Design revolutions don’t start with rules. They start with people courageous enough to break them.

At Rothelowman, we’re reshaping architecture by championing collaboration, curiosity and fearless ideas. We know that building better cities isn’t just about what gets drawn. It’s about who’s in the room, what questions they ask, and how boldly they challenge the status quo.

We’re not here to play by the old rules. We’re here to reimagine them — together.

 

Celebrate the rough draft. Embrace individuality. Design together. 

We don’t hire for sameness. We are building our team to be a tapestry of backgrounds, disciplines, ideas, and points of view. That mix fuels our design approach and leads to richer, more unexpected outcomes.

We call it working ugly: the creative, unfiltered, raw early stage where everyone’s ideas are on the table. No polish, no ego, just honest thinking and sharp instincts shaping the work from the ground up.

Jonothan Cowle (aka JC), our Partner for National Design, is a big believer in what this younger generation brings to the table:

“35% of our team is under 30, and they’ve got this brilliant mix of curiosity, future thinking and raw creative energy. It’s not just refreshing, it’s essential.”

 

Flip the hierarchy. Unlock hidden strengths.

We are on our journey to redesign the way we work to be flexible and fluid. Where there’s no rigid hierarchy or top-down process. It’s our mission to build teams around strengths, not titles, because we know great ideas spark anywhere.

We also believe that traditional practice models can be a barrier to success. They can slow things down, stifle innovation, and often bring people into the conversation too late in the process. That’s why we prioritise the sequencing of decision-making—getting the right people with the right skills involved at the right time. It leads to sharper ideas, faster progress, and better outcomes for clients, communities, and end users.

Instead of expecting people to fit into roles, we encourage them to shape their own. Find your superpower. Bring it into the room. Make it count.

“Part of our design culture is about challenging expectations,” says JC. “Especially when it comes to empowering emerging talent. We don’t wait for people to be ‘ready’, we invite them in now.”

 

This isn’t just a practice. It’s a blueprint for what’s next.

The built environment is changing—and fast. With social shifts, climate challenges, cultural complexity, and unavoidable cost pressures all in play, architecture has to be more agile and inclusive than ever.

At Rothelowman, we believe the way forward is collective. We design with a shared sense of responsibility—and we invest in the people who will lead the profession into the future.

We are on our own journey to create a practice that’s dynamic, people-powered, and future-focused. One that’s shaping cities with the next generation of designers, not just for them.