The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has appointed a refreshed and diverse panel of 42 new Mayor’s Design Advocates (MDAs) – including high-profile practitioners

Sir David Adjaye OBE, Hanif Kara OBE, Farshid Moussavi OBE and Sir David Chipperfield CBE alongside rising stars – to help London become an even better city in which to live and work by promoting quality and inclusion in the built environment. 

MDAs are independent experts who support the Mayor’s vision of “good growth” and ensure that new buildings and public spaces will benefit all Londoners and will aid the capital’s recovery from the pandemic. 

The Mayor would also like to thank the members of his retiring cohort of MDAs who have provided advice, support and advocacy on key issues within the built environment, informing policy and investment positions. They reviewed over 150 projects and schemes, including housing, commercial and community developments, shaping them for the benefit of Londoners. They have advocated for Good Growth emphasising the importance of inclusion, sustainability, accessibility and quality in the built environment, as well as re-establishing priorities in the wake of the pandemic. 

In addition to high profile names, the new cohort also includes fresh, emerging talent in the built environment space and those who have relevant expertise in important areas such as zero-carbon and sustainability, the safety of women and girls, and housing quality.  

The group of 42 MDAs have experience in both the public and private sector, and include practitioners, academics, policymakers and those from community-led initiatives. More than half of the new cohort are women and 45 per cent come from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds. 

The new group will support the Mayor’s updated Good Growth by Design programme which highlights the importance of an inclusive recovery from the pandemic. There is also a renewed focus on the need to counter racism and other forms of prejudice in the built environment sector.

The pandemic has accelerated a change in the way Londoners use the city. Rethinking high streets and workspaces, as well as the urgent need to meet net zero by 2030 is also reflected in the updated Good Growth by Design programme. 

The new cohort of MDAs will work on three main objectives:

• Quality : supporting quality, sustainability and inclusion in the built environment, in line with the Mayor’s Good Growth by Design programme.  
• Recovery: shaping and supporting activities delivered as part of the London Recovery Programme.
• Representation: being reflective of London’s diverse population and supporting the creation of an inclusive built environment in which a spectrum of experiences and communities are valued and able to play a role in shaping the capital’s future. 

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London said: “I’m delighted to be working with this new group of experts. These Design Advocates, with their wealth of knowledge, expertise and skills across a wide range of industries, are key to ensuring that we build a capital all Londoners can enjoy and be proud of. 

“The Good Growth by Design programme is my plan to create a city that works for everyone. Not only should new developments in London benefit existing communities they should also be inclusive, support economic growth and help us to tackle the climate crisis.  

“As we move into a post-pandemic world, we must ensure that we are building a better London for everyone – a safer, fairer, greener and more prosperous city for all Londoners. My new Design Advocates are going to play an important role in reaching this vision.”

Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration & and Skills, Jules Pipe, said: “Working closely with the MDAs as well as our various partner organisations, local authorities and other public bodies is key to building London back in a fairer and greener way after the pandemic. 

“This new cohort are just what we need to help support and deliver our vision for good growth in London.”

Farshid Moussavi OBE said: “I am delighted to be selected as one of the Mayor’s Design Advocates, providing an independent voice to help shape London’s recovery from the pandemic and to address the urgent challenges facing us. I look forward to working with the Mayor and my fellow Advocates.”

Hanif Kara OBE said: “I am truly looking forward to contributing to the Mayor’s agenda for Good Growth. The built environment plays a critical role in our response to the climate emergency and I am keen to share my experience to help shape a collective transdisciplinary response together with so many experts in this cohort.”

Sir David Adjaye OBE said: “It is an honour to be invited to return as one of the Mayor’s Design Advocates, an important role in shaping the future of London. This is an opportunity to share knowledge from my practice in order to expand the role architecture and design can play in the enriching the city and lives of Londoners.”

Sir David Chipperfield CBE said: “It is a great privilege to be appointed as one of the Mayor’s Design Advocates. I look forward to supporting the Mayor and his team in their commitment to making London’s built environment more equitable and sustainable, and highlighting the role that our environment plays in securing our quality of life”. Photo by U.S. Embassy London, Wikimedia commons.