We are committed to making responsible architecture that serves people and the planet - not just in outcomes, but in process.

Sustainability is the Centre of our Approach

DESIM is our in-house framework.

It stands for:

While these five pillars guide our practice, sustainability is not one pillar among many - it is the centrepiece.

The other four are tools that support it.

This means our work integrates sustainable thinking from the start - not as a side effort or marketing gesture, but as a core value, expressed through every phase and scale of a project.

How DESIM Works

We apply the DESIM approach to every project, large or small, allowing us to:

  • Address complex architectural problems with long-term thinking

  • Design buildings and places that are adaptable, durable, and low-impact

  • Navigate the balance between creative intent and technical execution

  • Integrate performance-based design early in the concept phase

  • Collaborate more effectively across disciplines

Our goal is to elevate the role of architecture - not just to meet sustainability standards, but to define them in ways that are locally grounded, globally relevant, and adaptable over time.

High-Performance Design

We use the Passive House standard as our benchmark for high-performance buildings.

It delivers:

  • Extremely low energy use

  • Low carbon emissions

  • Consistent thermal comfort

  • Exceptional indoor air quality - no condensation, mold, dust, or pollen

It applies to any building type - not just homes - and is tailored to specific local environments through building physics and performance calculations.

The standard includes:

  • Precise calculations

  • Rigorous design documentation

  • Quality control & testing at all stages of construction

Climate Adaptation

We believe climate change is real - and its effects vary by region.

Our approach combines research, risk assessment, and strategic adaptation.

  • Localized strategies tailored to the natural and social context

  • Regional plans + implementable actions

  • Project delivery aligned with adaptation goals

Our Path: Unlearning Past Mistakes

  • Overdevelopment

  • Overuse of energy, food, and medicine

  • Environmental degradation: fires, floods, erosion, warming seas

  • Consumerism & health crises

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Smart Systems & Innovation

We believe the next generation of innovation will reshape society more than any before.

But innovation must be rooted in careful risk assessment, so that progress supports, not harms, both communities and the environment.

Our Path: Collaborative Planning

We connect:

  • Communities

  • Researchers

  • Industries

  • Government

Technologies we explore:

  • Digital communication

  • AI, blockchain

  • Biophilic design

  • Local generation of food, power, and water

  • Community engagement

  • Beyond Net-Zero strategies

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Our Focus Areas:

  • Circular economy

  • Design-out-waste principles

  • Extended product lifespan

  • Regenerative natural systems

  • Efficient use of: materials, space, energy, time, information