Built environment research frequently reveals tensions around issues such as intensification, environmental degradation, climate adaption, community engagement, heritage preservation, or housing affordability. However, such discussions often overlook another crucial aspect of city-making processes: ethics. This paper focuses on the ethical practices of architects as key actors in this process. We are informed by insights from architects in practice as well as theoretical works from architectural theory and ethics of care to critically explore the values of architects working in the field of urban development. Drawing on Joan Tronto and Julie White’s exploration of care and justice as frameworks to understand and negotiate conflicting needs and rights, we advocate for a paradigm shift from competition to care. Incorporating Amanda Yates’ scholarship on mauri-ora and immanence ethics, this shift enables a deeper comprehension of the intricate relationships between individuals, communities, and their environment, challenging the prevailing narrative of competing urban interests. By prioritising care and embracing diverse perspectives, including indigenous and local knowledge systems, we propose strategies to navigate ethical dilemmas inherent in urban discourse. This study presents data from an empirical study of architects’ approach to ethical practices, to address a fundamental question: Who are Architects Designing For?