Welcome to Mae

Creativity-led. Community-led. Drawing on the DNA of the neighbourhood, we create welcoming places for people.
We design policy as well as buildings. Inspired by our founder’s work at CABE, our thinking advances best practice.
We manage complexity. With carefully crafted architecture, we turn challenging sites into buildings with a distinct identity.

Split-level living takes shape at Agar Grove Project Update

Our passivehaus project for the London Borough of Camden at Agar Grove is making good progress on site. Phase 1b will complete in late 2020 and will deliver mixed-tenure homes including our split-level apartments inspired by the work realised by the borough's own architecture department run by Sydney Cook in the 1960s. Split-level living featured heavily in these projects by the likes of Peter Tabori, Neave Brown and Benson & Forsyth.

April 2020 View Project

Staying connected whilst socially distant Project Update

As we change our working methods due to the current lockdown we are finding creative ways to continue to engage with the communities we design for and reach out to local residents.

For our College Green, Croydon scheme we have been conducting consultation using Webinars, online forums, one-to-one telephone consultations and mail shots. We are keen to ensure that we stay connected – whilst isolated – and with an impressive turnout we’ve been able to respond to questions and follow up specific concerns; allowing us to develop our design ideas and keep shaping communities for London.

April 2020

Sugar House Island R2 topped out Project Update

Sugar House Island is a new mixed use development comprising 1200 homes, retail, leisure and office spaces and winner of the New London Award for Masterplans and Area Strategies - a category that champions placemaking and area-wide regeneration. R2 is one of a number of urban blocks by Mæ. It has been designed for manufacture and assembly (DfMA). The generously planned apartments are constructed using factory produced wall panels ensuring a high degree of quality control, reducing assembly time, minimising waste and improving safety.

March 2020 Read more

200225 Ricsawards Shortlisting Regents Park

Regent's Park Infill Sites shortlisted for RICS Social Impact Awards Project Update

Our Regent's Park Infill Sites scheme has been shortlisted for a RICS Social Impact Award.

The project demonstrates how empty or underused sites can be used for new homes whilst improving the public realm and amenity, enriching the lives of both the new and the existing residents.

The RICS Social Impact Awards recognise examples of where the built environment has had a direct positive social and environmental impact on society.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in June.

February 2020 Read more

Alex Ely interviewed for The Leadership Council podcast Practice News

The Leaders Council of Great Britain and Northern Ireland talks to leadership figures from across the nation in an attempt to understand this universal trait and what it means today.

Alex Ely, our Founding Director, was invited to discuss leadership and his thoughts on how he approaches this responsibility at Mæ.

Lord Blunkett, chairman of The Leaders Council, said the podcast is an opportunity to 'sit down with someone who really gets how their industry works and knows how to make their organisation tick. Someone who's there day in day out working hard and inspiring others. That's what leadership is all about.'

February 2020 Read more

Mæ take part in 'Public Architecture – Future for Europe' at Moscow’s Schusev State Museum of Architecture Practice News

We are taking part in the European Cultural Centre exhibition 'Public Architecture - Future for Europe' (January 31st - May 10th) at Moscow's Schusev State Museum of Architecture.

We will be showing our work and ideas alongside more than 40 European architecture firms and academics committed to developing alternative approaches and new architecture which respects European cultural heritage.

The exhibition is curated by the European Cultural Centre, an organisation devoted to the promotion of cultural exchange, and will offer ideas and models on urban development, city planning and environmental concerns.

Our participation in the exhibition is part of a series of events connected with our publication 'From City to Room, A manifesto for better living.'

January 2020 Read more

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

We 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

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

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