Designing at the urban scale is a complex undertaking, whether it involves a masterplan for a city, a regeneration scheme for a neighbourhood, or planning a new public transport system. Our team includes planners and spatial designers, economists and anthropologists, and landscape architects and mobility engineers, working together to create thriving and resilient environments. In this era of unprecedented social, technological, and environmental change, our approach anticipates the evolutionary changes and rapid transformations shaping our urban environments.
Urban Design and Landscape
Before we make any part of the world that we inhabit, we first have to design it. This applies from the scale of a city, its public spaces, transport and services, the stations and streets that we pass through every day, to the details of street furniture and benches that are close enough for us to touch. As the ‘urban glue’ that binds a city together, the quality of its infrastructure is arguably more important than the collective merits of individual buildings.
Norman Foster, Founder and Executive Chairman
Urban Design
The city is the stage where the theatre of life takes place. We design spaces and places that are inclusive to people from all walks of life and can adapt across seasons and generations. Our urban design ethos is driven by a desire to connect communities, encourage neighbourliness among strangers, and promote wellbeing.
Landscape Architecture
Landscape is a vital ingredient for environmental resilience and human wellbeing. From roof terraces, to streetscape design, to corporate campuses and parks, landscape architecture encompasses all scales. Green infrastructure plays a critical role in reducing the urban heat island effect, storing storm water, shading and insulating buildings, and mitigating climate change.
Urban Planning
Whether a project requires strategic planning at a national or city-scale, or masterplanning at the district or local-scale, our approach ensures that the design can adapt to environmental, demographic and technological change. Working in tandem with developers and policy-makers we deliver a roadmap towards a more sustainable future.
Mobility
Transport infrastructure is the circulatory system of a city. The more efficient and comfortable it is, the greater the social, environmental and economic benefits. Promoting active transit through the seamless integration of multi-modal transport systems encourages a more sustainable movement from 20th century car-centric urbanism towards a more progressive model that is centred on people.
Anthropology
Every project begins with an understanding of the historic, cultural and social life of cities and people are always at the heart of our projects. A commitment to civic engagement allows us to integrate the users’ aspirations into the design brief. Learning lessons from vernacular architecture and materiality ensures that our designs are rooted in a sense of place.
Spatial Science
A growing resource of technological tools allows us to swiftly assess, iterate and modify several options during the design process. Using proprietary software and data analysis, we can test urban and architectural morphology for various performances metrics; simulate people movement and evacuation strategies; and assess visibility and views to optimise design solutions.
Urban Economics
Understanding the economic landscape through industry analysis, employment trends and economic policy objectives is key. In defining these elements, we can determine the demand levels for specific development types and land uses, comprehend the economic impact of our designs, and propose a viable phasing strategy.