Cambridge Architectural Research Ltd was set up in 1987 by seven researchers who were past or present members of the Department of Architecture in the University of Cambridge and the Martin Centre (the Department’s research division). The stimulus was the observation that many research ideas developed in an academic context fail to connect with real world problems where they are needed. CAR’s mission was – and is – to boost the contribution of research to the management and design of buildings and the built environment.

Since 1987 some of the original members have left and many new ones have joined, but the nature of the organisation has remained very much the same. It is a private consultancy set up as a limited company, owned by its members. It operates as a flexible, collaborative, multi-disciplinary group of experts, who form teams to tackle each new project that comes into CAR – team membership depends on the particular mix of skills required by each project.

The range of skills within CAR is very diverse. We have tried to classify them under [Services] but every project is different and some interesting projects cut right across the categories. Working with CAR’s associates and other specialists who collaborate on a project-by-project basis, CAR believes it can assist with practically all questions that might arise in relation to buildings and the built environment – especially questions that fall outside the typical professional boundaries.