We are in the age of bureacratic liberalism, and sadly so, the decision makers at the Royal Institute of British Architects are no different. Like most Imperial institutions, they evolved from a middle to upper class gentlemens society, and after the post war British Social revolution have morphed into a bureacratic liberist perveyor. They avoid any opinion neccessary to take action on essential matters - matters that could take the Architectural Profession into a new uptopic land, especially with there presence as a global dominanator; architecturally speaking.
Don't worry people please. For I am not like the majority of Architectural journalists; comparable to football pundits telling us what we already know or at the very least - should know. If I took Ruth Reeds place as President of the RIBA and replaced all her cronies, these are some of the matters I would firmly take foward and address.
Ruth Reed - RIBA PresidentI know she looks like a shy Maggie Thatcher, but lets not get personal about this. Its bang out of order.
(i) RIBA as political power in the global Architectural Profession.
What attracts certain Architects I wonder to become on the RIBA's board? For me, the system needs rethinking. Most of the current trustees CV's speak for itself, in terms of generic attitude for sitting on the fence and only appearing interested in self professional development. There is a certain breed of architect's that have a brilliant politcial conscience, but naturally these never make it to the trustees boards. We want interesting thinkers in architecture taking the RIBA foward. Being on the board should be alot more appealing, rewarding and acccessible.
Architecture is an immensley powerfull and versatile medium. Its interaction, engagement and involvement to prevoke and stimulate political thought are uncontested. In every political and social movement there is an architecture. From Nazism to the Village green movement there is an architecture. Good architects are usually brilliant thinkers. How can we accomodate it so that these are on the board and making the decisions.
(ii) Branding, image and awareness
Urban Salon - exhibiton at the RIBA 1995Branding is important in any trait. Architecture is a fascinating thing and the RIBA needs to reflect this. If it were rebranded away from a bureaucratic brand, built on the stones of imperialsim surely it would go somewhere new. The aoc, urban salon, FAT, Urban Splash, Free State; all very understanding and fresh private architecture organisations within London, what if the RIBA looked on its own doorstep for inspiration for branding and image? Surely it could go to an exciting place in 21st Century social culture.
(iii) Finance for education and profession support
The worst recession since the war and the profession has never looked so bad. RIBA has let us down. Refusing to comment and act on practices offering positions for less than the minimum wage, tripling the amount of architecture students in some schools, refusing to comment on neglect; enough said. Just where do all the fees go man?
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