Our approach to sustainable practice

Exterior of a classic three-story brick building with white trim and arched entrance, featuring a "To Let" sign in front and black metal fencing.

  • At KVIST we consider the impact of the decisions we make in choosing our suppliers and partners.

    This isn't meant to be an exercise in self-congratulatory backslapping, more an opportunity to reflect on what we are doing and think about where we can improve.

    We have a light-touch footprint, working from an environment-conscious co-work space in central Winchester.

    Our electricity supplier is Good Energy, the UK's first to supply 100% renewable electricity, which is generated in Britain from sun, wind, water and biomass.

    Much of the office furniture is recycled, up-cycled or pre-loved and where possible from local suppliers.

    The desktops came from Re4med a Devon-based supplier of reclaimed hardwoods and bespoke joinery; the large tables in the Main Room and Cathedral Room were sourced through The Consortium on Jewry Street and most recently we commissioned Southampton Wood Recycling Project to make a new large desktop.

    Each week we compost our waste from the kitchen where our suppliers for coffee and tea include Winchester Coffee Roasters in King's Worthy and the exquisite boutique that is Char Teas).

    We are also working to lower the carbon footprint of our travel. Meeting clients face-to-face is a core value of our business, but we also make sure to be readily available by Zoom for those in-between chats, to cut down on emissions and time on the road.

  • In time, we have aspirations to become a registered BCorp, which means we will be measuring our entire social and environmental impact.

    We are also real people. We have families, friends, interests and passions alongside our design work. KVIST is a business that understands, recognises and supports our people.

    We expect a lot - but we also give a lot!

We plan to do more. As the business grows we will continue to explore our impact, and the possibilities of positive change from the inside by leveraging our expertise and influence with clients, stakeholders and suppliers.

As designers, we are part of an industry which generates around 40% of the UK’s carbon footprint. As a studio, we are members of professional bodies who are championing sustainability and we will continue to push ourselves and others to safeguard our precious world.

We have a responsibility to you and also to the planet.

Our approach to design and in business is underpinned by respect for our world and concern about the climate and nature crisis.

Close-up of multiple spools of white yarn on a textile machine.

  • We are purposeful in our approach and considerate in our sourcing.

    Provenance, production and delivery are just some of the crucial elements that add up to the environmental cost of a project.

    Sustainable sourcing starts with asking questions. About where things come from, how they are made, transported and installed. How easy they are to maintain -and how long they will last through to how they will be removed and reused/recycled.

    We are working hard to review policies and select our suppliers based on their ethical standards and practices.

  • We are perhaps the only Architects that will start by saying you don't need to extend.

    We are passionate about exploring the potential of our existing building stock and maximising its value. We constantly explore and research ways to improve the performance of existing buildings, whilst giving clients a modern, well functioning space that they can afford to maintain.

    We always recommend finishes that are better for the environment - and for you. Low VOC paints and eco-friendly adhesives are always preferred.

    We work with contractors who uphold values aligned with ours including longevity and quality; and who take care of their staff as well as in their work.