20
VIEWS
Ley Hill – replacement home in green belt
WHAT DID YOU HELP TO ACHIEVE ON RIBA’S EXPERT ADVISORY GROUP ON FIRE SAFETY, IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING GRENFELL? This has been a huge part of my life since the tragedy, and I was frustrated that nothing really happened fast enough in terms of regulatory change, in our industry relationships, or even the naked profiteering which was exposed by the Grenfell Inquiry. However the effects of the honesty in the Hackitt report and the aims of the new Building Safety Act regime are far reaching, even though it will take a few years to settle in. The amazing work by collaborative teams working across the industry has been consistent, and game changing.
IS THE BUILDING SAFETY ACT RIGHT TO PUT THE ONUS BACK ON INDUSTRY FOR ‘SAFE DESIGN’?
The root cause of the Grenfell tragedy was complacency, by almost everyone, and now the industry is trying hard to adapt to the new regime. It needs more than that in my opinion – clients need to take
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their role seriously and stop cost cutting to maintain quality (in building you do get what you pay for), the procurement routes and contract forms need re-assessing, and people, not profits, need to be front and centre. However, I believe that without clear base-line prescriptive levelling from a good set of clarified regulations there will still be loopholes available to those who wish to find them.
WILL THINGS CHANGE FOR THE BETTER FOR ARCHITECTS IF A LABOUR GOVERNMENT GETS INTO POWER?
I would very much like to think so; certainly the Labour-run GLA has worked well to amend their requirements.
HOW HAS BEING AN ARCHITECT CHANGED SINCE YOU QUALIFIED?
The work as an architect is far harder, far more challenging and far more technical than it was, but architects love challenges and are excited by innovation, so perhaps we just need to be willing to advocate for
The effects of the honesty in the Hackitt report and the aims of the new Building Safety Act regime are far-reaching, even though it will take a few years to settle in
better fees and resourcing to support the research and creativity we all need now.
WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE TO PEOPLE LOOKING TO ENTER ARCHITECTURE? I would say it’s horses for courses: there are a lot of different skills needed in the profession, but you don’t need to be professors in everything. Find what will get you jumping up out of bed in the morning, and do that. For me it’s been an amazing, stimulating and exciting career. If that’s what you are after – great! Let’s talk.
ADF JUNE 2024
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