Jeremy Till presents “Architecture is not Architecture is not architecture” in which he discusses the limited role of the architect, referring to the RIBA Plan of Work as a restrictive definition of the architect’s role, a way of controlling the profession and suggests it constricts the potential for changing practice. He exposes the ethics of the profession as ‘phony ethics’, and looks to ethics from outside the profession as the ethics of changing practice, with a need to look beyond the internal workings of architecture.
http://www.wmin.ac.uk/sabe/page-1005
shadow gaps on flickr

The Symposium draws to a close with a final question and answer session. In response to questions about what has changed since the last recession, Till discusses “the impoverishment of politics in the face of global capitalism”, whilst Harriet Harriss adds that the students of today will be at the forefront of redefining the profession. The question of trade unionism is raised, Till highlighting a conflict in the RIBA’s roles of both promoting architecture and distributing knowledge whilst protecting the function of it’s members. Harriet Harriss questions whether architects would be missed if on strike with so many other professionals ready to fill the gap. A final debate on whether architecture schools are teaching students about the realities of the forces that drive development closes the session and the day.

Thank you for reading so far, it has been a very interesting and thought provoking day. I hope these notes have proved useful and interesting. Please do check back for the summaries. Papers will be uploaded to architecture.com and I will link to these when available.