We design buildings which are responsive and responsible.
By responsive we mean approaching each design exercise as a collaborative effort, one that demands an intimate understanding of the climatic, cultural and physical context.
By responsible, we mean designing and procuring our buildings in a way which does not have an adverse impact on the environment.
Our projects range from residential, to commercial to cultural. We work on new buildings, old buildings put to new uses, and existing buildings extended, contracted and reconfigured.
We are a RIBA Chartered Practice, and work with our clients through all stages of a project, from feasibility, planning, detailed design, tendering, through to contract administration during construction. We aim to embed environmental considerations through all these stages, combining functional, cost effective architecture with a sense of specificity to the client and the place.
We are members of:
Architects Declare
RIBA 2030 Challenge
Passivhaus Trust UK (individual consultant certification)
Net Zero Pathway Peer-to-Peer Group
Testimonials
"....They captured all of our ideas exceedingly well and created a design that highly suited to our needs and harnessed the true potential of the property"
"... To have A-Zero around from start to finish build was both reassuring and fundamental to the success of the project"
"....Their designs have added light and clever interconnected spaces as well as many ingenious details They are always professional and understanding, but most importantly for me, they are approachable and make me feel at ease"
People
Giles Bruce, Director
MArch (dist), BArch, RIBA, SFHEA
Educated in Ireland, Norway and the UK, Giles has lived in London since 2005, and has pursued his career with a focus on environmental design. He was awarded the Eden Scholarship to study for Masters in Sustainable Environmental Design at the Architectural Association, from which he graduated with Distinction in 2007. He was the lead environmental designer for the LSE Saw Swee Hock Student Centre with O’Donnell + Tuomey (Stirling prize shortlisted). In addition to directing A-Zero, he is a design tutor and lecturer in the Architectural Association, and lectures internationally on sustainable design. Giles is a Certified Passivhaus Designer, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Ingrid Hu, Director
BA (Hon) Theatre, MA Scenography, FRSA
Ingrid trained in Canada and the UK. Between 2002 and 2009, she worked for Heatherwick Studio on a wide range of design projects including the Lubetkin-winning UK Pavilion for the 2010 World Expo. Her approach is built upon her commitment in exploring contemporary narratives through contextual research, materiality and spatial experience. As a director for A-Zero, she envisions interdisciplinary strategies and oversees interiors and competitions. Originally from Taipei, Taiwan, Ingrid is a member of the Society of British Theatre Designers and an associate lecturer at UAL Central St Martins.
Collaborators past & present
Architects
Yasamin Arbabi
Ross King
Anya Thomas
Shoichi Sado
Phillip Toyin
Jerome Tsui
Architectural Assistants
Anna Bryłka
Kirah Chenhall
Limal Harris
Andres Hernandez
Mizue Katayama
Seonwoo Kim
Caterina Mucignat
Interns
Wei-I Chen
Maria Daher
Owen Hill
Phouc Ngo
Sheryl Si
Chenru Sung
Tuan Ahn Tran
Charlotte Wesselmann
Brandon Whitwell Mak
Awards
2024 -Schüco Excellence Awards 2024 Awards - Best Individual Building,Farncombe Street - SHORTLISTED
2022 - Dezeen Awards - Sustainable Interiors - Scaffolding Board House - LONGLISTED
2022 – Schüco Excellence Awards 2022 Awards - Best Individual Building, Quarry House - WINNER
2022 – Schüco Excellence Awards 2022 Awards - Sustainability Award, Quarry House - WINNER
2022 – Don’t Move, Improve! Awards – Scaffolding Board House – LONGLISTED
2018 – Don’t Move, Improve! Awards – Glazed Fissure House– LONGLISTED
2017 – Don’t Move, Improve! Awards – The Middle Room Project – LONGLISTED
2017 – RIAI Architecture Awards – CEU (A-Zero were consultants to the lead architects O’Donnell + Tuomey) – WINNER
2016 – LABS Excellence in Design Award – Extending without an extension : FINALIST
2015 – International Design Competition : NLA New ideas for Housing – The High Street Living Project – SHORTLISTED
2014 – Aylesbury Vale Design Award –Timber Frame House – WINNER
2014 – International Design Competition: Swansea Tidal Lagoon : Water mist installation (in collaboration with Ingrid Hu & Andy Pink) – WINNER
2012 – International Design Competition : Kiruna Masterplan, Sweden (in collaboration with Territorial Agency and Tham & Videgård Arkitekter – SHORTLISTED
2011 – International Design competition : Central European University Masterplan (in collaboration with O’Donnell + Tuomey Architects) – WINNER
2008 – PLEA Passive Low Energy Architecture Conference – ‘High Density Low Energy – Achieving solar access in Dublin’s Multi-story developments‘ – BEST PAPER
Sustainable residential architecture, green homes design, eco-friendly house construction, passive house design, energy-efficient homes, low carbon footprint houses, net-zero homes construction, renewable energy homes, sustainable living spaces, green roofs for houses, sustainable materials for home building, solar design for houses, eco-friendly architecture, and green home design for both new build sustainable architecture and retrofitting for sustainability in existing homes; sustainable urbanism homes, carbon-neutral houses construction, sustainable construction practices for homes, energy-positive houses, green building materials for homes, eco-design for houses, Dulwich, Herne Hill, Brixton, Clapham, Stockwell, Kennington, Vauxhall, Peckham, East Dulwich, West Dulwich, Sydenham Hill, Crystal Palace, Forest Hill, Penge, Honor Oak, Brockley, Catford, Beckenham, Bromley, Chislehurst, Tooting, Balham, Battersea, Chelsea, Fulham, Wandsworth, Wimbledon, Southfields, Earlsfield, Merton Park, Raynes Park, Richmond, Barnes, Mortlake, Kew, Chiswick, Hammersmith, Shepherds Bush, Acton, Ealing , Southwark, Peckham
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