We are proud to be a Certified B Corporation!
In February 2024 we became a certified B Corp which means we’re counted among businesses that are leading a global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, are companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Find out more about our B Corp assessment below.
As members of the Landscape Institute, our Royal Charter requires us to work for the benefit of people, place and nature, which encapsulates our approach to design.
For the benefit of nature
Ecological materials and building systems
We are committed to designing innovative and highly energy-efficient buildings that use the latest green building methods. Our expertise in Passivhaus design and the use of ecological materials and technology, passive energy and healthy building systems allows us to bring sustainability to the core of our projects. When choosing materials for your project we will always look for options that are local, sustainable, and have a low carbon footprint.
Enriching the natural environment
The natural environment is incredibly important to us and when planning a project we always seek to protect and enrich the natural landscape. Our outdoor spaces are designed to become rich habitats for bees, butterflies and birds and we collaborate with ecologists to create ideal habitats for wildlife to thrive. We are passionate about exceeding the requirements for Biodiversity Net Gain in all of our projects, ensuring that each development results in a richer habitat for nature and wildlife than before it was there. Ask us about harvesting your rainwater too!
We are also signed up to the Royal Institute of British Architects 2030 Climate Challenge to: reduce operational energy demand in all buildings; reduce embodied carbon in new buildings; reduce potable water use; and promote health and wellbeing through improvements to air quality, daylight and reduction in VOCs; and improve biodiversity.
For the benefit of people
Improving the well-being of people is core to our approach. We strive to create indoor and outdoor spaces that are functional, healthy, beautiful and accessible to all.
Communities
We are passionate about meaningfully involving local communities at every stage of our projects. This means being respectful of local communities, building and strengthening existing ways of life, holding meetings to gain feedback on planned developments, and involving local people as volunteers and caretakers for the spaces that are created.
Regeneration
We feed into the circular economy by using local and minority-owned businesses to supply our office and projects, minimising carbon in transportation and reducing waste through design and on-site.
In our landscapes we are committed to restoring and enhancing ecology, supporting and regenerating natural habitats.
Working closely with communities and delivering good design, the economic benefits of many projects have extended beyond our clients’ original scope. For example, Horsley Playground has supported the village shop, and the Museum in the Park's walled garden has become a multi-use space, generating many income streams for the organisation.
Studio life
Mentoring and continuous learning are central to our practice, supporting our staff's interests and development in their professional lives. We also believe that being flexible in how we work makes life a little easier and celebrating the small wins and sharing our news with others brings meaning and recognition for what we do.
For the benefit of place
Historical research
All of our projects draw on the history of the place to create a strong sense of place and identity, linking the past with the present. So the starting point for all of our projects is some historical research. Our knowledge of the history of landscape design and architecture means we might be able to uncover some features of your space that you may not have been aware of. These include hidden vistas, rooms and focal points as well as historic planting schemes that can be incorporated into your design.
Local, independent makers
As a business that has been creating spaces in the Stroud Valleys for more than 20 years, we have a network of talented craftspeople whose work we can incorporate into your project. We collaborate with local, independent makers, including furniture makers, fabricators and sculptors to create spaces that are tactile and richly crafted. Whether it’s restoring some 1920s awning, building carved wooden benches or hand-wrought railings, we will know the perfect person for the job.
Our B Corp certification
Being B Corp Certified by the non-profit B Lab, confirms Austin Design Work’s steadfast commitment to and presence of accountability and transparency throughout its business. Facilitated by B Lab, Austin Design Works underwent a rigorous and extensive review of its environmental and social practices and policies and was assessed across five pillars: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers, and achieved an overall impact score of 97.1, far exceeding the 50.9 average score of ordinary companies undergoing the assessment. Austin Design Works will be held to high standards of accountability, undergoing a recertification process every three years to update its impact assessment and recertify as a B Corp.
Watch a short video, explaining the global B Corp movement.