In the era of climate change and environmental consciousness, sustainability has become a crucial consideration in every aspect of our lives, including the field of structural design…

Matter’s appraisal of the Mill Lane Garden Centre confirms the 1992 Walter Segal timber frame is structurally sound. By prioritizing repairs, addressing external decay and internal damp, we provided Thera Trust with a 10-year roadmap to preserve this sustainable landmark and avoid premature replacement.

The value systems around production, consumption, design, and decision-making pioneered in the Chinese and other Asian cultures, are inseparable from sustainability and circularity. The simplest example is that of Bamboo - from chopsticks to hairpins to mats and building structures, a material that is as strong as it is versatile and as cost-effective as it is eco-friendly.

Shifting Mindset to Materialising Collaborations at Matter

We took a deep dive into ‘Shaping Sustainability in structural design. The critical value of Sustainability in the Building and Construction Industry comes from its bidirectional significance between the designers and the design.

Does your home have eco-friendly walls? We look at two options with lower embodied carbon for sustainable domestic builds.

Sustainability isn’t an add on it’s how we work. At Matter, our women-led London studio designs low-carbon structures with people, place, and purpose at their core. Through thoughtful engineering and local collaboration, we’re building a more resilient future, one smart decision at a time.

Celebrating 10 years of Matter, a female-led design practice shaping inclusive, people-first spaces. From team growth and creative milestones to lessons in public sector projects, we reflect on our journey and look ahead to the next chapter of thoughtful design.

Matter partnered with Haptic and Stephen Taylor Architects on sustainable social housing for the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Our low-carbon, flood-resilient engineering reduces embodied carbon and supports SME-led, community-focused development.

Matter believes that human-centred, sustainable structural design not only creates social value, it also makes good business sense. Our new Social Impact Report shows the measurable social and environmental impact we’re making, in our local community of South East London and beyond.