Submission by dRMM.
Being a good ancestor
Practice
1. Does the practice have a clearly stated purpose aligned with the planetary emergency? We are looking for a bold ambition here, and a practice culture which recognises the need for long-term thinking. For example, a strong mission, a theory of change, or a sustainability roadmap.
dRMM is committed to generating lasting social and environmental value through our operations and design services. We prioritise people and planet in every decision, advocate for industry-wide adoption of bio-based materials, and use evidence-based design to monitor and reduce our environmental impact.
We continuously improve our operational emissions across our value chain, recognising that our greatest impact lies in the projects we design. As founding signatories of Architects Declare and a certified B Corp, we rigorously enhance our design processes and decision-making.
We consider all direct and indirect impacts on stakeholders and natural systems. Our bold ambition is to shift human society from an extractive to a symbiotic relationship with Earth’s systems. Rooted in strong values, dRMM champions sustainability, focusing on environmental and social dimensions. We proudly identify as radical makers of environmentally responsible, socially useful architecture. Our commitment to prioritising people and planet is publicised on our website www.drmmstudio.com.
2. Does the practice have a clear succession plan, which passes on ownership and protects the values and legacy of those who built and contributed to the practice? For example is the practice an employee owned trust.dRMM has established a robust succession plan ensuring our core values continue through the next generation of directors. While not an Employee Ownership Trust, our B Corp certification provides a powerful framework for protecting our practice’s legacy and values.
As a certified B Corp, we operate under a stakeholder governance model that legally requires us to consider how all decisions impact our workers, communities, customers, suppliers, and the environment. This legal commitment transcends individual leadership, embedding our social and environmental responsibility into the fabric of our practice.
This governance structure creates a durable foundation that safeguards dRMM’s mission through leadership transitions. Our succession planning deliberately nurtures emerging leaders who embody our commitment to creating architecture that is environmentally responsible and socially useful, ensuring our distinctive approach to design continues to evolve while remaining true to our founding principles.
3. Does the practice share research and knowledge for the benefit of society and the wider world? For example, you regularly carry out post occupancy evaluation and share information with others.
dRMM actively shares research and knowledge to benefit society and advance industry practices. Our published research ‘Measuring Mass Timber,’ developed with Edinburgh Napier University and the Quality of Life Foundation, established a methodology for assessing whole-life carbon and quality of life impacts in timber construction.
We conduct Post Occupancy Evaluations on completed projects – our Workstack project features comprehensive assessment of in-use performance and occupant satisfaction (to be published early June), while Coate Street currently participates in the Net Zero Carbon Building Standard pilot, contributing performance data to help evolve industry guidance.
As founding signatories of Architects Declare, we volunteer with organisations like LETI and ACAN to disseminate sustainability best practices. We’ve contributed to multiple LETI publications and helped develop our local BID’s Green Charter.
In addition members of our senior design team frequently present at industry events, universities, and participate in discussion panels and working groups to disseminate knowledge.
Project
1. Does the practice advocate for long-term thinking at the outset of projects? Do you initiate projects with long-term thinking and challenge the client on design life? Also, can the practice demonstrate that this approach has worked – with a shorter or longer design life, or an innovative approach to financing or payback period?
dRMM embeds long-term thinking from project inception, aligning our designs with clients’ strategic objectives across short, medium, and long-term future. We prioritise longevity through contextually-sensitive, adaptable designs that support future flexibility and resilience, enabling our projects to stand the test of time.
We advocate for material reuse and selecting durable, low-carbon materials that minimise whole-life impacts. At Hastings Pier, we salvaged timber decking from the original fire-damaged Pier for cladding and retained much of the steel structure, creating a flexible platform adaptable to evolving community needs.
WorkStack also exemplifies our approach through structurally efficient, low-carbon CLT construction with minimal finishes and simple MEP systems leveraging passive solutions. The building is designed for disassembly with concealed mechanical connections, enabling future adaptability.
We conduct whole-life carbon assessments to inform decision-making, driving choices toward flexible, adaptable designs with longer lifespans, while acknowledging the practical constraints within which we must sometimes operate.
2. Do your projects take account of the future climate and the need for resilience? For example, do the projects demonstrate flexibility, design for adaptation, design for disassembly, non-deterministic solutions, or demountable structures.
dRMM integrates climate resilience into all projects through evidence-based design strategies. Our in-house technical assessments – including daylighting, overheating, condensation, whole-life carbon, and adaptive comfort analyses – inform critical design decisions that enhance resilience to climate change.
We employ PHPP-based assessments to evaluate building performance under future climate scenarios, recommending adaptation-ready features such as window frames designed for retrofit external shading and pre-installed electrical infrastructure for ceiling fans. Our roof systems are engineered for extreme weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and increased wind loads.
Beyond adaptation, we minimise climate impact through mature tree retention and exceeding biodiversity net gain requirements. We prioritise mechanical fixings and ‘soft partitions’ over adhesives and composites to facilitate future disassembly.
Our dedicated sustainability team supports design teams through multiple sustainability reviews at each RIBA stage, ensuring resilience is considered throughout the design process while empowering occupants to modulate their environment according to personal preferences.
3. Do the majority of your projects go beyond mitigating negatives and towards optimising positives? For example, are they meeting or exceeding the RIBA 2030 Challenge.
No.
Co-evolving with nature
Practice
1. Does the practice use biophilia within the office or regularly host meetings and retreats in natural settings? For example do you have extensive planting within the office or rely on natural patterns and imagery for stress relief or quiet areas.
dRMM’s studio celebrates natural materials, particularly timber, throughout our studio workspace. Natural wood flooring, CLT stairs, original timber rafters, and exposed clay bricks create meaningful visual and tactile connections to nature. This material-rich environment embodies our practice ethos and demonstrates our commitment to prioritising bio-based materials in all our work.
Having recently relocated premises, we’re in the process of enhancing our biophilic elements with additional plantings to complement the existing natural material palette. Our design for the space deliberately showcases exposed timber finishes, furniture, and art objects that reinforce our connection to natural systems.
We regularly organise team ‘away days’ in natural settings, including a nature-based walking tour of local parks and forests. These immersive experiences in nature strengthen our team bonds while reinforcing our collective appreciation for natural environments that inspire our design approach.
2. Can the practice share examples where it has considered nature in decision making? For example by having a nature proxy to encourage eco-centric decision making, using natural systems as inspiration for the company structure, recognising the seasonal nature of people’s capacity and workload or celebrating equinoxes and solstices together.
dRMM integrates nature into decision-making through initiatives like our Woods into Management research project, which explores how diverse UK forests can sustainably supply materials for local timber construction. This promotes balanced ecosystems by utilising each timber species’ unique properties effectively, rather than imposing construction needs on forest composition.
We distribute seed bombs to clients and team members, encouraging wildflower planting that follows seasonal rhythms. Our collaboration with London Bridge groups on tree planting demonstrates our commitment to urban biodiversity.
We have organised guided tree walks with experts, including the author of ‘London is a Forest,’ helping our team develop deeper connections with natural systems. These experiences inform our design thinking, reinforcing that human creativity must work harmoniously with natural processes and seasonal cycles.
This nature-focused approach has attracted clients who share our environmental ethos.
3. Is the practice supporting nature locally and nationally? For example, does the practice support local gardens, gardeners, planting programmes, rewilding programmes or advocate for changes in legislation to protect nature.
dRMM actively supports nature through local and national initiatives. In our London Bridge neighbourhood, we collaborate with community groups to promote urban tree planting, enhancing biodiversity in our immediate surroundings. We’ve engaged both our team and clients in nature restoration by creating and distributing seed bombs to encourage wild planting across various locations.
Our commitment extends to educational engagement, exemplified by our participation in guided tree walks with experts like the author of ‘London is a Forest,’ deepening our understanding of urban ecosystems.
Through our pioneering research project ‘Woods into Management,’ we advocate for sustainable forestry practices that support biodiverse ecosystems while providing materials for construction. This work demonstrates our commitment to influencing industry practices nationally, promoting forest management approaches that prioritise ecological health alongside timber production, ultimately supporting nature’s resilience across the UK.
Project
1. Can the practice demonstrate projects which strive to match the performance of a mature ecosystem? As a minimum this would mean achieving biodiversity net gain.
dRMM consistently strives to enhance biodiversity across our projects, recognising the challenge of matching mature ecosystem performance in urban contexts. At Maggie’s Oldham Cancer Care Centre, we created a symbiotic relationship between architecture and nature through innovative tulipwood CLT construction elevated above a garden where trees grow through the building’s centre. This design places patients in direct connection with tree canopies, filtered sunlight, and distant landscape views.
Our Trafalgar Place residential project achieved 30% biodiversity net gain through extensive green roofs, courtyard gardens, and native planting schemes that support local wildlife corridors.
We’re committed to continuous improvement in this area, regularly exceeding the mandated 10% biodiversity net gain requirement while developing strategies that maximise ecological value within site constraints through careful species selection and habitat creation.
2. Is the practice working on material stewardship? For example, evidence could be shown through repeated use of low carbon materials, extensive material libraries and research or publications supporting responsible use of materials and elimination of waste.
dRMM has pioneered material stewardship through our decades-long commitment to engineered timber construction. As ‘material innovators,’ we continuously research and develop sustainable materials that help reshape practice.
Our ‘Measuring Mass Timber’ research project, in collaboration with with Edinburgh Napier University and the Quality of Life Foundation, provides an open-source tool for measuring building performance and quality-of-life impacts of timber buildings. This research revealed mass timber buildings produce less than 50% of the carbon emissions of industry equivalents.
Since the 1990s, we’ve consistently innovated with sustainable materials through built projects. Our founding director Alex de Rijke, now Professor of Timber Architecture at TU Delft, has championed timber construction throughout his career, declaring “timber is the new concrete”.
Our material stewardship extends to developing new products, including the world’s first hardwood cross-laminated timber with AHEC and Arup, which we implemented in Maggie’s Oldham, demonstrating our commitment to material innovation through practical application.
3. Do the majority of projects demonstrate the use of biologically-inspired approaches such as Bioregionalism, Biophilia, Biomimicry, Ecomimicry (also referred to as Ecosystems Thinking, Industrial Ecology or Industrial Symbiosis) or BioTRIZ?
No.
Creating a just space for people
Practice
1. Does the practice have a progressive EDI policy and can you evidence many forms of diversity, which are welcomed and acknowledged, within the practice?
dRMM maintains a progressive EDI policy supported by a comprehensive Action Plan that drives our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Our dedicated internal EDI and social value group meet regularly to evaluate performance and develop new initiatives, with membership open to all staff and representation across every level of the practice.
To ensure accountability and continuous improvement, we conduct annual EDI monitoring and staff wellbeing surveys. These assessments capture demographic data while providing anonymous channels for team members to share experiences and suggestions. This feedback mechanism has proven invaluable in shaping our inclusive workplace culture.
Our approach celebrates the diverse perspectives that enrich our design thinking and workplace environment. By embedding EDI principles throughout our operations, we’ve created a studio where different backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints are not only welcomed but actively sought out as essential components of our creative process and practice identity.
2. Does the practice operate a no overtime culture, meet the living wage consistently, and stipulate a fair salary ratio between staff of all levels?
dRMM actively promotes a no-overtime culture, encouraging team members to manage their time and productivity flexibly. When tight deadlines occasionally necessitate additional hours, our formal Overtime Policy ensures fair compensation through Time off in Lieu (TOIL).
We’ve reduced core hours and implemented hybrid working arrangements (up to two days working from home) to support work-life balance and accommodate diverse personal circumstances.
Transparency in compensation is fundamental to our approach. Salary bands for each position level are openly shared with all team members, ensuring everyone understands our compensation structure. These bands undergo annual benchmarking against industry reports to maintain competitiveness and fairness.
All dRMM pay bands exceed the London Living Wage, reflecting our commitment to fair compensation across all levels of the practice and ensuring every team member receives remuneration that supports a good quality of life.
3. Does the practice support charities, community groups, social enterprises, action groups and others through pro-bono work, charitable giving or in-kind donations?
dRMM actively supports community organisations through strategic pro bono work and charitable partnerships. We’ve collaborated with Power Up North London (PUNL), providing technical expertise for a planning application to retrofit solar panels on a high school roof, directly supporting their mission to reduce energy costs through sustainable solutions.
Our commitment extends to educational initiatives, partnering with Open Studio to host job skills training for recent architecture graduates, helping bridge the transition from education to professional practice.
Team members regularly participate in cross-disciplinary working groups advancing industry-wide sustainability practices. We provide financial support through donations to Architects Declare, LETI, and the Architecture Foundation, with additional sponsorship for ACAN this year.
Our social impact extends to offering work placements from local communities, particularly in connection with our social housing projects, creating pathways to architectural careers for underrepresented groups while strengthening connections to the communities we serve.
4. Does the practice publicly refuse to work with certain clients, suppliers or organisations on ethical grounds?
dRMM maintains a principled approach to client and supplier relationships, evaluating each opportunity against our ethical framework. Throughout our 30-year history, we have on occasion declined project opportunities on ethical grounds, including international projects where adequate safeguards against modern slavery were absent.
Our commitment extends to our operational decisions, selecting service providers such as banking and pension partners based on their ethical credentials and actively avoiding associations with environmentally questionable practices.
We prioritise engaging with local suppliers and specialist trades to support SME businesses in the communities where we build. Our procurement process includes a formal vetting procedure requiring potential suppliers to complete a questionnaire declaring any breaches of UK or international environmental and human rights laws.
This comprehensive approach ensures our practice maintains integrity across all business relationships, aligning our commercial activities with our core values of social responsibility and environmental stewardship.
Project
1. Do the projects demonstrate deep engagement with local stakeholders and end users? For example, is there evidence that your project engagement goes beyond consultation towards co-design?
dRMM projects consistently demonstrate deep stakeholder engagement that transcends conventional consultation to embrace genuine co-design principles. We develop comprehensive engagement strategies with our clients, beginning with thorough stakeholder mapping to ensure inclusive representation.
Our co-design workshops address topics most relevant to communities, creating meaningful dialogue that directly influences design outcomes. We are also particularly committed to engaging hard-to-reach groups through innovative approaches.
At Tustin Estate, we organised a week-long creative workshop series specifically targeting younger community members. These sessions, led by our team alongside local artists, taught design skills while gathering authentic input. The initiative culminated in a design competition with the winner receiving prize money and a paid work experience placement in our studio.
This exemplifies our approach: creating engagement pathways that not only inform our designs but also build skills, create opportunities, and establish lasting relationships with the communities we serve, ensuring their voices genuinely shape project outcomes.
2. Do your projects create connected and resilient places which positively contribute to their neighbourhoods and allow equality of access? For example, do your projects create economic opportunity, retain value locally and generate social value?
dRMM consistently creates connected, resilient places that enhance neighbourhood vitality while ensuring equitable access. Our community-driven, mixed-use developments support sustainable social and economic growth through thoughtful integration with existing contexts.
Charlton WorkStack exemplifies this approach, transforming an underutilised small site into stacked, high-quality affordable workshops for small and micro entrepreneurs, retaining economic value locally while creating opportunities for business growth.
At Wick Lane, our mixed-use residential-industrial development preserves the area’s distinctive creative culture alongside high-quality homes, with 44% affordable housing supporting diverse community access.
The Tustin Estate regeneration demonstrates our commitment to social value, providing 167 high-quality 100% social rent homes in its first phase. The design prioritises landscaped spaces that enhance resident wellbeing while reconnecting surrounding neighbourhoods, creating a cohesive urban fabric that strengthens community bonds and improves accessibility throughout the area.
3. Do the majority of your projects promote equity in society, and consider all people, not only the building inhabitants? For example, do your projects show due regard for workers within the supply chain and take active steps to avoid modern slavery?
dRMM promotes equity through our project approach and supply chain management. We carefully select ethically aligned sub-consultants and prioritise diverse design teams on large-scale projects, recognising that representative decision-making directly influences how the built environment serves all communities.
Our designs consistently consider broader societal impacts beyond immediate building occupants. At Tustin Estate, we’ve created inclusive public spaces accessible to the wider community, while our Charlton WorkStack provides economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.
We’re committed to the principles of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and are developing internal policies to prevent modern slavery throughout our supply chain. We also maintain confidential reporting channels for concerns about potential wrongdoing within our supply chains or internally.
Our material specification process increasingly considers ethical sourcing, with preference given to suppliers who demonstrate fair labour practices and transparency in their manufacturing processes.