Architects are not just designers; they are visionaries who can influence the way in which we perceive and interact with our surroundings. They are catalysts for social change, bringing spaces, buildings and entire communities to life and directly influencing the wellbeing of the individuals who inhabit them.
In essence, outstanding architecture brings our spaces to life. Poorly designed architecture does the opposite. The role of architects in shaping communities has an incredible impact; our work touches every aspect of daily life and our designs can improve quality of life and enhance the social fabric of a place.
How do architects go about achieving this? Firstly, we need the foresight to create inclusive spaces that are accessible to everyone regardless of age, ability or socioeconomic background. Designing with inclusivity in mind ensures that public spaces, buildings and transportation systems serve all people, fostering a sense of equality and social cohesion.
Recent safety legislation has increased the spotlight on our profession. Architects are under more scrutiny, but this is a good thing as it helps to maintain and drive up industry standards which had previously fallen away. The Building Safety Act (BSA) 2022 now forces the BSA principal designer and contractor to manage building safety risks, with clear lines of responsibility during the design, construction and completion stages of all projects. This requires the submission of highly detailed technical design solutions – or drawings in old money – for tender. Encompassing everything from the layout of rooms to the materials used, electrical wiring plans and plumbing schematics, these drawings are important in ensuring that projects comply with relevant safety laws before any building work is carried out. Clients are obliged to part with more money up front to allow for this, ensuring that designs are of sufficiently good quality, and compliance is approved at pre-tender stage.
Prior to the introduction of this law, efforts to drive down build costs in recent years meant that design and build contracts became more prevalent, with only limited detail provided in tender drawings. This often resulted in poor quality design and, in the worse cases, non-compliant buildings – Grenfell being the most obvious example.
At Gradon, we understand the importance of creating buildings and infrastructure that ensure long-term safety and security, which is why we provide BSA principal designer services as part of our offering.
We also acknowledge that community engagement is key; architects cannot expect to create spaces that benefit communities without buy-in from the people who inhabit them. We firmly believe that there has to be an emotional connection between the architect and the public. Only then can we ensure that our designs reflect the values, culture and unique characteristics of a locality, which greatly minimises the risk of creating designs that feel disconnected or out of place.
Architects may be designers, but we are so much more than that. Agents of social change, we shape and create environments that serve communities not just today but for many years in the future. In an uncertain world dominated by wars, vast technological change and sociopolitical instability, environments that foster a sense of connection and identity are simply essential to bring comfort to the people who inhabit them.
By Graham McDarby, managing director of GRADONARCHITECTURE
