Submission by Exploration Architecture.
Being a good ancestor
Practice
1. Do you have a clearly stated purpose aligned with the planetary emergency? We’re looking for a bold ambition here, and a culture which recognises the need for long-term thinking.
No.
2. Do you have a clearly stated purpose aligned with the planetary emergency? We’re looking for a bold ambition here, and a culture which recognises the need for long-term thinking.
No.
3. Do you share research and knowledge for the benefit of society and the wider world?
No.
Project
1. Do you advocate for long-term thinking at the outset of work? Do you initiate work with long-term thinking and challenge clients? Also, can the organisation demonstrate that this approach has worked?
We actively seek out clients and opportunities that allow for long-term thinking and advocate for this on all projects. We regularly use an exercise called ‘Human Layers’ developed by ‘The Long Time Project’ (based on Joanna Macey’s work) at the start of a project and this has been very successful in raising the level of ambition and in promoting long-term thinking.
We have developed and advocate an approach that radically rethinks the materials we should be using and how we steward them within cycles that are aligned with living systems.
We are currently working on a project that will provide a permanent home for ‘The Deep Time Walk’ which aims to transform people’s ideas about a collective responsibility for safeguarding the future.
On all our projects we encourage our clients to take a holistic view on cost in order to deliver long-term planetary value.
2. Does your work take account of the future climate and the need for resilience?
No.
3. Does the majority of your work go beyond mitigating negatives and towards optimising positives?
No.
Co-evolving with nature
Practice
1. Do you use biophilia within your premises and/or do you regularly gather in natural settings?
No.
2. Can you share examples of where you have considered nature in decision making?
In 2026 we believe we became the first firm of architects in the world to appoint nature to the board of our company. We chose the renowned nature writer Jay Griffiths to be ‘Director for future generations of all species’. Her role is to speak on behalf of nature and future generations in order to guide our decisions and help us work towards our long-term purpose which is “To be co-enablers of the flourishing of all life for all time and to work towards restoring planetary health.” Our hope is that eventually all companies will have nature on the board and that this will bring about a profound shift in the human / nature relationship from one of domination to one of care. We believe humans can increasingly take on a role as a keystone species so that everything we do enhances the living world.
3. Are you supporting nature locally and nationally?
No.
Project
1. Can you demonstrate work that strives to match the performance of a mature ecosystem?
No.
2. Are you working on material stewardship?
No.
3. Does the majority of your work demonstrate the use of biologically-inspired approaches such as Bioregionalism, Biophilia or Biomimicry?
No.
Creating a just space for people
Practice
1. Do you have a progressive EDI policy and can you evidence many forms of diversity, which are welcomed and acknowledged, within your company/organisation?
No.
2. Do you operate a no overtime culture, meet the living wage consistently, and stipulate a fair salary ratio between staff of all levels?
No.
3. Do you support charities, community groups, social enterprises, action groups and others through pro-bono work, charitable giving or in-kind donations?
No.
4. Do you use an ethical framework to assess opportunities and/or supply chain partners and is them team consulted on these decisions?
No.
Project
1. Does your work demonstrate deep engagement with local stakeholders and end users?
No.
2. Does your work create connected and resilient communities which positively contribute to neighbourhoods and allow equality of access?
No.
3. Does the majority of your work promote equity in society, and consider all people, not only building inhabitants
No.