diff --git a/.adr-dir b/.adr-dir
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..51c5f29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.adr-dir
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+docs/decisions
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..da4b14b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+# Quarto build outputs
+_site/
+.quarto/
+
+# R
+.Rhistory
+.RData
+.Rproj.user
+
+# Python
+__pycache__/
+*.py[cod]
+*$py.class
+*.so
+.Python
+venv/
+env/
+ENV/
+
+# Jupyter Notebooks
+.ipynb_checkpoints
+*/.ipynb_checkpoints/*
+
+# macOS
+.DS_Store
+.AppleDouble
+.LSOverride
+
+# Linux
+*~
+.directory
+.Trash-*
+
+# Windows
+Thumbs.db
+ehthumbs.db
+Desktop.ini
+$RECYCLE.BIN/
+
+# IDEs and Editors
+.vscode/
+.idea/
+*.swp
+*.swo
+*~
+.project
+.settings/
+.classpath
+
+# Logs
+*.log
+npm-debug.log*
+yarn-debug.log*
+yarn-error.log*
+
+# Temporary files
+*.tmp
+*.temp
+*.bak
+*.backup
+
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b92a47b..f40df14 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
-# architecture
-Technical architecture governance for SciLifeLab infrastructure -  ensuring interoperability, standards, and sustainable design
+# SciLifeLab Architecture Board
+
+Technical architecture governance for SciLifeLab infrastructure - ensuring interoperability, standards, and sustainable design
diff --git a/docs/decisions/0001-record-architecture-decisions.md b/docs/decisions/0001-record-architecture-decisions.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a20493
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/decisions/0001-record-architecture-decisions.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# 1. Record architecture decisions
+
+Date: 2025-11-25
+
+## Status
+
+Accepted
+
+## Context
+
+We need to record the architectural decisions made on this project.
+
+## Decision
+
+We will use Architecture Decision Records, as [described by Michael Nygard](http://thinkrelevance.com/blog/2011/11/15/documenting-architecture-decisions).
+
+## Consequences
+
+See Michael Nygard's article, linked above. For a lightweight ADR toolset, see Nat Pryce's [adr-tools](https://github.com/npryce/adr-tools).