RIBA declares turf war

The RIBA is accusing Arb of muscling in on its remit to promote architecture, adding that it has “serious concerns” about the way it carries out its business.

RIBA president Angela Brady recently wrote to Arb chair Beatrice Fraenkel warning off the registration body from stepping on its toes, which Brady said was “undermining and overlapping with the role of professional bodies such as the RIBA”.

Although the letter was signed by Brady, a number of RIBA senior staff are thought to have contributed to it, including executive director of professional services Richard Brindley and incoming president Stephen Hodder.

“The recent Arb ebulletin gave us serious concern in the way Arb now refers to registrants as ‘members’ and talks about ‘flying the flag for architects’,” Brady wrote. “The Arb is not a membership organisation and therefore does not have ‘members’.”

She added: “It is not appropriate, or we believe lawful, for the Arb to encourage architects to use ‘Arb’ as a professional qualification affix, to develop the register into an on-line directory which you are encouraging registrants to use as a marketing tool, or to attend consumer shows to promote the business of registrants.”

Last week Arb relaunched its website, which includes the register, to make it more consumer friendly. But chief executive Alison Carr brushed off RIBA’s fears. “The register is for consumers rather than architects,” she told BD. “It’s about making the register more accessible and providing consumers with an informed choice.”

Hodder has proposed that senior figures from both sides meet quarterly to discuss concerns. This will be voted on at an RIBA board meeting later this month.

“It was right to write the letter,” he said. “But I think it’s important we have regular dialogue on issues that might concern each organisation.”

The Arb was due to discuss Brady’s letter at a board meeting today.