Founded by Michel Da Costa Goncalves and Amrita Mahindroo, DROO Architecture is a RIBA and RICS Award-winning practice operating worldwide from our offices in London, Paris and Melbourne. Da Costa Mahindroo, or DROO takes a wholistic approach to design from the object to the urban, each project is a culmination of the complex network of conditions, which are distilled into a singular poetic statement, which valorises its context – both physical and intellectual.
Find out more about our latest contributions as well as latest publications about our work on the Press and Publications sections.
DROO Architecture actively explore the implications of macro-economics and emerging technologies on aesthetic and formal undercurrents in contemporary design, and aims to situate this discourse in the environment through tangible, user oriented design solutions. Our research explores the evolution of historical spatial and formal typologies as they are put the tests of contemporary markets, environmental extremes and societal/cultural differences. We seek to generate new layers of richness in our work, by perpetually challenging ‘type’ in architecture, and subsequently allowing us to speculate on the evolution of the future city as an amalgam of these individual architectural products. Each project is at once a tailored solution to the design problem at hand, but also apart of our over arching body of research which engages the community and is an armature for social and environmental agency.
Our work spans Europe, North America, Australia and South East Asia with a strong research focus on cities. We’re committed to developing and promoting architectural creativity to the world. We take part in leading-edge events such as the London Design Festival and our work has been recognised by the Custerion Award, FEIDAD awards, Wallpaper* Design awards, FX awards and in international publications including Architect’s Journal (AJ), RIBA Journal and Blueprint. Our work has also been exhibited at London’s prestigious Royal Academy of the Arts. In addition, we have been teaching at esteemed architectural schools and bodies across the world since 2004, including at the Architectural Association.
DROO’s director Amrita Mahindroo will be guest hosting the Parlour (@parlour) instagram this week and will be sharing thoughts, musings and our work on some of the bigger questions we have been asking ourselves as a practice in 2020. Parlour is a fantastic platform giving a voice to women working in the built environment. “PARLOUR:…
In a recent interview I was asked ‘how we continue to challenge our design thinking and if we had ever deliberately tried to change the way we work?’ In short the answer was yes, but it was a challenging question. As a sense of urgency surrounds us, whether it be climatic, social, economic or political…
Paintworks by DROO published in MINI book. DROO is delighted to see its Paintworks project to appear in forthcoming the new instance of the MINI BUILDING series, issue #10. Thanks and congrats to A&C publishing for the overall publication and series +. The Paintworks is a former artists workshop in the Kingsland Road conservation area, which…
DROO is delighted to be nominated for the Emerging Pratice Award 2020. Thanks to everyone at Da Costa Mahindroo Architects.
Essentiafluous: Semantic Design by DROO’s director Michel da Costa Gonçalves. This speculative exercise through terminologies questions how the current pandemic might influence design in the coming months or years. Thanks to Inst_inst_inst and mapa arq for the collaboration request.
Da Costa Mahindroo Architects are delighted to be shortlisted as finalist for the Architect of the year Award. Finalist DROO architecture
Very excited to share that we have just received planning for our Apartment Low Carbon scheme in Melbourne, Australia.
Italian Magazine, The Plan features on DROO’s Paintworks project. The Plan. The Paintworks is a former artists workshop in the Kingsland Road conservation area, which was converted mixed use residential and commercial building. Structurally complex, the extensive extension covers both the basement of the existing building and the rear carpark with a distinct inhabitable facade. The…
DROO’s ‘crumpled paper’ project in east London featured in AJ. Architect’s Journal. The Paintworks is a former artists workshop in the Kingsland Road conservation area, which was converted mixed use residential and commercial building. Structurally complex, the extensive extension covers both the basement of the existing building and the rear carpark with a distinct inhabitable facade.…
DROO’s Smithfield market competition entry for Landlease reflects on the future of Birmingham tying to its historical trades as a civic place of gathering. Under a single roof, it carefully unearths historical layers to seek new paradigms and inform new “virtuous cycles”.
Dezeen features DROO’s Castel lane project. Curved bow windows animate the facades of VI Castle Lane, a housing block in London designed by architecture studios Da Costa Mahindroo Architects.
A glass prism has appeared in an East London back garden. Geometric, transparent and glistening, it is the work of emerging London studio DROO – Da Costa Mahindroo Architects. More
