Since my last entry, I have started considering why the general culture in an architecture practice (at least the ones I worked at so far) is to be reactive rather than proactive. I found that architecture firms typically wait for clients to contact them about projects. I decided to ask the equity partner at my practice whose team I work under about the process of acquiring jobs. He revealed that the practice usually aims to join platforms that have a range of architects and clients together. The idea is that projects get advertised on such platforms and a bidding process begins between us and other architecture firms trying to win the job. It reminds me of the image below where the fish represent the architecture firms and the man represents a potential client.
As a student in training, this is not a great model to follow. I don’t feel inspired to pursue a career in architecture if this is really the way projects are acquired. I couldn’t help but wonder how else the conversation could go. How can architects get more involved in the discussions between the council and developers? Can we involve locals in those conversations? How can architects truly add value to the communities we design for, instead of simply following our clients orders?
My growing interest in collaborative placemaking and the practice of co-designing with stake holder communities has led me to find alternative ways to learn about the role of the architect. In his book, 20/20 visions, Charles Campion talks extensively about case studies that he has worked on, and how the role of the architect is starting to be redefined through them. The book has been very inspirational to say the least. At the ‘Charrettes - best practice for 21st Century placemaking’ (an event I attended in March 2019), Charles advised me to start participating in local charrettes for regeneration schemes, but more importantly, to start thinking of what I could offer my local community. I took his advice and decided to get active in the regeneration of Erith (a town I’ve lived in for 10 years). Below is a brief summary of the process and how I plan to be involved further.
In 2019, following the successful bid of a further £1.6million from the Good Growth Fund (by the Mayor of London) in addition to a £4.2 million capital expenditure from Growing Places Fund Programme, Bexley council has revealed more long-term plans to develop Erith town centre. As a result, the Bexley Local Plan dated February 2019 outlines land use proposals within Erith, which includes areas suitable for residential, industrial, and town centre developments. These influx of funds between 2016/17 and 2019/20 are aimed to kick-start the next phase in the council’s ambitions for the regeneration of Erith town and amplify its contribution to London’s plans to tackle the housing crisis by providing sustainable quality homes and places. As stated in section 1.4 of the Bexley Local Plan, Erith is one of the fastest growing towns in the borough thus it aims to implement a sustainable growth strategy for the sectors stated above. The strategy aims to use the development of the town centre as a catalyst and template for further growth in the years to come with the aim of repaying back the loans by 2025/26.
Going Forward:
I will be researching more into the items outlined in the Bexley Local plan with the hope of finding an avenue to contribute to the regeneration of the towns in the Borough; particularly in Erith because I've lived the for the last 10 years. All in all, I am starting to realise that I can't get the fulfilment I desire by only working on the projects I am appointed to at BPTW. I understand that I am still a Part 1 Assistant who probably should be more concerned about becoming a better designer/drafts-man. The question I still have though, is... how can I become a 'better designer' if I still don't truly understand who I'm designing for?
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