I have written before about the communication disconnect that I think lies at the heart of the relationship between developers and architects, writes Martyn Evans, chief executive of Uncommon.
Other than in design team meetings, I simply don’t known when architects and developers ever meet? At some of the 350 events that take place during the London Festival of Architecture? At MIPIM UK? I spent an entire day there last week and saw only one architect I knew.
When the need for these key partners to speak the same language is more important than it has ever been in order to solve the problems that face our country, what are we going to do to create some common ground?
Catch them while they’re young, that’s what because the lack of shared interest starts early. How many architecture students learn to run a development appraisal? And how many student surveyors tour the Stirling Prize shortlist to understand the contribution that great design can add to a project’s value? Very few I’d guess. And it’s surprising because, particularly now, young architects and developers have so much in common.
For the first time in a long while both groups are experiencing the kind of problems they are in business to solve – can’t afford the deposit for a flat; can’t afford the price of a flat even if you can raise the deposit; can’t live anywhere near where you work; can’t find a place to live that is remotely inspiring. In sharing these problems, there is so much for both sides to offer each other in finding solutions. To do that, they have to meet, make friends, understand each other and share ideas.
To that end, I have joined forces with Jane Duncan, president of RIBA, to found YADA (Young Architects and Developers Alliance) – a new organisation to provide the opportunity for young professionals from both sides to meet, get to know each other and talk. It will start as a quarterly series of networking events for architects and developers under 35. Each event will be held in a development site and will be jointly sponsored by a developer and an architect – the first, on 24 November, is sponsored by U+I and Pilbrow & Partners who are collaborating to develop the venue, 8 Albert Embankment, in London.
The first series of events will simply provide an environment where the 500 or so young professionals can meet. We have plans, though, to develop it into a learning and professional development programme focused specifically on supporting the collaborative nature of the development and architecture industries.
So, what can you do to help? Tell all the young people you work with to sign up for a ticket. It will only work if as many people as possible engage with it. It’s easy to sign up by clicking this link: https://yadalaunchparty.eventbrite.co.uk I am also enlisting help by asking senior representatives from both development companies and architects’ practices to join Jane and I in running the bar and staffing the event. For the evening, we’ll be working for our young colleagues.
Aristotle (I’m aiming high…) said: “Good habits formed at youth make all the difference.” By focusing on the young people in our industries, YADA could add something significant to the vital impact we have in delivering the economic and social sustainability our towns and cities need so badly in these politically uncertainty times.
