echo is a research-led design studio exploring how people shape and are shaped by the city.
We translate community insight into inclusive design that works for real life.
Meet our Founder
Rebecca Halstead an architect, researcher, and advocate for inclusive cities, founded echo architects to change the way we design urban environments not just for efficiency or beauty, but for equity, accessibility, and lived experience.
“I started echo to bring real-world voices into the design of cities. That’s where the most powerful ideas live.”
rh@echo-architects.com
Our Values
Diversity
We believe diversity is a strength—not a checkbox. We listen to and learn from a wide range of lived experiences, ensuring our work reflects the real complexity of communities. Our projects centre voices that are too often left out: women, migrants, young people, the elderly, and those with disabilities. We don’t just invite them into the conversation—we design with them from the start.
Equity
Design isn’t neutral. It can include or exclude, empower or ignore. We work to level the playing field by challenging who benefits from the built environment—and who doesn’t. Equity means designing spaces that adapt to people, not the other way around. It means challenging standard practice when it falls short.
Care
Good design begins with care. We take time to understand the social, emotional, and practical realities of a place before shaping it. We prioritise safety, dignity, and everyday comfort—especially for those whose needs are often overlooked. For us, care is both a process and a design principle.
Co-Creation
We don’t believe in designing in a vacuum. We co-create with communities, clients, and collaborators to ensure every project is shaped by the people who use it. This doesn’t mean endless workshops or token feedback—it means meaningful involvement, shared authorship, and lasting trust.
Transparency
We are open about how we work, what we believe, and what we’re still learning. We share methods, mistakes, and results so others can build on them. We use data thoughtfully, always grounding it in real experiences. We believe trust is earned through clarity, not polish.