All Opinion articles – Page 3
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OpinionGrenfell exposed the fatal flaws of design and build contracts
Design responsibility should not be forced onto the shoulders of builders, argues Tony Bingham
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OpinionCould the government’s curriculum review save the D&T GCSE and fix the green design skills gap?
A renewed focus on Design & Technology education is vital for equipping young people to tackle global challenges, write Rachel Bronstein and Matilda Agace
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OpinionBuilt environment professionals confront the enormity of the challenge ahead in Gaza
Emma Dent Coad on how Architects for Gaza is fostering hope in the aftermath of widespread devastation
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OpinionWhat next after the Office for Place?
With the closure of the Office for Place, questions arise about how to maintain focus on design quality, placemaking, and sustainability in the built environment, writes Ben Derbyshire
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OpinionA remedy for the high street: repurposing retail spaces into healthcare hubs
Transforming empty retail units into healthcare hubs could revitalise high streets, bringing accessible services to the heart of our communities while supporting sustainable urban regeneration, writes Jim Hart
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OpinionThe One in Which People Decide City Living is OK
Thirty years after the pilot of Friends, David Rudlin recalls how the sitcom’s portrayal of city living influenced a generation’s attitudes towards urban life
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OpinionTrump’s return: US architects brace for challenges over the next four years
From the possible return of neoclassical mandates to a threatened clampdown on immigration, Chris Fogarty assesses the potential impact of a second Trump presidency on US architecture
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OpinionFrom CABE to the Office for Place: why trusted advice matters
From quangos to taskforces, the government’s shifting approach to placemaking highlights one constant: good advice only works when it is trusted, writes Martyn Evans
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OpinionEmpty, decaying, at risk: Glasgow’s architectural heritage crisis
Alexander Thomson’s St Vincent Street Church has closed, the city is selling off a Mackintosh building to save money, and Victorian gems lie empty. Glasgow’s architectural heritage is at a tipping point, writes John Stewart
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OpinionWhy Labour may come to regret closing the Office for Place
A short-term decision framed as an efficiency risks losing the momentum on creating sustainable, people-centred places, writes Ben Flatman
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OpinionTrue placemaking is about so much more than just a numbers game. King’s Cross is a prime example…
The delivery of much-needed new homes requires patient, joined-up thinking that takes into account factors other than profit and speed, says former HS2 design director Kay Hughes
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OpinionIn defence of well-run competitions – and architects
Chris Williamson calls for procurement reforms that protect architects from exploitative practices, highlighting the need for RIBA-led guidance and fair compensation standards
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OpinionSaoirse Ronan has given us a timely reminder of the conversations we need to have
As public spaces continue to feel unsafe for many, it’s time to rethink how design can make streets and cities more welcoming for everyone, writes Sophie Thompson
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OpinionBalancing homes and green spaces: infill’s role in tackling the UK’s social housing shortfall
As infill housing reshapes council estates, questions arise about the loss of green spaces and amenities. Rory Olcayto advocates for infill and resident-led design as a way to meet housing needs while preserving community spirit
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OpinionWhat’s stopping us from designing for biodiversity?
As the construction industry grapples with embodied carbon, the impact on biodiversity is often overlooked, writes Anna Beckett
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OpinionThe missing business education in architecture: Why architects struggle to value their services
In an industry where fee undercutting erodes standards and stability, it’s time for architecture to embrace business education and defend the true value of its expertise, writes Nicholas Jewell
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OpinionWhy I finally quit architecture
Architectural veteran and leading podcaster Jason Boyle calls for industry-wide reform, highlighting low wages, declining autonomy, and financial instability as driving factors in his decision to leave architecture
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OpinionBudget 2024: “Invest, invest, invest!” Is increased investment enough to deliver on Labour’s housing pledges?
Labour’s latest Budget underscores investment as key to housing growth, but will the measures go far enough to tackle critical shortfalls in planning and local government support, asks Alex Govier
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OpinionBuilding back or holding back? What the Budget means for architecture
As Labour’s first Budget in more than a decade promises fresh investment, the sector must grapple with new tax burdens, ambitious spending pledges and lingering gaps in planning reform. Can the built environment industry expect genuine progress, or is this another exercise in managing decline?
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OpinionLabour’s opportunity: Releasing the potential of modular housing
The UK leads the way in the field of offsite housing construction. It is time for the government to have some skin in the game, Ben Derbyshire writes