Changing shape of practice: new roles for architects

In both architectural practice and education, budgetary and constructional reality as well as climatic and environmental context are often regarded as obstacles to good architecture, when in fact these constraints provide more context
to design with, giving opportunities to innovate, respond creatively and re- interpret architecture and the profession. Furthermore, society is also facing unprecedented local and global societal, climatic and environmental challenges, all of which impact on the making of space and architecture. Yet our reluctance as a profession to engage with these real contextual influences and challenges has contributed to wider reputational damage to the architect’s role (as well as loss of opportunities).
This article highlights that architects, when embracing novel ideas and
ways of working, often can forge new opportunities by reframing their roles, in response to the above described challenges. Based on discussions and talks at the "Changing Shape of Architecture Practice" conference.