Welcome to Mæ

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.

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.

Make Good: Rethinking Material Futures is a V&A curatorial project investigating the use of natural, renewable materials in design and architecture. It invites practitioners from different fields to share research, knowledge and skills and considers the responsibilities of designers and consumers toward the natural world.

This year, the V&A presents Building from Forests. The display, designed by architecture practice dRMM, is the result of a three-year research project by the practice and its partners in manufacturing and science, which asked: what if the design and construction of buildings were shaped by local, climate-resilient, mixed-species forest? What if design practice began with this concern? Mæ's Sands End Art's and Community Centre is featured in a film made the exhibition.

The project encompasses an annual symposium, an annual display and an ongoing acquisition initiative, capturing the program's research outputs in the museum collection. The exhibition runs from Tuesday, 25 November 2025 - Saturday, 30 October 2026.

We're delighted to announce that our Founder Director Alex Ely has been elevated to The American Institute of Architects (AIA) College of Honorary Fellow. This prestigious honour is awarded to architects who have made significant contributions to the profession and society, demonstrating excellence and leadership on a national level.

The 2026 Fellowship class includes 78 AIA member-architects and 11 international architects. The distinguished panel of leading global architects includes Fernanda Canales and Frida Escobedo from Mexico, Dorte Mandrup and Dan Stubbergaard from Denmark, Rossana Ju-shan Hu and Yansong Ma from China, Lina Ghotmeh from France, Minsuk Cho from South Korea, Takaharu Tezuka from Japan, and Carlo Ratti from USA

This year's fellows were selected by a jury chaired by Sanford Garner, FAIA, NOMAC, LEED AP ND, with Roderick Ashley, FAIA Margaret Carney Julie Hiromoto, FAIA John Horky, FAIA Dr. Mitra Kanaani - Architectural Doctorate - Arch. D. Christine Mondor Jose Javier Toro, FAIA and Lourdes Solera, FAIA

The 2026 class of Fellows will be formally recognised at the AIA Conference Investiture Ceremony and Convocation Celebration, in San Diego on June 11, 2026.