TOTEM: Reconciling multi-level modelling with standard two-level modelling

•We characterise the design space for multi-level modelling solutions in the form of a feature model.•We provide a classification and comparison of existing multi-level modelling tools.•We propose a new conceptual approach to multi-level modelling, embedded within two meta-levels.•We realise the ideas in practice on a practical tool called TOTEM.•We report on empirical and analytical evaluations of the tool.