Founded in 2016 as a not-for-profit company, in August 2021 ftwork became a charity, Footwork Trust. Although our overall aim remains unchanged – to ensure that clear social principles underpin development and drive good practice – we are currently working with our team and many collaborators to refocus our purpose and methodology. Meanwhile business is very much as usual!

With pressure to build new homes and whole neighbourhoods, economic expediency drowns out the need to create diverse places with a sense of their own identity. It’s people that make lively and successful places. In thriving communities they stay put; they have some autonomy, are mutually supportive and feel secure; they have varied opportunities to mix, to work and to be creative. The remarkable response to the pandemic has revealed the potential for social innovation and collaboration, but also exposed the stark inequalities that now have to be addressed.

ftwork’s vision is for a built environment sector that responds to need, that listens to people, learns from local knowledge and has a shared interest in the long-term success of communities. With people at the heart of the process we can make sure planning and development both value and bring value to communities.

So for ftwork architectural practice is a proactive and collaborative endeavour which has a social as well as creative purpose. As a small team of like-minded individuals, we work across sectors and with a wide range of organisations committed to social change – undertaking research, supporting grassroots initiatives, generating innovative ideas, debating education, practice and policy change. Our focus is on creating change and challenging the status quo.

ftwork was founded by Clare Richards, who switched from filmmaker to architect to help transform the living conditions she had witnessed. When she discovered that architecture school doesn’t teach you about the social context and purpose of design, she embarked on researching the history of place-making and why communities thrive or fail. Happy Communities was winner of the RIBA President’s Dissertation Medal 2010. She has worked extensively on community-based projects, consultations and collaborative design. She writes articles and opinion pieces on the relationship between the built environment and communities and is a regular contributor to BBC London’s Robert Elms Show. Clare is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

ftwork is a Patron of the London Festival of Architecture, a Centre for London Partner, a contributor to New London Architecture initiatives and sponsor of the NLA Awards Community Prize.

Footwork Trust, Charity No: 1196039