Core purpose

Our core purpose is to improve the quality of the built environment, through better understanding of, and between cultures.

We have learned to see buildings as nodes within vast ecologies - social, natural, economic, cultural, political, perceptual - and designing them within that understanding.

Values

We have identified the following behaviour values as fundamental to our work. By 'behavioural values' we means behaviours that are demonstrated through action, as distinct from values that are only voiced and never acted. We also recognise that we can never be satisfied that we 'hold' these values. They are beacons, that have to be continuously pursued.

• Respect and openness

• Passion for learning

• Tenacity and dedication

• Organisation and clarity

These values work together:

• Without respect and openness towards what we don't understand in other cultures, there can be no potential for understanding.

• That potential for learning will not be followed.

• Learning and exploring what is often alien and challenging can be difficult, and requires tenacity and dedication.

• Fully absorbing new understanding, turning it into action, and communicating it to others, requires organisation and clarity - both in expression of ideas to people, and in the design and implementation of projects.