Ethos
Our work is shaped by a distinctive ethos. We believe that design for the built environment carries a strong social responsibility, and that every project – no matter its size or constraints – should achieve more than conditions seem to allow. The buildings and landscapes we design can unlock potential in major cities or local communities, and all have an impact beyond the site boundary.
Getting the most out of the opportunities we see takes more than ambition and imagination. We are pragmatic and resourceful, energetic and tenacious. With a lean, efficient structure we move fast as circumstances evolve, and new possibilities emerge. Design projects succeed best when they win the trust of all stakeholders. We win it and keep it with steadfast integrity in the way we act and the work we do.
That ethos also shapes our studio culture, reflected in our Outreach programmes and the Initiatives we lead: transformative projects in communities affected by poverty, conflict and natural disasters.
JMP has a longstanding commitment to support learning and to broaden understanding of the built environment, in the design professions and beyond. We engage people in our projects through activities conceived to meet everyone at their level – from construction site tours to pop-up books that introduce children to their architectural heritage.
We take architectural education seriously, mentoring staff on the journey to qualification and giving placements to apprentices. Helping young people to build their skills or find their voice also takes us into schools, and led us to establish bursaries that enable students to develop original design projects with a positive social impact.
Since the early days of the practice we have undertaken pro-bono projects bringing design intelligence to the problems of vulnerable and under-served communities around the world.
We call those projects ‘Initiatives’, because when we see an opportunity to help, we take action. They have taken many forms, from setting up research programmes to making buildings in partnership with NGOs, public authorities and private sector organisations. We’ve led work on a disaster resource centre for Dominica, and set out to secure the future of a historic ‘gingerbread house’ as a centre for Haitian culture after the earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince. Today we are addressing Britain’s affordable housing crisis with Homes for All.
These initiatives are central to what we do. We dedicate our time and skills, and in turn gain new perspectives that strengthen all of our work.
