Our Philosophy
We believe that good design has the power to improve people's lives. That's why we don't try to reinvent the wheel, but to apply principles that have been proven to work over millennia
Livability as our Northern Star
Everything we do is focused at improving livability: creating places that make people healthier and happier, places that are vibrant, economically prosperous, safe and beautiful.
Evidence based design
We do believe in innovation, but we always try to test new insights with research and empirical findings to make sure choices are grounded in reality. We have entered a new age of neuroscience and biology, with countless new scientific insights accumulating about how our habitat influences our wellbeing. With evidence-based design principles, like biophilic design, we can better adapt the built environment to our innate biological needs, leading to many benefits - including increased mental and physical health.
Places with a real heart
We believe in urban plans that create a true ‘sense of place’, in places that offer the charm, authenticity and vibrancy that people so desperately seek nowadays.
We believe that, under the right circumstances and with good design, such places can be created.
Gentle density & beauty
We champion 'gently dense' urban development: neighborhoods composed of mid-rise buildings arranged according to proven urban form. This approach accommodates substantial populations, while ensuring that residents can live in human scaled environments, with ample daylight and open space.
Provably preferred places
Not all designs are created alike. Through our own research, and a variety of studies done by others, we have a good understanding what kind of designs are likely to be more popular with neighbors / local stakeholders. Creating ‘provably preferred places’ can help reduce resistance to construction projects, saving time and money.
Where there is a lack of information about what design aesthetics a community prefers, this can be researched through doing workshops or studies.