sustainable, delightful and flexible asset for the client".
The overall winner of the RIBA Stirling Award will be announced in October 2022.
July 2022 See the six shortlisted projects
Organised and hosted by Building Design, the BD Architect of the Year awards annually recognise architectural practices that have made the most significant contribution to British Architecture over the past year.
Mæ have been selected as Finalist for the Public & Social Housing category, projects submitted include affordable housing across London such as Kentmere in Regents Park, Agar Grove in Camden, White City in Hammersmith & Fulham and Knight's Walk in Lambeth.
Winners will be announced across the 15 categories on the evening awards ceremony scheduled for October 2022.
July 2022 See the full shortlist
Knight's Walk, Mæ's housing scheme in Lambeth is announced as winner of the Construction News Awards 2022, winning the Residential Construction Excellence category.
Judges look for evidence of successful strategy, high-quality schemes and a commitment to local planning, innovation and sustainability.
A great achievement for all involved.
July 2022