I am a chartered member of the RIBA, though a rather disengaged one – which, judging from electoral turnout last time, makes me rather typical.

This year’s presidential election kicks off today and I wanted to take a moment before the rhetoric begins to reflect on what the institute is and what sort of president should lead it into its next, potentially very challenging, few years.

I have always thought that the RIBA’s charter was something that was worth supporting: “… the general advancement of civil architecture, and for promoting and facilitating the acquirement of the knowledge of the various arts and sciences connected therewith…”. In pursuit of this charter I have seen a lot of valuable, if not always well communicated, work going on at Portland Place.

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