Statement of candidacy for election as RIBA President:
Simon Allford
A reinvigorated 21st century RIBA must address global climate change, health, poverty, education and architecture’s pivotal role in a post-pandemic society. We need to:
1. Influence clients and governments to support low-carbon architecture, addressing the dynamic relationship between embodied and operational
2. Collaboratively help lead environmental design in a post-Covid-19 world
3. Influence changes arising from the Grenfell Report in respect of responsibility, liability, authority, procurement and fees
To do this we need a leaner, focussed institute – The House of Architecture @ RIBA. This online and physical entity will:
• Be accessible to all – working harder on BAME and 50:50 initiatives, within the profession and in primary and secondary schools
• Support architectural education – at home and worldwide, to help international capacity to drive sustainable development and ethical practice
• Expand our base – embracing those who studied or engage with architecture, but work in other fields
• Engage with members – connect our talented UK and global membership via both our physical and online hubs
• Communicate – Architecture.com must become the free global portal to the House of Architecture @ RIBA, where ideas become knowledge: captured, stored and shared with members, public and government
• Promote excellence – through consistent awards organization and promoting a (post-OJEU) national competitions policy
• Influence public and private sectors – on climate change and professional matters
We will then become:
A meeting ground for ideas – hosting debates, lectures, exhibitions reflecting cultural and practice contexts, and celebrating members’ work at home and worldwide
A practice friend – helping members through the post-Covid economic downturn and enabling them to share ideas about professional practice and technical and regulatory change, regardless of size, scale and location
A 21st century professional institute – using today’s technology to help meet our charter obligations to advance architecture and to improve our towns and cities
These are aspirations worth commitment.
I will make that commitment.