The Architecture of Business: Curating an Inclusive Practice Workplace

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After my recent interview with Gensler’s Director Harry Ibbs on Leveraging Technological Advancements to Bring Workers Back to Office I decided to cover the topic of a post-covid practice workplace culture from a completely different angle. In search of a more intimate approach, I looked into AL_A, a RIBA 2009 Stirling Prize-winning studio founded by Amanda Levete with directors Ho-Yin Ng, Alice Dietsch and Maximiliano Arrocet. The diversity of the leadership team and their 30+ person workforce brings a richness of thinking and possibility that’s played out in their culture, practice and through their designs.

I am somehow touched by the atmosphere they share in their office and to better understand the effort they invested in the curatorship of their inclusive workplace, I interviewed AL_A’s Head of Operations: Martha Darling, who is an experienced practitioner delivering business acumen across organizational operations. Martha’s expertise lies in understanding the requirements of a business in order to balance creative vision with business objectives. Through effective planning of multiple workstreams, efficient running of lean and effective teams and successful streamlining and implementation of new structures and processes, she manages rapidly shifting business demands in line with creative goals.