About Us
Incremental is an ARB-registered architecture and urbanism practice with studios in Bristol and Carmarthen.
We practice architecture differently - combining strategic design thinking with democratic values to build a fairer, healthier, low-carbon world.
As a registered worker cooperative, we meet the highest standards of democratic governance, shared socio-environmental values, and financial accountability.
We believe in fair distribution and a shared commitment to where we work. Our constitution channels 100% of our net operational surpluses directly into local community led projects and natural construction research, this way we turn our studio's success into a permanent engine for the public good.
Our Team
Charlie Palmer
Co-Director & Principal Architect
Bristol & South West
Adaptive Reuse & Community Strategies
Charlie founded Incremental in 2020 and leads the architectural vision for all our projects. With a talent for distilling complex briefs and sites into imaginative, joyful, and practical spaces, he approaches every challenge with care, optimism, and ambition.
Before establishing Incremental, Charlie was a project architect at the Norman Foster Foundation, where he contributed to the Odisha Liveable Habitat Mission—an award-winning participatory urban development program recognized with a UN Habitat Award. His experience also includes working with some of London’s most respected architecture firms, including Hawkins\Brown and S333 Architecture and Urbanism, where he focused on housing and urbanism projects.
In 2022, Charlie was honored with the RIBA Rising Star award, a prestigious recognition given to architects making a meaningful impact on the built environment.
Beyond his practice, Charlie is committed to architectural education. He teaches at Oxford Brookes University and actively contributes to the RIBA Educational Development Group, shaping the future of the profession.
Sam Carew
Co-Director & Sustainability Lead
Carmarthen & Wales
Collective Housing & Ecological Performance
Sam joined Incremental in 2023 and has since contributed to a diverse range of projects, from post-care housing to developing our Community-Led Retrofit Guide. As a certified Passive House Designer, he applies his expertise with meticulous attention to detail, overseeing projects from technical design and coordination through to on-site delivery.
With seven years of experience in designing low-carbon homes and retrofit projects—combined with hands-on work with natural building materials and timber-framed structures—Sam takes a holistic approach to sustainable architecture.
He holds a Master’s in Sustainable Architecture from the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) and has first-hand experience in self-building.
Having grown up in Carmarthenshire, Sam has a deep connection to Wales and its communities. He is passionate about fostering community resilience through collaboration and low-impact design.
Teaching
We run an undergraduate teaching unit at Oxford Brookes University. The unit works with live clients to engage students of architecture with real world challenges. Our aim is to train the next generation of architects to be able to better address the big challenges of their generation and become Change Makers.
Check out the student work on instagram: @unit_a_obu
Special Thanks
At Incremental we recognise that creating great buildings and places is a collaborative endeavour. Successes are born out of teamwork not individuals. We therefore want to say a very large but humble thank you to past employees, clients, stakeholders, collaborators and end users that have contributed to the Incremental journey over years. We simply wouldn’t be where we are today without their passion, experience and support.
Thank you.
Luka Honobe
Jason Skelton
Barbara Poczatek
Lucy Medhurst
Megan Gillespie
Hannah Sloggett
Wendy Hart
Niki Sole
Ruth Cuenca
Evelina Priedite
Work with us
Unfortunately we are not currently looking for new staff. Follow us on Instagram for future opportunities.
Please note that we do not offer unpaid internship positions.