To be or not to be...

An architect in the UK: The good, the bad and the ugly

Some people figured out early what they wanted to do in their life, and for the ones who wanted to #design buildings, their #career #path was an easy one to grasp: they wanted to become #architects and I was one of them, but little did I know at the time.

Growing up in a country where becoming an architect was quite a #prestigious, yet difficult title to score, I knew that I had to accept the lengthy training #pathway to qualify as one. At the end of the day, most of the #EU member states required an architectural license to sign off designs, since no building work could take place unless it has the architect's stamp on it. Therefore, I gradually started to unlock all the #RIBA levels, starting with a #BA (bachelor’s degree), then moving through a master’s degree and completing my training with a postgraduate diploma (Architecture #Part 3). All while undertaking practical training and working for several architectural practices along the way. At the end of these nine years of training, I could still not call myself an architect in the UK, unless I got my name on the Architects #Register. Since the title is protected by law, one can legally call themselves an architect only after registering with the #ARB (Architects Registration Board).

...it makes sense that that there is a legal entity to ensure architects act to a specific set of #professional #standards and in the best interest of the end user. But to what extent, since regardless of the #title, anyone can #legally undertake design work.

This sounds reasonable and it makes sense that that there is a legal entity to ensure architects act to a specific set of professional standards and in the best interest of the end user. But to what extent, since regardless of the title, anyone can legally undertake design work, hence anyone can provide architectural services, as long as they call themselves #architectural designers, #architectural #technologists, #technical designer, building designer and anything under the sun really, with no restriction whatsoever on the actual function of the architect. Call me naïve, but wouldn’t the #protection of the architect’s #function be better suited?

Come to think of it, was it worth going through this #lengthy and #expensive #professional #training only to discover there I might have done without? And why hasn’t this been discussed at length in the architecture school? I must confess that I did not know about this when I started my academic training, having been under the impression that I needed to become an architect to have full design powers and progress in my career. Truth to be told, I was not the only one deceived, my colleagues sharing the same opinion while struggling to pursue this not-so-sustainable career – when considering the amount of money and time required for education added to the high odds of repaying #student #debt with the stagnating architecture #wages. Therefore, I wish there were a disclaimer when signing up for the architecture #school to make it clear that by getting an architectural #degree does not make you an architect and you do no not need to be an architect to provide architectural services in the UK.

The numbers speak for themselves and according to the RIBA, only 6% of new #homes built in the #UK today are designed by architects, with the rest of 94% being designed by anyone else. So, out of 17 houses, only one has been designed by an architect, yet most people would find hard not to link the architect to the job – it must have been the architects, right? Unfortunately, it has not, since it is widely accepted that anyone can submit plans to the council, since the #Local #Authorities would make sure that only a ‘good design’ that is impacting the community in a positive way is permitted, while #Building #Control deems a design suitable if it meets the minimum standards of #safety. Yet, none of these decision makers possess the skills of an architect, since very few architects work in the public sector nowadays, with some councils having no registered architects on board. Gone are the days when the councils had an in-house team of architects to promote a #high #quality and #sustainable built environment.

Some may argue that chartered architectural technologists could just do the job of an architect, since they are also trained to offer design services, are bound by a #Code of #Conduct, and carry #PI insurance. Although they may have specialist technical knowledge for developing and overseeing the designs through realisation, they lack the holistic and critical approach of an architect, whose role is more design-oriented and caters for both the visual and utilitarian aspects of a building. Not only an architect possess technical design skills and have knowledge of buildings and construction, but is also able to look beyond the physical #boundaries to shape the design considering the wider social and cultural context. Hence, an architect adds value by improving people’s life through #aesthetics and functionality, improving the overall quality of life, remaining objective in serving both the community and the environment. It is true there are also highly #skilled architectural designers who just do not have the title, who may as well overpass the experience of a qualified architect, but the difference lays in the accountability and the level of responsibility that comes with the title. Since an architect is expected to hold adequate #Professional Indemnity #Insurance and provide a certain level of professional services, their fees cannot go as low as a non-registered architect. As a result, architects might #struggle to secure #commissions, ending up in lowering fees to a competitive level only to stay on the market.

Despite my bittersweet relationship with architecture, I believe the #role of the architect and the value they can bring is priceless, especially when engaging with an architect that understands what drive their #clients commercially, so they can act upon it in a way that goes beyond the short-term #financial returns. Engaging with someone appropriately #qualified, experienced and insured is needed more than ever in the current economic climate, so improving public awareness of the benefits architects can bring is key to a safer and sustainable #future.