FaulknerBrowns architects

One Studio Culture

Our talented studio teams provide us with the flexibility and balance to react to the needs of our clients internationally. Our long-established ‘one studio culture’ is fundamental to our ability to operate as a connected entity, communicating effectively and sharing knowledge.

A cosmopolitan mix of individuals from around the world provides us with a diverse range of expertise. Knowledge of many building types and geographical locations allows us to devise sustainable, fully integrated design solutions that are uplifting in use and effective to operate.

We spend time carefully weighing pragmatic considerations with ambition and re-interpretation, creating designs with integrity and commercial clarity.

Process

First, we look and listen. Then, combining our considerable experience and extensive research, we develop designs that support and sustain our clients’ aspirations. The results prove that the constraints of cost, time and resources can be met without compromising quality.

We believe in looking at the broader picture, taking inspiration from examples of best practice in building design and placemaking. This involves research visits at home and abroad to inform our thinking, analyse and test current trends, and cultivate step-changes in building design.

We are constantly searching for new materials, systems and processes by which to deliver architecture of enduring quality.

Climate agenda

As signatories to ‘Architects Declare’, we recognise the urgency with which we need to respond to the Climate and Biodiversity Emergency. The biggest contribution we can make to environmental sustainability is through the buildings and places we design.

We therefore challenge ourselves, our clients and collaborators to continuously improve the performance of our projects. Our team has developed the skills and expertise to do this, including energy modelling, Passivhaus design and BREEAM advisory services. Guided by the work of the RIBA, the UK Green Building Council and LETI, we set ambitious targets for both embodied and operational carbon.

We also invest time in whole-life carbon modelling and post-occupancy evaluation of current and completed schemes, from swimming pools to libraries, to create a library of data for future clients and projects.

Our route to net zero

The potential emissions of the buildings and places we create are many hundreds of times those of our operational impacts.

However, we are still acutely aware of the need to reduce these impacts, by reviewing and improving how and where we work, and the products and services we purchase.

Through our membership of the SME Climate Hub, we have committed to the United Nations ‘Race to Zero’, which means we will:

— Halve our greenhouse gas emissions before 2030
— Achieve net zero emissions before 2050
— Disclose our progress on a yearly basis

Testing through making

We build, test and review our designs digitally and physically, with the support of our in-house modelshop.

With the use of models, we communicate our ideas and concepts with insight and clarity throughout the design process. This helps us to develop and maintain strong relationships with our clients which are valued and respected.

We truly delight in gaining repeat commissions which acknowledge our design competence as much as the associations which we forge.

Building Information Modelling

We recognise that the use of BIM has significant benefits not only for our own effectiveness and that of the wider consultant team, but increasingly for the construction delivery supply chain and building owners and operators.

We believe BIM to be much more about process than a particular software application. We adopt a flexible and pragmatic approach to its implementation, considering the capabilities of the entire design team and how each stakeholder will benefit from employing a BIM process.

Our aspiration is always to provide high quality BIM designs for our clients. This enables efficient delivery of building design, construction and operation without removing the scope for innovation.