Pearce's design process begins with a study of the microclimate of the site where the building will be built. He studies what happens during different seasons with a strong focus on wind and sun patterns in order to construct a building that is site-specific.

The Eastgate Centre, an office and shopping complex in Harare, is a case in point. For the design of this building he studied the way in which termites build and regulate the temperature in their mounds. He employed a similar system of circulating air through a series of vents and chimneys in order to heat or cool the building instead of installing conventional air conditioning.

His work in China saw him designing an office block made from discarded shipping containers. The building is not only environmentally friendly but also addresses the issue of recycling millions of unwanted and discarded containers in the country.