Many of us will have approached 2016 with a list of things that we hope to achieve over the coming year. Making these resolutions will be little different from our constant search for better ways to do business.
Anyone responsible for shaping our built environment will know we face unprecedented challenges and that the way we did things in the past may not be the right solution in the future.
In recent months, Mother Nature has reminded us of our need for infrastructure and buildings that can withstand a changing climate. At the same time, the debate over London’s skyline has highlighted the need to balance the demand for more houses and offices with our collective vision for the city. How do we do this and ensure our effort is sustainable?
Research conducted by RIBA and others in recent years has underlined the importance of a collaborative approach. Architects, they say, have a significant role to play in shaping the towns and cities of the future but the most engaging spaces will result from the partnerships we create within the wider construction industry.
Chris Blythe, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Building, wrote in an introduction to a RIBA’s report, entitled Client & Architect: developing the essential relationship, that we all have a duty to look to future generations and ensure that our buildings and structures function well and are adaptable. “It is, ultimately, what should bind all those who work on a project to a common goal – site operative or financier, architect or construction manager,” he said.
Industry spokespeople agree that deepening the relationship between an architectural firm and its client will help to create a better built environment for all. Successful project teams are formed with architects who understand a client’s business, can unlock opportunities and build strong, lasting relationships based on trust.
Make’s studio in central London, which we opened almost a year ago, is the result of strong teamwork. We worked closely with our client and now landlord, Derwent London, to turn a basement car park into an innovative and stimulating workspace. When I asked Derwent’s Simon Silver about the experience recently, he said: “You’ve got to have a talented firm of architects but, without a strong client, the scheme might be lacking. Or you could have a terrific, passionate client but, without a talented firm, it wouldn’t work. So the two together is what creates great buildings.”
At Make, we have a charter. It lets people know what we stand for and it is the first thing they see when they walk into our studio. It states that each member of our team should be curious and explore the potential of every opportunity, rather than present our clients with an off-the-shelf solution. We also know that we have to ask difficult questions if we are going to bring the best buildings to life.
As the founder of the studio, I know that the relationships we have with our clients and collaborators underpin everything we do. And I believe that now we need to invest in these relationships. Our industry and our wider world are being transformed by technology, by the squeeze on our natural resources and by people’s ambition and choices. We don’t know what lies ahead. But we can be certain that the answer will be not be found by a single developer or architect working alone.
Ken Shuttleworth is the founder of Make Architects
