Negroni Talks #S12 - Fit For Purpose: Are Architects Built For The 21st Century?

Do we think that architects are fit-for-purpose in the 21st century? The world is seemingly changing at an incredibly rapid pace, with the needs of clients and society in a state of constant flux. Strangely, it seems that both practice and education remain largely static however, we now know that the manner in which we have been taught to be architects in the last 30 years, is maybe no longer good enough. Architects historically took on a ‘master builder’ role which saw the profession in a much more central position to the conception of the masterplanning, design and construction phases of building projects. This role has been sidelined in recent decades, with the architect becoming just another name in a long list of consultants, so should architects accept this diminished role and become specialists within certain areas of design, or should they try to defend their place at the top table of key decision making? Would the latter maybe include relinquishing control over those petty details that architects like to fetishise so much over, and instead focus upon the elephant in the room, which is a lack of business acumen, adaptability, political and financial influence. The background setting for many of these debates is the climate emergency, and a lot of students are coming out of university with little to no desire to build anything at all. Furthermore, it can be seen that having real influence and control within the building industry sits more with clients or project management and so many are moving across into these kind of roles. Will we see a brain drain from traditional architectural practice? How then do we produce architects that can set up more dynamic types of architectural companies/ businesses and what kind of architects would this need? How do architects lead more to bring about much needed change and determine a more progressive built environment? We must ask if we’re preparing young architects for a complex, ever-changing future and whether it is too late to teach old dogs new tricks for existing practitioners? Speakers: Karen Willey, Always Thinking (Chair) Nick Searl, Argent Lara Kinneir, London Interdisciplinary School Chris Williamson, Weston Williamson Amrit Seera, Vabel Daniel Poku-Davies, Ourspaceuk and all others who want to particpate…..