Will Architects Exist in 2025

Will architects exist in 2025?1 of 4 http://www.architecture.com/NewsAndPress/News/RIBANews/News/... The RIBA Library, drawings and photographs What's on? Join the RIBA Regions and international News and press Find an architect Find out about... Awards Shop and room hire Education, careers and CPD Support the RIBA Search this site Search Guest login Member login Home / News and press / News / RIBA news / News / 2011 / Will architects exist in 2025? 2011 RIBA Building Futures debate: Is the value of design measurable? News feeds Will architects exist in 2025? RIBA Future Trends Survey results for January 2011 Housebuilders need to think outside the box Entries invited for the RIBA President's Awards for Research 2011 RIBA to promote British architects at MIPIM 2011 RIBA names eight new International Fellows RIBA Presents 12 new Honorary Fellowships Sir David Chipperfield receives the Royal Gold Medal Will architects exist in 2025? 15.5.2011 9:18 Will architects exist in 2025? 2 of 4 http://www. Date: 25 February 2011 Press office contact: Mina Vadon T: +44 (0)207 307 3761 E: mina.2011 9:18 [email protected] 15.5..architecture..riba.com/NewsAndPress/News/RIBANews/News/. and its consequent creation of an employment bubble. Our cities have seen radical change. Some practices have already created offshoot companies with a separate identity and different branding to their main practice avoiding use of the title ‘architect’. branding and community consultation. and by the popularity of television programmes on architecture. yet still have a significant role in affecting the built environment. Chair of Building Futures said: “This report seeks to stimulate a discussion about the challenges and opportunities which architects in the broadest sense face.. The combination of lottery funding.2011 9:18 . has tended to obscure the continuing changes in the construction industry that creates the context in which architects work. exploding information technology capability and cultural confusion. Setting out a radical vision for the future. In many cases. leading to a polarisation of practices by size. Dickon Robinson. “However. a dearth of work in the UK.Will architects exist in 2025? 3 of 4 http://www. The greatest threat was envisaged for medium sized practices. and global interdisciplinary consultancies for their ability to quickly complete different scale projects at low cost. according to a new study by the Royal Institute of British Architects' (RIBA) think tank Building Futures.buildingfutures. Most now boast examples of exemplary contemporary architecture. in order to reach more diverse markets and branch into areas such as lighting design. enabling them to keep up with advances in technology. industrial design.architecture. However. Speaking today. interior design. and many have been transformed by architect designed residential towers and retail developments. installation design. in the hope that the ensuing debate will put them in the best position to succeed. Amongst those interviewed there was a call for architects to ensure they could navigate the dramatic changes taking place within the profession. the architects' practice could become far more nimble by reducing to a very small core group with established links to a range of cutting edge technological consultants.uk 15. and projects the evolution of these trends into 2025 by questioning: Who will design our built environment in 2025? What role might those trained in architecture have in 2025? How might practice change by 2025? The study looks at how architects practise now. The demise of the mid-sized practice. a number of small practices felt that working abroad was not a viable option for them. For perhaps the first time the public perception of architecture has been informed by direct experience of well designed buildings large and small.com/NewsAndPress/News/RIBANews/News/. this prompts the question whether the RIBA might need to consider evolving the 20th century definition of what it means to be an architect in order to fit better with the broader 21st century reality of the profession. Fortunately it is clear that many young graduates see nothing but opportunity in these extraordinary times.. programming and skills by having access to the best practitioners in each field. and establishing a talent pool for each office. Architects are not alone in needing to respond to the impact of a globalising economy. 'The Future for Architects?' examines how the demands of a global economy and economic recession have transformed business practice. Students and graduates echoed these concerns. or whether the title should be used at all. However in the face of a continuing erosion of traditional architectural skills to other players.” The Future for Architects? report can be downloaded at www. The decline in demand for architects’ services in the UK (dropping 40% since 2008) highlights how the UK’s finite market has pushed architects with larger scale aspirations to look overseas for work. particularly by improving their financial literacy and ability to offer a service that embraces the client’s broader aims and goes beyond ‘building a building’. and predicts how this could change in the future. “The past fifteen years have been particularly interesting. One of the top issues highlighted in the study was how the label 'architect' is perceived to hold practices back in terms of the type of work they are able to do. the profession seems peculiarly vulnerable to a nostalgic backward glance at a bygone age in which the architect was the undisputed boss. One large practice felt that in the longer term future. who were considered likely to threatened by larger practices with an established commercial approach towards clients. the architects' profession could look radically different in 2025.org. Many practitioners are not ‘architects’ in the formal sense recognised by the RIBA and the ARB. and no more 'architects'. and saw the label ‘architect’ as restrictive and as creating a barrier between themselves and other professions such as planning and urban design. product design.5. Millennium euphoria and the global debt binge have been a great period for architecture. this burst of activity. if they are to be fulfilled it is important that our professional institutions work to create the conditions which will optimise their chances. larger practices looking to work effectively abroad are gaining local expertise by recruiting directly from local schools of architecture. Notes to editors For further press information contact Mina Vadon in the RIBA Press Office on 020 7307 3761 or email mina.com/NewsAndPress/News/RIBANews/News/. and will feature contributions from the authors of the report: Dickon Robinson.riba. To reserve a press place at the [email protected]. Claire Jamieson.Will architects exist in 2025? 4 of 4 http://www. Founder and Director of Colander.org The publication will be launched officially at an event at the RIBA on Tuesday 1 March 2011. RIBA Building Futures. Top of page RIBA Trust's International Dialogue series brings together leading commentators to debate climate change Terms of Use Privacy Policy Contact Site A-Z Member login Social networks and blogs © 2011 RIBA 15.. and Caroline Cole.architecture. please contact Mina Vadon in the RIBA Press Office. John Worthington of DEGW. Chair of Building Futures at RIBA.2011 9:18 ..