1 September 2026
Joel de Mowbray is the founding director of Yes Make, a regenerative design and build practice which saves high quality construction materials from going to waste.
Earlier this year, the company joined forces with interdisciplinary design collective, Resolve Collective, and architect (and Material Matters favourite) Material Cultures, to launch Tipping Point East in east London, a circular construction hub that aims to divert tonnes of material from going to landfill.
In this episode, we talk about: the importance of reuse in the construction industry; living on a former Dunkirk ‘little ship’; founding a new circular hub at Tipping Point East; working in the ‘wild west’ of industrial sites; how the team created its studio from materials they already possessed; owning Elton John’s old (and very purple) kitchen; the importance of public engagement in Yes Make’s practice; how the company ‘cooks with what’s in the fridge’; moving from Lambeth Council to start Yes Make; the challenges of reuse; being a ‘lost boy’ growing up; why bike mechanics saved him; learning from, and working with, his father; and how his relationship with his parents effects the projects he takes on.
And remember, Material Matters London runs from 15-17 September at UNLOCKED Shoreditch. It's free for trade but you must register in advance. You can find more information here: materialmatters.design/The-Fair
Find out more about Yes Make and Tipping Point East