We’ve always thought it was important to articulate and define what makes us, us. How we think about our work, what’s important to us and how we do it. As a reflection of the proposition itself, we managed to get it down to two words.
Control Liberated
This is our way of working—a combination of precision and restraint, quality and authenticity. We design refined buildings: rich in detail, shaped by context, and executed with care. There’s no embellishment for its own sake, just clarity of thought and confidence in the essentials.
Our creativity is knitted in, not layered on. We don’t chase trends or make noise. We trust our judgement, our team, and our design intent to deliver what’s right for each place, each project.
Clients describe us as grounded, collaborative, and committed to delivery. “They listen, they contribute, and they get things done.” “Creative, but never hard work—they just want the best result.” We believe the best work comes from clarity, trust, and shared endeavour.
We’re not chasing an endgame—but we are building a practice defined by its difference: respected for the way we work and admired for the buildings we create.
Core Principles That Enable Our Work
Shared Endeavour
The quality of the end result, and the process of getting there, relies to a very great extent on our ability to work together, collaborate effectively, share our vision, get buy-in and establish commitment.
A completed building is the realisation of an architectural idea, brought about by the shared endeavour of a multitude of skilled and talented people, not just in our practice but beyond.
Context and permanence
We need to carefully consider the context in which we are working. Creating buildings that solve a problem on a practical level with durability and robustness built-in.
A building does not stand alone, it occupies a space in, of, between and amongst. It has a relationship with its surroundings.
It must add to a place without ignoring the context and it has to perform a role for the people that use it, tangibly and emotionally, for a long time.
Art is in the details
There’s nothing in what we do that doesn’t matter. Getting the details right expresses the extent to which we care about the quality of the end result. It’s an expression of our skill, knowledge and respect for the project that we sweat the small stuff.
We don’t allow the original idea and intent to slip, and the best way to maintain quality is to keep a tight grip on the details.
Context and permanence
We need to carefully consider the context in which we are working. Creating buildings that solve a problem on a practical level with durability and robustness built-in.
A building does not stand alone, it occupies a space in, of, between and amongst. It has a relationship with its surroundings.
It must add to a place without ignoring the context and it has to perform a role for the people that use it, tangibly and emotionally, for a long time.
Founded
2006
Team
20
Location
Manchester, UK
Tim Groom
Director
Victoria Groom
Finance Director
Danielle McParland
Associate Director
Simon Davies
Associate
Aoife Graham
Studio Manager