The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published the findings of its Review of Architectural Competitions by a specially appointed Task Group after approval by the RIBA Council last month.
The RIBA Task Group concluded that the RIBA should actively promote good competitions and their benefits to clients. It made five specific recommendations in its report; to provide improved guidance and more choice for clients, open up opportunities for architects, and reduce waste through more efficient processes and use of technology as follows:
- Celebrate and promote the benefits of competitions for all types of buildings and structures – by demonstrating that competitions are good for all buildings and client ambitions and that they can help to achieve the beautiful ordinary, not just iconic buildings.
- Increase the quantity of well-managed, well regulated competitions – by investing in the growth of RIBA Competitions as market leader, greater engagement of potential clients with the assistance of newly appointed Competition Champions and developing new alternative processes to suit a wider range of clients.
- Provide new best practice guidance and support to clients – by providing guidance as to when and if a competition is appropriate as well as detailed guidance as to the most appropriate competitive selection process; and offering support from newly appointed Client Mentors in the early stages, who can help guide inexperienced clients through the process.
- Promote best practice and continuous improvement to processes –by adhering to best practice and reducing waste by limiting the amount of work required of competition entrants, providing guidance about the risks and pitfalls, making it clear that no architect will gain an advantage by doing more work than asked for and ensuring professional judges are suitably qualified and experienced.
- Improve the standards of other competition providers and private clients by working in partnerships with other professional associations, such as the Landscape Institute, RTPI, IStructE, ICE and RICS and potentially offering a service to promote non-RIBA competitions, provided they adhere to best practice.
The Task Group comprised clients, client advisers, architects and RIBA executives, and was set up by the RIBA in 2013 to review the use of competitions in the UK.
Martin Knight, Chair of the RIBA Competitions Task Group said:
“Good competitions offer valuable choices to clients and opportunities to architects, whether to younger or smaller practices or established firms. They encourage research and innovation, promote public debate and emphasise the value of good design but they often have an image problem, especially amongst practices which have been stung by poorly-run competitions, where the rules haven’t been transparent or fair and where the cost of wasted resources can be high. The introduction of an industry-wide RIBA championed ‘best practice standard’ with improved processes, additional guidance and support for clients at the outset of a project, will tackle the causes of this negative perception amongst the profession.
“We need to increase the quantity of good competitions and demonstrate to clients that they are good for all projects – to achieve the ‘beautiful ordinary’, not just iconic buildings. RIBA Competitions has a critical role to play in promoting best practice competitive selection processes.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Martin Knight, Chair of the RIBA Competitions Task Group and Linda Stevens, RIBA Head of Client Services are available by telephone to discuss the RIBA Task Group Review into architectural competitions. To arrange an interview time please contact Howard Crosskey in the RIBA Press Office: 020 7307 3761 howard.crosskey@riba.org
- The RIBA Task Group Review of Architectural Competitions is available to read and download here: http://www.architecture.com/RIBA/Competitions/Review/CompetitionsTaskGroupReport1.aspx
- To view case studies of previous RIBA Competitions from all sectors including Civic & Commercial, Culture & Leisure, Education & Health, Housing and Structures & Public Realm please visit: http://www.architecture.com/RIBA/Competitions/CaseStudies/CaseStudiesHome.aspx
- To hear previous clients discuss Competitions please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct0WxYggAI0
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members www.architecture.com Follow us on Twitter for regular RIBA updates www.twitter.com/RIBA
Posted on Tuesday 7th October 2014
