The future of architecture – Robert Lunn

Posted 05.06.2014

We asked ten architects – each of whom joined Make in a different year since 2004 – to write about how they see architecture and the built environment changing over the next ten years. Here is the third instalment.

I foresee architecture over the next decade continuing to be shaped by the recession that we are still emerging from. I believe architectural education will evolve, encouraging broader, more intrinsic links between students and the working profession, providing more opportunities to work within a practice (beyond the two year minimum requirement) and promoting greater engagement with others in the industry such as engineers, surveyors and clients. My hope is that this will reduce the financial burden upon students and encourage more people to consider a career in architecture, while also providing a greater variety of tutelage.

I see architects becoming more involved in educating the wider society about what we do and the value we bring to projects. I also see developments in mainstream and social media further encouraging architects to cultivate a wider discourse about how our public spaces, homes and offices are designed and constructed. Architecture will become more socially responsible, with architects developing designs that encourage users to gain more confidence in seeking buildings and spaces that they can adapt easily and efficiently. This will see architecture becoming more dynamic, with less large-scale new builds and a greater percentage of retention, refurbishment and adaptation schemes, such as our own 48 Leicester Square and St James’s Market projects.

I see developments in mainstream and social media further encouraging architects to cultivate a wider discourse about how our public spaces, homes and offices are designed and constructed.