1 10 110 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/b0fcfac9e6f139e2e8ac17ce0cd5fed5.pdf 577a944c78106f7b1940ce6d30175673 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Professional Issues Description An account of the resource A cohort of NAM members became engaged with the professional registration body, standing as elected councillors on the Architects Registration Council and its various committees. Hitherto entirely dominated by the RIBA bloc, the Council began to yield to a new dynamic through NAM's involvement, enabling fresh perspectives on such issues as mandatory fee scales, greater lay representation on the body, ethically-based standards of professional conduct, etc. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter to AJ re more equitable forms of architecture from John Murray and DR NAM Central London Group Description An account of the resource The Editor The Architect's Journal 9 Queen Anne's Gate London SWI 9BY @ Sir: We welcome Hellman's letter arguing for more equitable forms of architectural practice. This contrasts with the findings of a report sponsored by the Association of Consultant Architects which conludes that the ills of architecture are @aused by there being too manyarchitects. Amoresearchinganalysismighthaverevealedthattherearenot enough patrons. The fact that the present patrons of architecture are rich and powerful individuals or organisationsisreflectedinourarchitecture. Thepeoplewhoarenotpatronsof architecturecompriseover80%ofthepopulation. Theremedyforthiswillnotbe architectural. Itwillonlybeachievedwhensociety'svalueschange. A paper was given on this subject at the Harrogate Conference of the New Architecture Movement. One of its conclusions was the need for a National Design Service. Since ; then the North London Group of NAM has been studying the practical implications of such ‘® a service, in conjunction with methods of achieving cooperative office structures. Any changes in existing practice must be set in the context of the need to expand resourcesinvestedinhousing,educationandhealth. Therecentexpenditurecutsseem torepresentanattempttoreducepermanentlysuchprovision. Forpeopleinclearance areas the question of redevelopment v. rehabilitation Is being replaced by the fear that they will never secure a decent home. The current direction of resources into non-resident controlled housing associations is no substitute. Itmaybringworkandprofitstoprivatearchitectsandotherprofessional groups, but it is at the expense of working people. We believe that any new form of architectural service must include a formal mechanism of local control through which architects are accountable, not only to thelr clients, but tothosewhoareaffectedbytheirdesigns. Onlyinthiswaycancompetenceandquality of service be measured. Although we would encourage co-ownership in architects offices, it is clear that without local accountability such a development would merely extend professional elitism and allow a wider distribution of profits within the profession. The New Architecture Movement Central London Group 10 Percy Street London W | Tel: 01 580 2621 4 March 1976 pee The Editor The Architect's Journal 4 March 1976 In our opinion, the basis of a National Design Service already exists, albeit in a very inadequate way, in the service provided by local government offices. At present access to local authority architects is restricted to the spending committees whoselinktothepeopletheypurporttoserveistenuous. ThearchitectsInvolvedare solelyresponsibletothesecommitteesandthenonlythroughtheirchiefofficer. This is unsatisfactory. The New Architecture Movement will press for the principle of a national design service In the form of small scale collectively organised offices, coupled to local accountability and control. Our initial work will be sufficiently advanced for this to be the main subject of our next conference in London at the beginning of May. Yours faithfully David Roebuck and John Murray Central London Group New Architecture Movement 10 Percy Street London W | Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource DR/John Murray Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Murray Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04-Mar-76 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/12acf13d732e62fd233099119b6b2f08.pdf 4d960860888cf5cf55e52b16f071e385 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Professional Issues Description An account of the resource A cohort of NAM members became engaged with the professional registration body, standing as elected councillors on the Architects Registration Council and its various committees. Hitherto entirely dominated by the RIBA bloc, the Council began to yield to a new dynamic through NAM's involvement, enabling fresh perspectives on such issues as mandatory fee scales, greater lay representation on the body, ethically-based standards of professional conduct, etc. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Memorandum to Unattached re forthcoming elections for 1989-90 Subject The topic of the resource Memorandum to Unattached re forthcoming elections for 1989-90 Description An account of the resource Next year the 'unattached' have 13 places on Council and in order to make eure that an election will be held we require at least 11+ nominees. Before the next Council meeting on December 19dd, therefore, I require the follov:ing information from each of the nominees who intend to serve next year: 1 . A letter expressing willingnese to serve if elected a. A statement containing the following in not more than 200 words Date of admission to the register Architectural constituent bodies of which candidate i e a mergber (i.e. 1 unattached' ) Present professional poet and previous experience Committee experience Personal statement 3. Your nomination form ( due to be sent out shortly) with your signature, serial number and date only Your signature on two separate blank sheets of paper Please also note the following: A press ' conference' for the 'unattached' will be held at 11.00am on Wednesday December 1988 at 73 Hall am Street. The 'unattached' pre-meeting will there-fore be held from 10.00am on the same day. Any response you have had from the sample circulated in the summer should be brought along. The prees release will be based on the paper prepared in June by Torn Markus. The reaf30n for the 'unattached' numbere going down this year is related to the timing of RIBA reeigrmtions. See the enclosed correspondence between Bob Adams and Mike Jenks. Please also find enclosed copy letter from F E Paul and copy correspondence re the Profeseional Liability IRevie\iJ Study Team. Alistair Blamire 25 NOV 1988 Alistair Blamire BArch (hons) MArch Alison Blamire DipArch MArch ARIAS Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource A Blamire Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived JA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 25.11.88 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/c8185c525740ab62c1e609425bac4fda.pdf 64ba8a1b3a2ba6d5ec693bb6af9a4f14 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Professional Issues Description An account of the resource A cohort of NAM members became engaged with the professional registration body, standing as elected councillors on the Architects Registration Council and its various committees. Hitherto entirely dominated by the RIBA bloc, the Council began to yield to a new dynamic through NAM's involvement, enabling fresh perspectives on such issues as mandatory fee scales, greater lay representation on the body, ethically-based standards of professional conduct, etc. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Professionalism Subject The topic of the resource 9 page report on aspects of the professional in architecture Description An account of the resource ANNE DELANEY Cardiff NAM Group November 1976 PROFESSIONALISM CONTENTS 1 0 The "ideal type" professional 0 Area of controversy in the theory of professions. Disatisfaction with the profession o? architecture 40 Barriers to "positive" practice of architecture. 5. Professionalism as ideology. 60 Archi tecture re—located. Re—location of architecture illustrated, Conclusion. 90 References. 1. TYPE"' PROFESSIONAL Much has been •written about the "sociology of the professions" 0 From the mass of literature on the subject, three 0012B ecsentialg of the ideal type professional emerge. . a knowledge base. autonomy 3. service ideal 1 . knowledge' It is seen as a responsibliity of a professional to be• knowledgeable. large part of this professional knowledge is considered to come only from experience. Possession of this knowledget is seen to carry with it some degree of exclusivity, which is explained by the fact that the knowledge itselR is "exclusive" Or esoteric or specific to that profession. 2. autonomy This implies the professional's right be be judged by his/her peers were no planning control at all, there would be a great deal to scream about, and aesthetic chaos would reign. Just think of all those unimaginative clients you have had; just think of all those nol'Ä architects getting away with plain murder". (2) The professional's justification for •allowing only architects to get- away with plain murder, is the cl•åim to specialised knowledge outlined above. 3 9 service ideal The Service ideal is implicit in the professional t s supposed view of his work as a "vocation" or •n calling't o The •base for this "vocation" in architecture seems to be a combination . of what might be called evangelism, utopian vision, and social conscience. Another R IBM quote; "The obj ect (of architecture) is to demonstrate that ordered human activi ty• is wonderful that human life really is worthwiile and can become miraculous when developed, and that poverty of feeling and thought ig the real evil and tthe root of econimic poverty" 0 (3) The second arm OE the service ideal is the supposed vi al truism of professionals. This altruism is said to take several forms professionally. The first is non—comercialismo RIBAJ quote nog 3: "The essence of professional practice is service; profit, if there be any, should always take second place in the motivation". (4) The second form altruism is said to take is that of disinterestedness, balancing the "often contradictory demands (of clients) by maintaining a rigid, and often detached, professionalism" 0 (5) Altruism is further seen as necessary in enabling the professional to be advocate of the "long term View'% Quote; "The battle i'g to persuade or force someone who has a partial view to accept that there are overall considerations which must averride his requirements. it is a in these sorts of terms that "professionalism" is discussed in sociological theory. 2. AREA OF CONTROVERSY IN THEORY OF PROFESSIONS All this is not to suggest that such a discussion is purely academic or neutral. An area of controversy appears to exist around the subj ect, and two main themes or viewpoints about professionalism emerge. first I've termed "POSITIVE", the second "NEGATIVE". 1. First the "positive" What are some of the defences of professionalism? To put it crudely who thinks professionalism is a "good" thing, and why? early defend(rof professionalism was Emile Durkheim who considered "that the break—up of the traditional moral order initiated by the fragmenting division of labour, would be rectified only by the formation of moral communes based upon occupational membership". The function of the professions was, he believed, to bring cohesion to a society "lacking in stability, whose discipline it is easy to escape, and whose existence is not always felt". He saw the professions as distinct from industry and trade, where "individuals, while connected by competition, (were) almost entirely removed from the moderating effects of obligations" (6) In 19219 R H Tawney was saying that we lived in an "acquisitive society" where community interest had been almost entirely subverted self— interest 0 He saw professionalism as the "major force capable of subjugating rampant individualism to the needs of the community". (7) It has been suggested that professions are to be distinguised from other occupations by their "altruism", which is expressed in the service" orientation of professional people. A 1939 argument against state control ran as follows: "(Individualism) may mean the belief that the individual is the true unit of service, because service depends on individual qualities and individual judgement supported by individual responsibility which cannot be shifted onto the shoulders of others. That is the essence of professionalism, and it is not concerned with self—interest but with the welfare OE the client" (8) Talcott Parsons, too, held the view that professions are activated by the cormon good, and could be dis t inguised by their "collectivity orientation rather than self—orientation". He took this as an assurance that "science would be applied in the service of man". (9) As recently as 1970t Paul Halmos has written about the "personal service society", with professionals as "the leaders in the creation of a new moral uniformity, a moral order influencing all industrial societies, whatever their political structure" 0 (10) In this context, the professions are seen as one of our most effective counter—revolutionary forceso In 1933 Carr—Saunders and Wilson were claiming that the professions "inherit, preserve, and pass on a tradition • they engender modes of life, habits of thought, and standards of judgement which render them centres of resistance to crude forces which threaten steady and peaceful evolution . the family, the church, and the universities, certain associations of intellectuals, and above all the great professions, stand like rocks against which the waves raised by those forces beat in vain". (11) 2. What about the "negative" viewpoint? Who thinks professionalism is a "bad thing, and why? Max Weber did not distinguish much between the consequences Of profes— sionalism and bureaucratisation seeing both processes as expression of the increasing rationalisation of Western ciVi1isationo The professional, as technician or expert, was caught up in the bureaucratic machine, his/her function being to bring "knowledge to the service of power?? • (12) C Wright Mills feared that the professions were increasingly succumbing to what he termed a "managerial domiurge" • "Much professional work has become divided and standardised and fitted into now hierarchical organi— sations intensive narrow specialisation has replaced self—cultivation cmd wide knowledge successful professional men become more and more the managerial types". (13) Michael Young in "The Rise of the Meritocracyt has argued that the fusion of knowledge and power has created a new kind of professional—technocrat who is in process of replacing existing ruling groups. This has been termed the "managerial revolution" and it has been suggestdd that this revolution consists of a "drive for dominance, for power and privilege, for the position of ruling class" by managers and professionals. 3.0 DISSATISFACTION WITH PROFESSION OF ARCHITECTURE This begins to describe the theory of professions, but what about the practice as opposed to the theory? How does this theory manifest itself in practice? Peter Shepheard, in his introduction to Malcolrn Mac-Ewen's book t Crisis in Architecture' gays that architects "seem oblivious or even contemptuous of the fact that much of their work is hated by the poeple who live with it. They tend to accuse the public of lack of taste for not appreciating the formal qualities of brutal and inhuman buildings whi h one can only assume to have been built for the admiration of other archi tects. Nothing is more urgent for the future of architecture than that architects should develop a deeper sense of responsibility as the creators of large parts of our environrnentqc (15) Malcolm MacEwen says "if architects have used human needs as a camouflage for other motives, and have succumbed to mechanistic fallacies, they have been almost alone in tending to see their buildings in a human and social context rather than, . as the other design professions, as technical solutions to technical problems. There. remains in architecture a solid, core of able men and women who want to serve society, if it will let themj and have useful skills for doing (16) This seems to be borne out by Alan Lipman's findings in his analysis of "architecural belief systems" that "architects tend to place the satisfaction of human need at the centre of their professional objectives"' (17) We could think of Alan Lipman t s architects as potentially opitomising what I have called the "positive" view of professionalism. How they? can we explain his findings in the light of evident current dissatisfaction with the architectural profession? Architects purporting to support the 49positivect view of professionalism 9 when their theory does not find expression in their practice, c•on be explained in a mumber of ways. 1 . Their proclaimed aggreement with the ."positivett view is a convenience which allows them the privileges afforded to professionals by virtue of, their supposed "positive" aspects, William Goode has described the process of professionaliéation as a series •of bargains struck between an occupation and society; in return for increased social status, the occupation imposes restraints on the behaviour of its members in the public interest. (18) For instance, one of the advantages of being termed "professional" is, as I said th .earlier, the degree of autonomy that implies. Peter Shepheard has touched on this when he talks of architects building "for the admiration o? other archi tectset . And there are advantages in terms of status and power to architects setting themselves up as arbiters of taste. 20 Another explanation might be that architects might well be motivated by the"positive view of professionalism, but find barriers in the way of their bringing that view to bear on their practice. 4. BARRIERS TO "POSITIVE" PRACTICE OF ARCHITECTURE It would be a sterile exercise to attempt a guess as to what proportion of architects fall into each group It seems more constructive to assume that there are some architects who fall into the second category, and to look at some of the "barriers" they might encounter in attempting to put their theories into practice. The first barrier is the simple need to make a living. "I now question whether a big practice can over •remain truly professional. big fish needs lots to feed on, and I know how desperate a matter it can become to cover overheads and maintain prestige work teams" 0 (19) second barrier is the imposi tion of statutory constraintso Malcolm MacEwen has said "In the public sector, governments have deliberately depressed standards — of accommodation, services, facilities, landscape, and design through ruthless use of the armoury of controls at their disposal 0 The architect's job can be reduced to, a dehumanising exercise in cutting costs and already low standards". (20) A third barrier is the profit motive. MacEwen again: "the biggest and most important jobs in development work rarely go• •to the "best" architects. They go to those who can satisfy the criteria . of the public or private developers, who, need a professional service, but may not require a sense of responsibility to those who live in or use the buildings, or a high level of design skill, or the determination to achieve a reasonable standard of quality for all the users. Architects who practice in the private sector confirm that the aim of the developer is the maximum exploitation of the site but this has important implications for the choice of archi tecto (21) Quote from Owen Ludor: n In comercial development, the most successful architects are those who understand property values and the mechanics of property development, as well as a clear appreciation of building costs. ffhough the archi tect's ability to produce "good architecture" had been relatively unimportant in the past, this had changed because good design and environment (my emphasis) help to sell the scheme" (22) Barrier 4 can be called the bureaucratisation of the profession. The Bains report on management in local authorities spelt it out — once the architect has reached "middle management, he/she must abandon architecture if he/she wants promotion. (23) Gordon Wigglesworth, chief housing architect of the GLC, 1973: "It offers no encouragement to the man or woman whose talent lies in architecture, and it ensures that design is always entrusted to the least experienced, and that leadership passes into the hands of those who, from necessity or choice, have ceased to be practicing architects" 0 (24) Barrier 5 can be found in the contradictions presented to the profession by virtue of the growth in the number of salaried architects. Louis Hellman has described the "bitter resentment of the bureaucratic and hierarchical structure of the large offices" where salaried architects are O'reduced to the status of non—persons by such practices as being required to sign letters in the names of their chief officers, or by the crediting of designs on notice boards and press releases to the department or chief officer" 0 (25) 5 PROFESSIONALISM AS IDEOLOGY But underlying all these "barriers'% the root cause of the lack of correlation between theory and practice, is the relationship between architect and client the patronage system. Quotes from the RIBAJ: "To a frightening extent, the clients are certainly the masters, and I have yet to meet the architect who will gainsay a client". (26) "My employer, , the partner in charge, has a continuous battle with the representatives of corporate clients, who are generally motivated by expediency: we are always being pressed to work for short term. results or for easier administration" (27) But I don't want to talk, at length about the question "Who SHOULD be the patrons of architecture?" I feel that is an utopian question phrased in terms uhich suggest that the possibility for changing the system of patronage is at hand. Since the possibility for patronising architects depends on the possibility of gaining access to finance for the subsequent building operations, I would suggest that any substentit.re change in the system of patronage is not possible under capitalism. But that long story. To get back to the current plot; I want to talk about patronage in this paper because iC is a FACT of the present practice of architecture. So far my discussion of "professionalism" has remained within the realms of theoryø I have only discussed 'Vprofessionaligrncv as an ideology. To quote from Marx: "In the social production of their existence, men inevitably enter into definite relations, which are independent of their will, namely relations of production appropri ate to a given stage in the development -of their material forces of production. The totality of these relations of productoon constitutes the economic structure of society the real foundation, on which arises a legal and political superstructure and to which correspond definite forms of social consciousness.' The mode of production of material life conditions the general process of social, political, and intellectual life. It is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their social existence that determines their consciousness". (28) The discussion of "professionalism" as ideology corresponds to architects' "consciousnes I want now to begin to look at architects v n social exi stence" 6. ARCHITECTURE RE-LOCATED The most useful definition of professionalism I have come acress in this context is that elaborated by Terence Johnson in his book "Professions and Power" (29) This paper leans very heavily on Johnson t s book (most of the quotes in section 2 are used by him)' I have merely attempted to apply Johnson q s theories about professions generally to the architectural profession specifically, I will not attempt to justify the legitimacy of basing my arguments $0 completely on Johnson' work.. I would suggest reading the book and deciding for yourselves the legitimacy of such a move. Johnson defines professionalism as a TYPE OF OCCUPATIONAL CONTROL, the function of which is to resolve tensions in the producer/consumer relationship. He elaborates as follows: "Dependence upon the skills of others has the effect of reducing the common area Of shared experience and knowledge, and increases social distance 0 social distance creates a structure of uncertainty in the relationship between producer and consumer, so creating a tension. in the relationship which must be fres01ved9V He defines three broad resolutions of this tension which are historically identifi able o 1. in which the producer defines the needg of the consumer and the manner in which those needs are catered fore He refers to this as COLLEGIATE control, and identifies two sub-types - PROFESSIONALISM, and GUILD CONTROL. 2 in which the consumer defines his own needs and the manner in which they are to be meto Three forms Qf this type of control are identified OLIGARCHIC PATRONAGE, CORPORATE PATRONAGE, and COT.NUNAL control. 3. in which a third party mediates in the relationship between producer and consumer, defining both the needs and the manner in which the needs are met. This type of control he refers to ' as MEDIATIVE, and under this heading he includes CAPITALISM and STATE MEDIATION. I would suggest that architecture has, moved out of the category of "professionalism". Potential for "professiOna1ismf' in architecture existed at the time when building trades were relatively homogenous. Building craftsmen, architects, and speculative builders between them exercised complete control over building operations, and there was certainly potential for them to define both the needs of the consumer and the manner in which these needs would be meto When architects separated themselves off from the other building trades, their potential for control, and therefore for "professionalisingV was lost. It is ironic that in striving to attain "professional" status, they eliminated the possibility of ever doing soo Architectural Uprofessional n ideology has taken on a life of its own. It exists without basis in the present "social existencd" of architects. Architecture has moved out of johnson's category of "professionalism" and ' into the category of up atronage'% alongside rennaissancé artists and craftsmen, or, more currently, the prostitute. In fact, the prostitute is on firmer ground than the architect, since demand for her services remains unaltered with fluctuations in the economy 6 I would argue that architects as; Johnson's "producers" no longer' if they ever did, define the needs of their consu;ners and the manner in which those needs are meto I would argue that today? s "consumers" of architecture define their own needs, and 7, to a very large extent, the manner in which these needs are met 9 for the reason that architectural '"consumers" (unlike, for example, "consujnerscv of medicine) are a small, powerful group o? individuals or corporate bodies with (necessarily for the n consumption" of building works) substantial financial backingo 7. RE-LOCATION OF ARCHITECTURE ILLUSTRATED To illustrate my contention that architects are more correctly defined as operating in the "patronage" category, I will outline Johnson's own charac— terisation of patronage as a form of occup ational control (chapter 5 of his book), and attempt to illustrate this in an architectural context where appropri ate 0 10 ti Pu11y developed institutiong of patronage arise where consumers have the capacity to define their own needs ax'. the manner in which their needs are catered for. In such cases the -inembers of occupations applying esoteric knowledge are themselves the "clients" having neither exclusive nor final resp . tnsibility for their services; ultimate authority in the assessment of process and product lies with the patron or patrons. This arises where the dominant effective demand for occupational services comes from a small, powerful, unitary clientele. This can occur where an aristocratic elite, sharing, cormon interests, monopolises services. Similarly, a patronage system can develop where a few large—scale corporations are the major consumers of "expert" services. Compare this with the way johnson talks about "professionalism" "only where there exists an effective demand for the occupational skills from a large and relatively heterogeneous consumer group can the institution of professionalism fully emerge 0 Consumers will normally have diverse interests; they are unorganisedt dependent, and exploitable" There appears to be no "effective 0 0 • o o demand" for skills from such large sections of the community, primarily, I would argue, since their demand cannot be effective without access to finance. 2. "Under patronage, recruitment is based on sponsorship 0 criteria for sponsorship are shared values md statuses; that is to say, the • "professional" shares the values and to some extent the status of the patron. Technical competence is not the sole or even a major criterion of evaluatione Rather, the practitioner is expected to be socially acceptable" 0' TLS Eric Fromm put it; "Personal identity takes on an exchange value as all are dependent their material seccess on a personal acceptance by those who need services and employ them". (30) MacEwen has said: "the most t successful r postwar practitioners were those who had no social or political conscience". (31) Louis Hellman tells the following story: "There' $ this I worked with — he wore. jeans, had long hair, in days when it was unheard of. What he didNas get rid of his drawing boarde All of us nerks lined up with our drawing boards, and he got rid of his and got a tablea I said, why do you want a table? He said, you come into a room, look at the drawing boards, where do you go to? You go to the bloke with the desk. TWO yea?s later. he's made a partner." 30 In traditional systemg of patronage, entrance to "accepted" and exclusive occupational organisations is severely limited, while a developed corporate system results in the hegemony within the occupational association of practitioners working for the more powerful corporations, whether as employees or consultants" 4. "Professional" practice, (under the patronage system) is not a continuous and terminal shared byo all. Rather, in oligarchic forms the practitioner seeks "preferment" which in the most successful cases loads tot "landed leisure", while the corporate practitooner can look forward to "plum jobs" on boards of directors. 5. 'professional': firm (under the patronage system) moves up the prestige hierarchy according to the size and influence of its patrons. The more big ac• ounts it attracts, the higher its prestige". "The homogeneous community which is characteristic of "professionalism" is deplaced by hierarchical forms of occupational practice and organisation. The architect and phsician under oligarchic patronage share to a limited extent the social position of their patrons. They rise in an occupational hierarchy throügh their association with more and more powerful patrons. Their prestige is social rather than narrowly and technically defined". I would argue that this is true of architecture — compare the status of Lasdun as architect, National Theatre as patron. 60 "The hierarchical fragmentation of. the occupation may even be systematically expressed and institutionalised as dual systems cf practice within a single occupation• The hierarchy associated with corporate patronage may also be rationalised by the creation of subordinate technical grades of practitioner, allowing for greater specialisation and the sloughing off of routine tasks by the occupation's leaders" 0 7. "Patronage systems are characterised by practising contexts in which the practitioner must know and. do what is expected of himo Under those conditions, knowledge tends to be local and basic research associated with the application of knowledge limited. The pursuit Of basic knowledge is stressed less than knowledge specifically related to the needs of the patrone A major criterion of theory vill be its applicability to patron needs" e Try substituting "architecture" for "accountancy" in the following quote: "The evolution of accountancy techniques has been severely practical. Individual accountants in the course of their duty, frequently come across problems peculiar to their particular branch of endean-m and apply their basic training to solve special problems. It is rarely that any one particular system or the variation of a system is adoptee-I by various firms facing the same problem, as each oncl every progenitor of a new method or technique in accounting prefers to utilise his own particular brainchild". (32) Johnson says: "This tendency is not a product of the accountsnt's peculiar individualism as a personality, but stems from an orientation to local problems deriving from a system of control of the occupation which is fundamentally patron—based" • 80 n Loca1ism also introduces an ethic of limited responsibility, contrasting with that of zrofessionalism — a situation in which the "professional" does not look beyond the consequences of his actions for the patron" Peter Malpass, in an RIBAJ article, has said that "there remains architects who would happily replace Durham cathedral with a multi—storey car park if the client wanted this and was prepared to clear the site" 0 (35) 90 "Such practitioners tend to be apolitical, where the expressions of political views or political action may embarrass the patron" 0 One of the Cardiff NAM group y who works for the local authority, has received a warning from his bosses about letters the group have published in the local press regarding the redevelopment of the central area of Cardiff. There must be many more similar cases. 10. "Theoretical knowledge is less important than knowledge which is applicable to the current practical needs of the patron. Practitioners are more likely to stress monist explanations which can be simply and immediately applied in policy o? therapy'% Johnson himself gives the following example: System design which allows for variations in structure within certain limits laid down by the basic system is related to the specific needs of a single corporate patron with large scale construction needs. The one—off t design related to the specific needs of a single 'client' is declining in importance as part of the architect's work" 80 CONCLUSION It is beginning to be understood that salaried architects are subj ect to a contradi ctiono Whilst architects are educated as if. they would all one day become principals in private practice, less than 20% of architects are currently in that position. "For the rest, it remains an ideal desire — the possible fulfillment of which is an enducement to work in a manner at logger—heads with it 0 The working class work socially in production for the private property of a few in the h2pe of individual private property for themselves" 0 (34) But it is not only salaried architects who are subj ect to contradiction. I would suggest that the concept of architecture as a "profession" holds only in the ideology perpetuated by the R IBA, the so—called •professional" body. I would argue, as I have said previously, that architecture is more correctly defined as operating within Johnson's characterisation Of "patronage" 0 "Ideology which looks backwards for its rationale is, nevertheless, crucial for the present: without it, people might hanker back to the past as a "golden age" ;once utopianism of any sort occurs 9 after looking backwards, it is liable to look forwards and thus endmger the status quoo The family (in this case, but try substituting "RIBA") thus embodies the most conservative concepts available; it rigidifies the past ideals and presents them as the present pleasures. By its very nature, it is there to prevent the future" (35) If we attempt to rid ourselves of this inappropriate "architect as professional" ideology, it would be interesting to monitor RIBA reaction. "The ruling class interests that pose, in the first place, as universal interests, increasingly decline into "mere idealising phrases, conscious illusions, and deliberate deceits. But the more they are condemned as falsehoods, and the less they satisfy. the understanding, the more dogmatically they are asserted and the more deceitful, moral ising and spiritual becomes the language of established society" — Karl Marx, The German Ideology. (36) 9. REFERENCES William S Bennett Jr., and Merl C Hockenstad Jr. , "Full time people workers a-Id conceptions of the professional", Sociological Review Monograph "årchitects at work" series, RIBAJ, Jan—Dec, 1972 20 30 ibid ibid ibid Durkheim, Professional Ethics and Civic Morals, 1957 70 R H Tawneyp The Acquisitive Society, 1921 8. quoted in T J Johnson, Professions and Power, Macmillan 1972 9 ibid 10. P Halmos, The Personal Scrv.ice Society, 1970 110 A M Carr—Saunders and P A Wilson, 'Ihe Professions, 1933 M Weber, Theory of Social and Economic Organisation, 1964 C Wright Mills, White Collar, 1956 M Young 9 The Rise of the Meritocracy, 358 P Shepheard, introduction to M MacEwen, Crisis in Architecture, RIBA 1974 160 M MacEwen, op cit 17. A Lipman, "Architectural education and the social commitment of contem— porary British architectsf% SociologicalReview, March 1970 18 • W Goode, "The theoretical limits of professionalisation", in Etzioni, ffhe Semi Professions and their Organisation, Free Press, New York, 1969 "Architects at work" series, op cit M MacEvenp op cit ibid O Ludor, quoted in MacEwen, op cit 23. Bains Report, HMSO, 1972 G Wigglesworth, quoted in AJ, February 21st 1973 L Hellman, "Democracy for architects", RIBAj, Aug 1973 "Architects at work" series, op cit 27 ibid K Marx, preface to Critique of Political Ecomony 1859 T J Johnson, op cit 13 Prom, The sane Society, 1956 M MacEwen, op cit 32a Stacey, Egnlish Accountancy, 1954 P Malpass, RIBAJ, June, 1975 Juliett Mitchell, Woman t s Estate, Penguin, 1971 35 ibid 36. K Marx, ffhe German Ideology, 1845/6 � Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource A Delaney Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived JA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Nov-76 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/2895628a145ebf2b3a19847a4f9174a3.pdf 8ed3360d0e16265ea4fdc77752863e02 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Professional Issues Description An account of the resource A cohort of NAM members became engaged with the professional registration body, standing as elected councillors on the Architects Registration Council and its various committees. Hitherto entirely dominated by the RIBA bloc, the Council began to yield to a new dynamic through NAM's involvement, enabling fresh perspectives on such issues as mandatory fee scales, greater lay representation on the body, ethically-based standards of professional conduct, etc. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letters Subject The topic of the resource Letters to K. Forder (ARCUK Registrar) and replies re issue of Limited Liability (16 pp total) Description An account of the resource 1 96 Albany Road Roath CARDEN K. J. Forder Registrar 73 Hallan Street LADON WIN. 6B 29 May 1978 Dear Mr Foraex• Thank you for your prompt and informative reply to my last letter re Limited Liability. i have discussed your letter with several of my fellow unattached representatives on A?-CUK and we would to make the following points in response to your letter of 13 1 • There does appear to be some conflict between the Act ana the Code on the issue of limited liability. We would like to see this anomoly corrected, and in order to do this several courses of' action seem to be available: could revise its •Code. A change in the Act could be pursued. ARCIJK could. acknowledge publicly the Eerhaps unpalatable fact that where the Code and the Act are in conflict, the Code is secondary to the Act. Point 2 above addresses the legal aspect of the conflict between the Act ana the Code, but what are the practical consequences of this? I . In practical terms, unlimited liability does not in effect exist whilst architects are covered by indemnity insurance 2.7/hi1st not supporting the usual argurnents put forward in favour o? limiting liability (ego the need for architcets to be able to work on a more comærcial basis) we would point out that. the drive for Etofit already exists in the current of a-na that limited liability has ærtain advantages in terms of., for example, the provisions made under Compeny Law for public accountability and access to information. Vie have said that, at ae facto limited liability exists through insurance. ARCUK should clear away any anonnlies. g should either ensure that liability in architecttme is EFECTiVELYPimitea, or acknowledge that it is not. It is unhealthy that mel±ers o? the public should think that, ana nzmbers of the profession argue that, architects have unlimited liability when in effect they do not. 5. The discussion in ARCIJK on limited liability should be based on the R3ALIQIES of current zwies of practice. To this end, we feel the following information should be made available to aid discussion: & inflormation on the scope, cost, ana availability of professional indemnity insuran ce • information on the differences between partnership company law, ege on issues such as public disclosure of information. Yours sincerely Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom ESTABLISHED UNDER THE ARCHITECTS (REGISTRATION) ACTS TO 73 Hallam Street London WIN 6EE Tel: 01-580 5861 in due course. Ms. Anne Delaney 196 Albany Road Roath Cardiff Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom Registrar: Kenneth J. Forder M.A. 13 April 1978 Dear Council Memb er, Limited Liability I enclose a copy of a letter I have today sent to the architectural constituent bodies of the Council. I do not know if the members of Council nominated by the Unattached have a corporate view on this matter but if they do, I shall be glad to have it. Otherwise individual replies will be collated for submission to the Council. Yours sincerely, Reglétrar Miss Anne Delaney 196 •Albany Road Roath Cardiff Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom ESTABLISHED UNDER THE ARCHITECTS ( RE Of" RATION) ACTS TO 73 Hallam Street London WIN 6EE Tel: 01-580 5861 Registrar: Kenneth J. Forder M.A. 13 April 1978 Dear Sir, Limited Liability At its meeting on 15 March, 1978, the Council accepted the following resolution "that all issues on policy regarding limited liability and unlimited liability should be clarified by inviting opinions from constituent bodies" The debate in the Professional Purposes Committee of ARCUK which originally submitted the recommendation was far ranging and appeared to call for opinions on policy from the profession as a whole. One hesitates to try to summarize the material which might be covered because on the one hand ARCUK would not wish constituent bodies to devote a disproportionate amount of time and labour to research, and at the other end of the scale there is need to avoid omitting important elements. Broadly speaking, one would expect any account in this field to cover four main sections: the extention of the architect's individual liability resulting from the decision in the Anns vs. the London Borough of Merton case; the economics flowing therefrom; and what compensating measures might be available including insurance and amending legislation; the service company as a limited or unlimited liability company; controlling abuse thereof; tax advantages of limited and unlimited liability companies seen as variables in the light of the Chancellor's budget annually; the employment by a limited or unlimited liability service company of the architectural staff of the practice; the implications thereof and whether the service company might then be regarded by the public as practis ing architecture; Section 17 of the Architects (Registration) Act 1931 and its implications; whether the prohibition on an architect practising as a limited liability company imposed by Rule 2.4 is merited; the consequences for clients if the rule were abrogated; whether benefit would accrue to architects; how the problems of monitoring and control by ARCUK might be overcome. Constituent bodies are asked to forward their views to the undersigned by 31 May, 1978. Yours faithfully, Regi st rar . . . /2 NOTES Section 17 of the Architects (Registration) Act 1931 as amended by Section 1 (3) of the Architects Registration Act 1938 states: 17. Nothing in this Act shall prevent a body corporate, firm or partnership from carrying on business under the style or title of Architect: if the business of the body corporate, firm or partnership so far as it relates to architecture is under the control and management of a superintendent who is a registered person and who does not act at the same time in a similar capacity for any other body corporate firm or partnership; and if in every premi ses where such business as aforesaid is carried on and is not personally conducted by the superintendent such business is böna fide conducted under the direction of the superintendent by an assistant who is a registered person. Rule 2.4 of ARCIJK t s Code of Professional Conduct reads: 2.4 An architect shall not carry on his practice in the form of a limi ted liability company.�196 Albany Road Roa€h Cardiff K J Forder Registrar ARCUK 73 Haller: Street LONDON WIN 6EE May 10 1978 Dear Mr Forder 1 am attempting to draft a response to your letter of 13 April re Limited Liability. However, before I can answer the issues raised under (a) to (d) 1 need clarification on the following questions: Wnat reference does the Act make to professional misconduct or Code of Conduct? Since no definition of professional misconduct' appears to be offered in the Act, what legal standing does any definition ..i%nplicit in the rules and principles of the Code of Conduct have? Would a legal interpretation of 'misconduct t in a court of law conform to that enshrined in the Code of Conduct? Has this ever been put to the test? Wnere, when, by whom, and on what criteria was the Code brought into being? Was recourse to the Privy Council made for the adoption of the Code? Has recourse to the Privy Council been made for any alterations or additions to the Code? in a situation where the Act and the Code might be interpreted to be contradictory, what legal standing does the Code have? Has the situation described in 8 ever been put to the test, i.e., has ARCUK f s decision on misconduct ever been appealed against in a court of i apologies for imposing such heavy demands on you but 1 would appreciate an early response since you have asked for replies by 31 May. Yours sincerely Anne Delaney (Ms) Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom ESTABLISHED UNDER THE ARCHITECTS (REGISTRATION) ACTS TO 73 Hatlam Street London WIN 6EE Tel: 01-580 5861 KENNETH J. FORDER, M.z 12 May 1978 Dear Ms Delaney, Thank you very much for your letter of 10 May. I think it might help if I reply immediately on the more straightforward issues that you raise, and I will write to you further on other points as soon as I have managed to carry out the research. I think many of your points are answered in the enclosed copy of a summarised history of the ARCUK Code, together with a copy of the first edition in 1936. The following are my preliminary observations on your questions: . The only reference to disgraceful conduct is contained in Section 7 of the principal Act (copy enclosed) . There is no reference to a Code in any of the legislation. I find myself in some difficulty here because of the wording you use. The Code has no 'legal standing' but it is a guide which the profession follows. Strictly speaking one can be guilty of disgraceful conduct without breaking the terms of the Code and conversely there are circumstances in which one can break the terms of the Code without committing disgraceful conduct . It is my view that disgraceful conduct has never been formally interpreted legally but I will look into this. 5. The enclosed history will tell you all you need to know. No. No. The question is a little too sweeping. If a situation arose where the Act and the Code appeared to be in conflict then clearly the Code would have to give way but only to the extent that the Act takes precedence. The usually quoted case where an appeal vas lodged to the High Court against a decision of the Council vas the Hughes v ARCUK in 1957. I enclose herewith a copy of the relevant passage from the Judgment. I will check whether there have been any other cases . Regtgfrät Ms Anne Delaney 196 Albany Road Roath Cardiff Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource A Delaney Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived JA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 29.5.78 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/0e34107cfb680a9d42f3487ce47a3f63.pdf 62facbff0a7ab776eba2988bed71d911 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Professional Issues Description An account of the resource A cohort of NAM members became engaged with the professional registration body, standing as elected councillors on the Architects Registration Council and its various committees. Hitherto entirely dominated by the RIBA bloc, the Council began to yield to a new dynamic through NAM's involvement, enabling fresh perspectives on such issues as mandatory fee scales, greater lay representation on the body, ethically-based standards of professional conduct, etc. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter to John Allan on night of Tory win at general election Subject The topic of the resource Letter to John Allan on night of Tory win at general election. JA letter to A Lipman (5 pp total) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource A. Lipman/ JA Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived JA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 12&7 .6.87 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/54cf8c44baba1264819f4933ad17fb61.pdf 134374e531addfbafecb2e5e5331c4d0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Professional Issues Description An account of the resource A cohort of NAM members became engaged with the professional registration body, standing as elected councillors on the Architects Registration Council and its various committees. Hitherto entirely dominated by the RIBA bloc, the Council began to yield to a new dynamic through NAM's involvement, enabling fresh perspectives on such issues as mandatory fee scales, greater lay representation on the body, ethically-based standards of professional conduct, etc. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Correspondence with ARCUK Registrar on Professional Conduct Description An account of the resource K J Porder Registrar ARCUK 73 lem . - Street Roath Cardiff 196 Albany Road (c) I need ct rification on the following questions: I an attempting to draft a response to your letter Of 13 April re Limited Liability. However, before £ Can answer the issuas Yaised under (a) to 1. What reference does the Act make to Professional Misconduct or Code of Conduct? : 2. Since no definition of "professional misconduct! appears to be offered in the Act, what legal Standing does any definition inplicit in the rules and Principles of the Code of Conduct shave? eas &- Has this ever been put to the test? ! 5- Where, when, by whom, and on what Criteria was the Code brought into being? 6 Was recourse to the Privy Council made for the adoption of the Code? Yours Sincerely e 8. Ina Situation where the Act and the Code might be interpreted to be contradictory, wnat legal Standing does the Code have? 3. Would a legal interpretation o£ ‘misconduct! in a ‘court of law conform to that enshrined in the Code of Conduct? 7. Has recourse to the Privy Council been made for any alterations or acditions to the Code? 9. Has the Situation described in 8 €ver been put to the test, i-e., has ARCUK'S decision On misconduct ever been apnealed against ina court of law2 r = apologies for imposing such heavy demands on you but I would appreciate an €erly response since you have asked for replies by 31 May. fane Delaney (Ms) +eeeserene Ms Anne Delaney 196 Albany Road Roath Cardiff Yours sipcerely, 12'May 1978 = 4. Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom CRTABUUSHED UNDER THE ARCHITECTS IMEGISTRATION! ACTS 1931 To 1038 73 Hallam Street London WiN 6EE Tel: 01-580 5861 Registrar:Mrs-NockDawsene MBE KENNETH J.FORDER, M.A Dear Ms Delaney, =. ° pact Xt Thank you very much for your letter of 10 May. I think it might help if I reply immediately on the more straightforward issues that you raise, and I will write to you further on other points as soon as I have managed to carry out the research. : : i ear face I think many of your points are answered in the enclosed copy Ofmauens summarised history of the ARCUK Code, together with a copy of the first edition in 1936. The following are my preliminary observations on your: questions: - 1. The only reference to disgraceful conduct is contained in ; Section 7 of the principal Act (copy enclosed). There is no reference to a Code in any of the legislation. 3. It is my view that disgraceful conduct has never been formally 4. interpreted legally but I will look into this. : _5. The enclosed history will tell you all you need to know. 6. No. Yo Bo 8. The question is a little too sweeping. If a situation arose where the Act and the Code appeared to be in conflict then clearly ~ theCode would have to give way but only to the extent that the Act takes precedence. - 2. I find myself in some difficulty here because of the wording you use. The Code has no ‘legal standing’ but it is a guide which the profession follows. Strictly speaking one can be guilty of disgraceful conduct without breaking the terms of the Code and conversely there are circumstances in which one can break the terms of the Code without committing disgraceful conduct. f 9. The usually quoted case where an appeal was lodged to the High Court against a decision of the Council was the Hughes v ARCUK in 1957. I enclose herewith a copy of the relevant passage from the Judgment. I will check whether there have been any other cases. =aeita ates / ye advising against. etc. History of the ARCUK Code On 11 March, 1932, the Council received a report of the Committee of Ways and Means which contained, inter alia, a recommendation that a Code of Professional Conduct was desirable despite having received Counsel's Opinion to the undesirability of advertisements by surveyors who were also architects. The Council, in debating the matter, considered — if there was to be a Code - that it could be built up gradually by means of the precedents from the Discipline Committee; or the Council could give architects proposing to register It was agreed at this meeting to defer a recommendation to draft a Code, partly because there were a number of other tasks urgently needing action and partly because in any event the Discipline Committee could not be appointed for some months. ‘ : In March 1934 the PPC recommended the Council to inform an architect "that it is unprofessional and contrary to 2stablished custom to advertise". This was Another architect at the same time was seeking information about his position with regard to advertising, hidden commissions; soliciting and trading, and pointing out that the Act made no provision for a Code. He was told that, in general, these were matters of unprofessional conduct and contrary to established custom but it was for the Discipline Committee to decide what was disgraceful. The architect challenged this reply, pointing out that no Code had been approved by the Privy Council, and asked if the RIBA Code "with all its loose application" was accepted in the Courts. Another architect was informed it was not in accordance with established custom for an architect to trade as a builder. It was for the Discipline Committee It was also "not in accordance with established custom for an architect to engage in trade”. (Very broad statement‘) Other cases dealt with alleged supplanting (referred to D.C.) and soliciting and supplanting; and the Chartered Surveyors were asked to refer in their Code some idea of what they must not do. to stop newspaper advertisements. ” spirit common to the codes." 2. There was however a hold up with regard to referring cases to the Discipline Committee because they had no regulations yet. After a motion had been received from an architect which ended with the following words "That this Council give a ruling that may serve as a guide to the public and the profession as to what may be considered ‘established custom’ and what conduct would normally lie outside such ‘established custom’. (Code of Practice) That sanction be obtained from the Privy Council for such regulations” the PPC approved the principle of a Code of Professional Conduct which banned architects from advertising "his architectural services publicly", "receiving commission not disclosed" and "soliciting work by means of Ppaid agents" In due course however, and before any ARCUK Code had been formulated, the Discipline Committee had heard its first case, where mention was made to two Codes - that of the RIBA and that of the TAAS, and the Discipline Committee Report contains the following paragraphs: é cs "(g) Each code must embody, its existence would be meaningless unless it did embody, those rules of conduct which its framers and administrators hold to be binding on themselves as practitioners of an honourable calling, while every professional man knows that many such rules express the solution of doubts which have arisen in practice. A practitioner who has any cause to doubt what his own course of action ought to be can seek guidance in the solutions tested by experience (or formulated by expen oos persons), and set forth in the codes, The essential features of both codes, it must be believed, would in spirit be accepted by the architectural profession even had they remained unwritten, and the Committee conceives itself entitled to apply these codes in the interpretation of Section 7 of the Act and to find a registered person guilty of conduct disgraceful in an architect if he be shewn to have contravened the The Council received a further Counsel's Opinion dated August 1934 which ~ contained a preference to "allow a code as to professional conduct to grow up gradually by means of publication and circulation from time to time” of Discipline Committee decisions. This view was based on the idea that it would leave the Council "unfettered by definitions of professional misconduct" whereas a "specified and definite code” would make it difficult for the Council to remove a man from the Register "unless his conduct were ‘shown to fall within y. the four corners of the code". pursue”. comments. to approve the draft Code.) remained unaltered until 1945. However, the Opinion did state that the Council could, without statutory authority, publish and send to registered persons "a statement enumerating practices or modes of conduct which they consider it undesirable for registered persons to A copy of the March 1936 Code is attached from which it will be seen that it Again the Council were reminded that the Act contained no express power to formulate a code as to professional conduct or misconduct. The Council was also advised that the Privy Council "would probably be reluctant -to give their Sanction to a code of professional conduct dealing (of necessity) with matters as to which a wide diversity of views might be held. This statement should contain no reference to Section 7 of the Act and should show on the face of it that it was published merely for guidance. In June 1935 the Council were informed that the PPC were drawing up a draft statement as referred to in the above paragraphs’ A suggestion/that che Draft Code, together with Scale of Fees and Conditions of Engagement, be submitted to all bodies mentioned in the First Schedule, and to every registered person for On 20 March 1936 the Council had before it a "draft Code of Professional Conduct for Registered Architects" for the guidance of architects which was submitted by the PPC who had resolved unanimously that it be submitted to Cannes "as an agreed document".. In submitting the Draft the Committee said since it had received unanimous approval in Committee to refer it to the constituent bodies would cause unnecessary delay. They proposed however to send copies to all registered persons but without inviting comments, but to invite-the Unattached architects to forward comments to one of the Council members they had elected. (One Council member elected by the Unattached dissented from the decision to In December 1944 the PPC recommended that the Code be revised generally. This arose from Counsel's Opinion obtained to assist in dealing with questions concerning architects inyolved in property development - buying and selling land and buildings. registered person. branches to discuss the new Principles. 4. In February 1945 the Council had a draft revised Code before them in a totally In November 1945 the PPC reported to Council on the comments received from the RIBA on the draft, but some of the RIBA suggestions were not accepted. One different format and it was agreed that the draft be submitted to the constituent bodies and to the representatives of the Unattached architects for observations. This draft Code consisted of a Preamble, Principles and Examples. Counsel was asked to vet the final version; and in March 1946 the Council Early in 1960 the Code was reprinted in a new format; and because there had been a number 6f amendments made to it since 1955, a copy was sent to every Again the Code was subject to a number of amendments/clarifications and in June 1969 the PPC were again asked to review the Code as a whole and to report back to the Council. As the RIBA were also looking at their Code as a whole it was agreed in October 1969 to set up an ad hoc joint working group to enable the zwo bodies to proceed in step. By March 1970 a preliminary draft of the Principles and Rules of Professional Conduct was ready and it was agreed it be circulated to the architectural constituent bodies for discussion. In June 1970 the Council were informed that meetings were being held in the RIBA Regions and or two comments had also been received from the ABT and AA. In December 1948 the Code was amended to give a time limit after which architects could not be house agents or auctioneers. The RIBA, IAAS, AA and ABT approved; FAS had made no comments and the Unattached had divergent views, but agreed to go along. : at After the Code had been amended a number of times, on 17 October, 1952, the Council resolved that the PPC should review the Code "as a whole in its relation to the Codes of any of the constituent bodies of the Council", if necessary conferring with such bodies. A Sub-Committee of the PPC was set up and in October 1954 a draft new Code was submitted to ‘Council and finally approved in December 1954 for circulation to the profession with the 1955 Annual Report. Its format was not dissimilar from the previous Codes. were informed that a new Code had been published.” The work on amending the Code was then taken over by the RIBA but in March 1975 the Council were informed that the PPC had asked the Registrar to send T’.copies of the draft Code to the other architectural constituent bodies. Eventually a new Code, different in form and format but not greatly different in meaning was published on 1 January 1976. a © ' © F Architects’ Registration Council of the United Kingdom 68, PORTLAND PLACE, W.1. Code of Professional Conduct for Architects The following Rules have been drawn up for the guidance of architects. While it is not intended to lay down a hard-and-fast line between what is, and what is not, legitimate, the object of the Rules is to provide a general standard of professional practice, the breach of which} by an architect, may render him liable to be adjudged, by the Council, guilty of disgraceful conduct. 1= (1) Reniuneration in respect of architectural work consists (a) in the case of an employee, of salary, and (6) of architects in private practice, of protessional fees. In the case of (6) the client should be informed at the outset of the rules of employment of architects and the scule of charges upon which remuneration is based. N.B.--For the purpose of this Code the Conditions of Engagement and Scale of Charges published by the R.I.B.A. or other constituent body is recommended. 4 (2) Au architect MUST NOT:— / o (a) Accept any work which involves giving or recviving discounts or commissions, nor may he accept any discount, gift or commission fron: Contractors or Tradesmen whether employed upon the works or not. (b) Advertise or offer his services by means of circulars or otherwise, nor may he make paid announcements in the Press. (c) Attempt to supplant another architect, nor must he compete with another architect by means of a reduction of fees or by any other inducement. (d) Permit the insertion of any clause in tenders, bills of quantities or other documents which provide for payment to be made to him by the Contractor whatever may be the consideration, unless with the previous knowledye and approval of his client. (ce) Carry on or act us principal, partner uv «anager of a company or firm trading in materials used in building, or whose activities are connected with the building industry. (/) Permit the business of auctioneering or house ugency to form part of his practice. NUTE to Parageaph .(f) Extract jrom Counce Motates of June 24ynt, 1936:— RESOLVED thar Where busine: us au Auctioneer or House Agent was being carried on at the time of registration no uction be taken in the matter, but that any Kexisterad Architect attempting to, or who has attempted to, start any business as Auetivieer or Huse clvent after the date of his registration be informed that such action is not in accordance with the rocoguisal custom of the Architectural profession. . ; (3) An arcisitect MUST:-- (a) Be remunerated solely in the cuse of an employee by his salary and in the case of a (4) An architect MAY:— (g) Act us architect or joint architect tor a work which ts or has been the subject of a competition, in which he is or has been engaged as an assessor. (A) Act as architect or joint architect for a work which is or has been the subject of an abandoned competition, if he is or has becw viticially nominated as assessor, or approached by the promoters for the purpuse of acting as such. Z practising awchitect by professional fees, und must not accept remuneration from auy other source in connection with the works and duties entrusted to him. (b) Before accepting an appointment or instructions to proceed with any work upon which it is obvious another architect has been employed, communicate with the architect last employed with a view to ensuring that his engayement has been properly terminated. (a) Be architectural consultant or adviser to building contractors, decorators, furniture designers, estate development firms or companies or firms or companies trading in materials used in or whose activities are otherwise connected with the building industry, provided that:— : , (1) He is paid by fee and not by commission on sales or profits thereon. (2) He docs not solicit orders for the firm or company. “5 (b) Use the word “* Architect ” in connection with his appointment, and his name may appear on the stationery of the firm or company as architectural consultant or adviser. : (c) Be a Director of any company (except those. excepted in Clause 2 {e)), including a building society registered under the Building Societies Act, and may allow his name and the word ‘' Architect ’ to appear on the notepaper of the company. (d) Sign his buildings and may exhibit his name outside his office and on buildings in the course of construction, alteration and/or extension, provided that it is done in an unostentatious manner, If a client so desires, the architect’s name may remain upon the building for a period not exceeding twelve months after its completion provided that the board does not display ‘ fo Let’’ or “ For Sale ’” or similar notices. (5) Although there is no objection to an architect allowing signed illustrations and descrip- tions of bis work to be published in the Press, with reference to such illustrations or descriptions it in contrary to professional custom to give monetary consideration for such insertions or to allow such insertions to be used by the publishers for obtaining advertisements from unwilling contributors. / (6) (7) When architects are ucting as surveyors or town planners in connection with the development of land, announcements may be made in the Press and on notice boards in connection with such development, provided that such announcements are made in ath unostentatious manner. (8) In all questions arising between the employer und contractor an architect must act in an impartial manner. He must at all tics interpret the conditions of the contract with entire fairmess as between cmployer and contractor. (9) Quantities—It is desirable that in cuses where an architect takes out quantities for buildings he should be paid directly by the client and not through the contractor. y 7 Note: — March 20th, 1936. Reprinted April 1st, 1g4T. By Order of the Council, a PEMBROKE WICKS : Pr Registrar. | f‘ Architects who are appoitited surveyots lo recoguiscd estates muy announce land or sites or premises tor sale or letting in conteciion with their uppoininents. Architects are recommended to bring this Code to the notice of their employees. 7 Dissraceful Conduct as defined by Mr. Justice Devlin in his Judgment in Hughes v A.R.C.U.K. 7, 731/59 The Architects (Registration) Act 1931 Section 7 gives the Council power to strike the name of an architect from the register if he has been "suilty of conduct disgraceful to him in his capacity as an architect". I cannot accept the argument that the term "diseraceful” is in any sense a term of art. In accordance with the usual rule it is to be given its natural and popular meaning. But it is qualified by the phrase "in his capacity as an architect". The effect of that qualification is twofold. First, the conduct must not only be what would ordinarily be considered aeerecesale but it must also be a disgrace which affects hin professionally; to that extent the qualification diminishes the term. sgoondlky, conduct which is not disgraceful for an ) ordinary man may be disgraceful for a professional man: to that extent the qualification amplifies the term. But the amplification does not require that "disgraceful" is to be given any technical meaning: it requires only that the ordinary meaning of the word should be applied in relation to the special obligations and duties of a professional man. It must not be forgotten that if the finding of the Committee stands, anyone may hereafter say of Mr. Hughes with impunity that he was struck off the register for disgraceful conduct and may add that that means what it says. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource AD/ ARCUK Registrar Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Murray Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 1978 Subject The topic of the resource Correspondence with ARCUK Registrar on Professional Conduct https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/c31abd23455bb0664bdd313bde83f5c2.pdf e25ad5cfa1c255f4fae451ef903df79a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Professional Issues Description An account of the resource A cohort of NAM members became engaged with the professional registration body, standing as elected councillors on the Architects Registration Council and its various committees. Hitherto entirely dominated by the RIBA bloc, the Council began to yield to a new dynamic through NAM's involvement, enabling fresh perspectives on such issues as mandatory fee scales, greater lay representation on the body, ethically-based standards of professional conduct, etc. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter to John Allan from A. Leggatt re. ARCUK Council Meetings Description An account of the resource ®& 14th December 1979 Cur reference: M12/AJL/HC John F. Allan Esq. Shepheard Epstein & Hunter 60 Kingley Street -Regent Street London W1R 6EY Dear Mr. Allan, A.R.C.U.K. ae Nice (bA afer Cur Aon F arr:O NACHSHEN CROFTS& EGGATT ; Consulting Engineers 192-198 VAUXHALL BRIDGE ROAD LONDON SW1V 1DXx J ECROFTIS MC FICE FGS MSIC(France) MConst AJ LEGGATT BSc FICE FiStructE FIArh MSIC(France) MConst G E BRATCHELL BSc FICE FIStructE MIWES MConsé 0WSWAINBScOMNICE Private LCJOMNScDEICMSiStroctE Teli01-8341575 ameserrryre Telex 917502 JGACH FIStructé GMPINBScFDICOFILCEFDiStuctt ae we [Rarbof Lyre Bs ths SORE sets) ae By way of brief introduction, I am a more or less permanent member of A.R.C.U.K council, representing structural engineers. I am not an architect - attached nor unattached. I can thus afford to be neutral and objective in my dealings with A.R.C.U.K. but nevertheless I am very keen that the objects of A.R.C.U.K., which are to administer certain acts of Parliament, are properly and fairly achieved. It occurs to me now that I might possibly be of some help to A.R.C.U.K. in respect of the position of the unattached council members vis-a-vis the chairman and officers. For the last few years the unattached architects on council @ have provided an interesting, and at times - welcome, intrusion into the otherwise monolithic conduct of the meetings. For the general health of A.R.C.U.K., I think this is good but I am now becoming worried that too much antagonism is building up between the unattached members and the "establishment". The December 12th meeting was about the worst I have attended and was most depressing. Although I think the Chairman tried hard to maintain the order and the dignity of the proceedings, there were times when matters proceeded ina thoroughly bad way. Certainly a great deal of time was wasted and meetings such as that can only bring eventual discredit of A.R.C.U.K. as a whole. Responsibility for this poor state of affairs, in my view, lies more or less equally in all directions but that aspect does not particularly concern me. What does concern me very deeply is that A.R.C.U.K. should not become a shambles and I am sure that this view is shared by yourself and the other unattached members of council. Now the point of my letter is to offer myself as a link (or if you prefer it, a "go-between"), neutral and disinterested, whereby unattached members of council can have a communication channel through to the chairman and officers and - most important-vice versa. If I proved acceptable to both sides, I could not guarantee that all issues could be speedily settled but in a percentage of cases I feel that a lot of time, heat and exasperation could be avoided at the council meetings. My three main qualifications for this task might be summarized as follows:- ts Die I am independent of the issues likely to arise but at the same time feel a responsibility to promote and support the proper and fair administration of A.R.C.U.K. as a statutory body. I am experienced in the conduct and behaviour of a number of organizations which are democratically based. All of these organizations have, from time to time, their ginger-groups, rebels, protest movements as well as their reactionaries, "establishments" and the like. At various times I have found myself a member of almost all such factions! I have served on the council of my own professional organization (the ACE), I am President elect of the consulting engineers Common Market liaison committee and I have written the constitution for and helped with the administration of, a successful national charity - apart from all my technical work as an engineer. Bo Any services I provided in this respect would be confidential i.e. I would not be known outside the parties using the channel of communication nor would I be known in this role to the council itself. I am making this suggestion off my own bat and there is nothing lying behind or underneath the offer. I have not so far approached the chairman and obviously his co-operation would be essential. I hope you will pursue my suggestion for at worst, nothing would be lost and at best, both time and temper would be saved and perhaps some of the objectives of the unattached architects would be achieved more speedily. With best wishes for a happy Christmas. Yours sincerely, A.J.Leggatt » Mo De.Kappa OA yr o_ Fae eneGUO oe ain. ere GN Ja QU yor a) CS CRS ES Ane Gun x HikeDaven Cs. Bppnsec Cink - Sots i aoe Zs Fe et rofess rofessor Gabriel Epstein AA Dipl (Hons) Hon D Litt FRIBA SADG ‘eler Hunter Dipl Arch (Oxford) RIBA FSAI ssociate John Thacker Dipl Arch RIBA onsultant Derek Bridgwater B Arch FRIBA 60 Kingly Street Regent Street London W1R 6EY Tel: 01-734 8577 s Nos, CSL ee aeee inUSA The Graduate School of Fine Arts, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Pa 19104. inFrance 43 Rue Mazarine 75006 Paris. in Belgium in association with CERAU Architects, 12 Avenue du Venezuela, Brussels 1050. J Shepheard Epstein & Hunter Architects Town Planners and Landscape Architects orPeter Shepheard CBE BArch Hon DLitPPRIBAFRTPI PPILA O>uwDT ee 72- JS Ulu QU rol dy AT Acq Uk A ” Valen OD cau Len Novy NAG, DWNx j LNG e ase I herey prs Gly Whee one Prfmeails Osi (ay ay OR eae MaCLUS Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource AL/JA Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Murray Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 1979 Subject The topic of the resource Letter to John Allan from A. Leggatt re. ARCUK Council Meetings https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/e38c60b7e9f664b72c5e71c55a9cc2e6.pdf 41be7b4ebe1ad98d11166172b5369c38 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Professional Issues Description An account of the resource A cohort of NAM members became engaged with the professional registration body, standing as elected councillors on the Architects Registration Council and its various committees. Hitherto entirely dominated by the RIBA bloc, the Council began to yield to a new dynamic through NAM's involvement, enabling fresh perspectives on such issues as mandatory fee scales, greater lay representation on the body, ethically-based standards of professional conduct, etc. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letters from Anne Delaney et.al. "ARCUK is star chamber", and from D Robson "More on NAM politics" Subject The topic of the resource Letters from Anne Delaney et.al. "ARCUK is star chamber", and from D Robson "More on NAM politics" Description An account of the resource general elections of 1974, it was laid down that local authorities seeking consent to demolish unlisted buildings in conservation areas should apply to the DOE. It was felt, quite rightly, that councils should not be able to give themselves permission to knock down such buildings. Leicester Hotelfor demolition in Hull. Some attractive buildings in the outstanding conservation area of Hull old town are about to go because the city council has given demolition consent to Barratts (who are to redevelop for housing). Even though the council owns the buildings, it did not need DOE approval because Barratts, not the council, made the application. Among the condemned buildings is the Leicester Hotel of 1793—a landmark in the battered townscape of the old town retaining a good Georgian staircase and a Victorian pub front and furnishings. Conservationists are still hoping that the DOE will list some buildings. The DOE should require local authorities to send in all demolition cases in conservation areas in which they are involved, whether they are applicants or owners. Post-festal problems Gloomily surveying the remains of a young nephew's Christmas presents, I was struck by a common factor: they all came from one country. Britain? Hong Kong? Japan? No, they all originated in West Germany, the proverbial home of quality in production. The sign of a trend or just a fluke? Astragal 112 ARCUK is star chamber From Anne Delaney RIBA, Iain Campbell and Iain Cooper, Cardiff NAM group Sir: Those of you who were readers of The Sunday Times prior to its temporary demise will know something of the controversy surrounding the recent ARCUK Discipline Committee verdict on Summerland architect James Lomas. The purpose of this letter is not to discuss whether justice was done in this particular case, but to question a procedure where it is impossible to see whether justice has been done or not. As things currently stand, journalists are allowed to attend meetings of the Discipline Committee but must undertake to report nothing until the end of the hearing, and NOTHING AT ALL if the respondent is found not guilty. This is not the first time that confidentiality of disciplinary hearings has been called into question. On a previous occasion when this issue surfaced at ARCUK, the editors of the AJ added their exhortations to attempts to get ARCUK to act openly. The AJ (2.12.70 PI 295) said: 'Nothing would concentrate architects' minds more effectively than enforcing the codes openly. 'No one can defend secret justice as a principle; in democracies every citizen has the right to have his case heard in public. . Yet when architects sit in judgment on their fellows . the public is excluded. 'Would the profession be harmed if disciplinary proceedings were reported?. . strong and self-confident profession has more to gain if it is openly seen to cut out its diseased wood than it loses through exposing the disgraceful conduct of a few of its members. 'Would architects accused of misconduct be harmed if their cases were heard in public? It is arguable that those ultimately found not guilty might suffer. . .. The decision here must be not whether to report the case but whether to allow names to be mentioned.' When ARCUK refused to act in accordance with such exhortations, the editors replied, under the heading 'Star chamber not abolished' (AJ 23 & 30.12.70 pi1469); '[ARCUK] Council, by a large majority, has decided not to allow disciplinary proceedings to be held in public. We believe the interests of profession and public would be better served if justice were seen to be done. Members of council were muddled: many seemed as concerned to shield ARCUK proceedings from possible ridicule as to protect from injustice individuals accused of misconduct. . . . It is difficult not to accuse ARCUK of smugness when it accepted George Grieves' motion not to allow publicity because he was "perfectly satisfied as a member of that committee (the discipline committee) that our behaviour is just and proper". And it is difficult not to accuse ARCUK of being more concerned with covering up for itself and errant architects than with being an effective watchdog for the public good. The council should think again.' Eight years later ARCUK still has not seen fit to think again. Yet in its 1976 Annual Report ARCUK proclaimed itself 'one of the first consumer protection organisations' and a reading of the Acts alone might seem to offer some substantiation of this claim. But the real test has to be sought in the way the Acts are operated. If the claim is merely pious sentiment, then ARCUK may continue to operate behind closed doors, since it may then protect the self interest of its own members while pretending to do the opposite. However, as William Shepherd has pointed out (The Sunday Times 19.11.78), the whole concept of professional selfgovernment is open to question. Why should the public believe that its interests are best protected by allowing doctor to discipline doctor, architect to discipline architect, in the latter case, behind closed doors. But while a profession CLAIMS to operate effectively in the public interest, then it must either be SEEN to do so, or face the charge of hypocrisy. Its proceedings must be made accountable to the public by being made visible to them. It seems unlikely, however, that ARCUK as presently constituted will take this step. Indeed, the recent recommendations of its officers would appear to indicate an opposite tendency. As the AJ (3.1.79 p6) has revealed, 'ARCUK committee members may be asked to sign a document guaranteeing that matters discussed in committee will not be disclosed to outside parties. . . . Any member unwilling to sign such a document "should be advised that he cannot take up the appointment".' ARCUK council must affirm that as 'one of the first consumer protection organisations' it has nothing to hide, and must admit unrestricted press reporting of all Council and its committees' deliberations. If ARCUK is not prepared to do this, then its actions can only strengthen NAM's argument that amendments to the constitution of the council are urgently necessary. A. DELANEY, 1. CAMPBELL AND 1. COOPER Cardiff More on NAM politics From David G. Robson Sir: May I reply briefly to the long smokescreen letter which you published from John Allan and other NAM members (AJ 3.1.79 p5). My own letter (AJ 20 & 27.12.78 pl 180) was not, as they wrongly assumed, a statement of my candidacy, but was intended simply to draw attention to the unfortunate fact that a narrow-based, well organised and doubtless well-intentioned group has now secured a virtual monopoly of the 'unattached' representation on ARCUK. Mr Allan attributes NAM successes to a 'broad degree of support among unattached architects' while carefully ignoring the fact that at the last election six out of every seven unattached architects failed to register a vote. The present spectrum of the unattached caucus could be more accurately attributed to electoral apathy perhaps! Mr Allan kindly advertises my own lack of success in the last election, but fails to record the interesting AJ 17 January 1979 minibus service to carry car-besotted tourists through the village. This is surely a sad travesty of what Clough wanted for Portmeirion. He envisaged it as a private demesne to keep crass commercial exploitation at bay. He even restricted the number of visitors by applying a classical supply-and-demand price mechanism at the entrance points—as the number of people entering the village rose during the day, so did the price! Farewell to Holford The appeal for funds for a memorial to Lord Holford—perhaps the best-known British architect planner of 1940-70— raised rather more than {20 000. This is a respectable sum but not one to yield any sizable investment income in days of inflation. The Trust Committee has therefore decided to spend the whole sum within five or seven years. Their major decision is to offer a 11000 travel award for five years to graduates of each of the three university departments where Holford was teacher or professor: Civic Design and Architecture at Liverpool, and the Bartlett School in London. It was regretted that all the planning and architectural students in Britain could not be made eligible to apply for one of the awards; but the difficulty and cost of assessing applications was beyond the trust's resources. Surveying sucæss There are well-founded rumours that the RIBA is looking around among publishers for assistance in publishing the RIBA Journal. There seem to be no such problem in the world of surveying. Last week the RICS launched the first issue of a new journal, and an interesting one at that: Chartered Quantity Surveyor. The RICS now has three magazines, the other two being Chartered Surveyor and Chartered Land and Minerals Surveyor. While the RIBA and ARCUK and other minor architectural groups wrangle and fight, the world of surveying seems to be growing steadily stronger and wealthier. As a hint ofwhere the quantity surveyor's attention is turning, the first issue of CQS has an article on the quantity surveyor's role in a relatively new field, that of civil engineering. Watch it boys. Home sweet (sic) home How one thinks of the '20s and '30s presumably depends very much on ones age group and degree of sophistication. AJ 17 January i 979 The Chermayeff house, the living room as it was in 1939. Chermayeff's house at Halland (see 'Home sweet (sic) home'). 111 fact that the results were so tightly bunched as to suggest a totally random voting pattern. Mr Allan expresses the hope that this election will be the occasion for broad and open discussion while knowing full well that, under the present rules, such discussion is unlikely to take place. He denies that the open letter to 'unattached' architects from the sitting NAM candidates which the ARCUK Registrar distributed with the election papers was an 'election address' . . . a rose by any other name! Surely he must admit that the NAM candidates availed themselves of an opportunity which is not prescribed in paragraph 45 of the Registration Act and which has certainly been denied to all other candidates. Doubtless my own performance in the present election will match that of last year, and I look forward to the opportunity to fight an open election under the new regulations in 1980! DAVID G. ROBSON Newcastle upon Tyne The Cresset From Francis Duffy ARIBA, PhD, AADip1 John Worthington MArch, AADipl Sir: The comment by the Chief Architect of Peterborough Development Corporation on our recent criticism of the Cresset shows a misunderstanding of our argument. While it is worth repeating that the Cresset as an organisation is a brilliant achievement, we still think the Cresset as a building fails to express how short-term, infinitely changeable and diverse uses can co-exist within a long-term building shell. How to achieve a balance between long-term and short-term design is a fundamental problem which is better understood in the commercial field of retailing than in buildings designed for public use. The Cresset's architecture is certainly not weak. In our opinion its strength, unlike that of Centraal Beheer (AJ 29.10.75 p893), is not Cresset: What do you do here? the kind which stimulates imaginative use. Nor is it a Miesian universal space—the Cresset's plan and fabric are far too specific for that. v The shops adjacent to the Cresset with their lively lighting and temporary displays are more Miesian than the Cresset. AJ 17 January 1979 No, the Cresset is somewhere in between—brash when it should be unassertive, bland when it could be bold. The problem goes back to the brief. All 14 users had specific demands which were extremely difficult to reconcile. Next year there will be 15 or 16 users; in 1984 there may be 10. Briefing in such a situation makes it imperative to separate short-term from long-term requirements. The solution may be either to create a universal Miesian shed or a highly articulated space-making structure like Centraal Beheer. Either type of solution could, in theory, recognise the strength, the ingenuity, the sheer visual impact of short term users. But the Cresset, in our opinion, is a half-way house—too respectful to short-term users in its plan and not sensitive enough to them in elevation and detailing. Where short- and long-term design meet is a fascinating boundary, perhaps the most important in complex buildings. To say that the Cresset got it wrong is not to attack the intentions behind the project, nor to denigrate the skill and enthusiasm of the design team, but an attempt to illuminate a fundamental architectural problem of our time. FRANCIS DUFFY, JOHN WORTHINGTON London WI Hot line to Zeus? From Tristan York RIBA, Dip Arch Sir: I feel sure that one of your readers will be able to solve a quandary that has lately pressed upon me with an increasing urgency: to whit, the whereabouts of the well of artistic wisdom from which the development control officer draws his acute critical awareness on matters architectural; this fount of aesthetic knowledge which so incontestably places him on a plane of aesthetic sensibility to which the humble practitioner can only aspire. Obviously mere love of architecture, study, training, experience of the discipline and skill in its undertaking provide inadequate qualifications to this 'higher sight'. This willing pilgrim for one would be extremely grateful for directions to the temple of the development control officer's architectural lodestone. TRISTAN YORK London W13 London—more funds and coordinated planning needed From Peter F. Phillips BA, BArch Sir: Astragal's caustic comments on the proposal to revive London's west cross road (AJ 22.11.78 p969) demonstrates that the days of simplistic and fashionable approaches to planning problems are not yet over. So too the Lea Valley motorway scheme (AJ 13.12.78 pl 131), sadly given credence by the AJ with an emotive picture and misleading diagrams. Certainly, Hackney and East London badly need roads to relieve congestion and provide good access for industry, but so does the rest of London. The diagrams give the misleading impression that most of London's traffic problems result from movement between the MI/AI and M2/M20 via Hackney, which is not so, as is evident from the overwhelming congestion on every major road in the metropolis. The M25 is itself a hybrid result of past disjointed planning schemes, and would admittedly have been of greater economic and environmental value skirting and threading the outer suburbs five or six miles closer in, but to simply axe sections of it now as is proposed does not make sense. Traffic from the north-eastern radial routes, including those from Felixstowe and Tilbury, two vitally important docks, would still have poor access to the majority of London. Another of the scheme's claimed virtues is its benefit to docklands, yet surely limited funds should first go to improving the infrastructure of existing declining inner city areas before embarking on expensive dockland pastures new? Piecemeal easy solutions like the Lea Valley scheme, the type that politicians unfortunately tend to latch onto so easily, will achieve little in isolation. Regardless of the possible influence of the M25, industry and commerce will continue to leave London at an accelerating rate—with disastrous consequences—unless a comprehensive primary road network within the whole of Greater London is built; and built soon. This does not, however, negate the importance of maintaining parking restrictions and improving the presently inadequate public transport network—all form important parts of an essential transport system. With the responsibility for trunk roads transferred to the GLC Planning Department a fresh co-ordinated start could indeed be made. For once, new primary roads could be considered in conjunction with adjoining redevelopment and other transport services, enabling them to be better integrated into their surroundings and be of more economic and social value. Perhaps also if much more care was taken over their design and landscaping than is evident at present, and compensation rules were extended to cover all people adversely affected by schemes, opposition might not be so vehement and hysterical. As other regions of Britain with much smaller populations than London have benefited from considerable Government infrastructure funds in recent years, Government should now undertake a lion's share of the expenditure needed in the capital. The costs will doubtless be considerable, but in common with the history of British industry, without such investment London will sadly continue to decline. PETER F. PHILLIPS Qatar, Arabian Gulf The editor reserves the right to shorten letters. Short letters can be dictated to Lynette York over the telephone on Thursdays, for possible inclusion in the following issue of the A}. -113 REPORT Pooley rethinks GLC restructure Fred Pooley's controversial proposals for restructuring the GLC Architect's Department have been modified in a report which goes before the Professional and General Services Committee on 8 February. In the modified report, which is attached to a report from the Director General and the Controller of Manpower, certain suggestions in the first of Pooley's reports (AJ 1.11.71 p824) are dropped including his suggestions for the creation of multi-disciplinary practice groups. Recommendations in the new report include: a change of committee structure so that all the Architect's Department, instead of working for specific committees (Housing Department working for Housing Committee), will work for one committee—the Professional and General Services Committee. the whole department reorganised into practice groups; the wording of the report suggests that, eventually, these groups may become multifunctional. The report also seeks approval for voluntary redeployment of staff. This was one of the most hotly contested points of the original report. Many of the staff feel that, in reality, such a provision would mean that staff might find themselves faced with having to take uncongenial work or quit. Another of the controversial points raised by the original report was the future of Access, the architects' information service. Now Pooley, instead of asking for its closure as originally, is suggesting that it be combined with Technical Services and the staff be reduced. The staff committee meet on 23 January to discuss their response to this new round of proposals. DOE policies may undermine new listing initiative The difficulties that the GLC has been experiencing in getting the DOE to list buildings suggest that the Joint Committee of the Amenity Society's worthy attempt to speed up the resurvey of the country by recruiting and training volunteer listers is doomed. Even if lists are compiled quickly by the volunteers, there is no evidence that the DOE would accept them or process them speedily. In the past, the DOE has sat for many months on lists compiled by its own investigators. The Joint Committee (consisting of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, the Ancient Monuments Society, the Georgian Group and the Victorian Society) has organised a seminar to be held at Avoncroft College, Worcestershire, on 18-20 May at which about 30 volunteers will be 114 Foster's latest for IBM at Greenford AJ 17 January 1979 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Architect's Journal Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived JA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Undated https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/ed67a37ca4639ea16ab45ce7ebeeb88a.pdf 7f63f148b8b1dcc6c874f5dcae51092a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Professional Issues Description An account of the resource A cohort of NAM members became engaged with the professional registration body, standing as elected councillors on the Architects Registration Council and its various committees. Hitherto entirely dominated by the RIBA bloc, the Council began to yield to a new dynamic through NAM's involvement, enabling fresh perspectives on such issues as mandatory fee scales, greater lay representation on the body, ethically-based standards of professional conduct, etc. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Who's getting a free ride Subject The topic of the resource Letter from R Maltz Description An account of the resource The Architects' Journal 13 December 1978 1123 Letter The editor reserves the right to shorten letters. Short letters can be dictated to Lynette York over the telephone on Thursdays, for possible inclusion in the following issue of the A}. Who's getting a free ride? From R. Maltz, architect Sir: You recently reported that the RIBA treasurer complained that 'unattached' architects are 'enjoying a free ride' (AJ 29.11.78 p1028). This raises some interesting questions. Why does he pick on the so-called 'unattached' : are they the only architects who do not pay RIBA subscriptions? And who, in fact, is really getting a 'free ride'? According to the latest ARCUK figures, as of 31 October 1978, less than 78 per cent of UK architects were RIBA members, down from 85 per cent three years ago. Of the rest, while over 17 per cent are considered 'unattached' another 5 per cent, who also do not pay RIBA subs, are members of other organisations enshrined in Schedule 1 of the Architects' Registration Act 1931. Did the RIBA treasurer also attack the 6000 or so corporate members of the RIBA (more than all non-RIBA UK architects) who appear, from press reports of the RIBA's expected subscription income, no longer to be paying their RIBA subs? Perhaps before attacking other architects the RIBA treasurer could explain why the RIBA continued to carry these 'free riders' on its membership rolls. I think the RIBA treasurer ought also to provide a credible explanation of why he considers that the growing number of UK architects who eschew RIBA membership are 'enjoying a free ride'. (Many of those RIBA members who pay their E50 subs apparently think that the RIBA is getting a free ride from them ! ) Surely the RIBA treasurer isn't forgetting those mysterious benefits reserved to RIBA members only, which one of the RIBA's 'Gang of Forty' on ARCUK recently used to justify Safdie Lanski: producing an Israeli Disneyland? See Waksberg's letter, the amenity societies do all the fighting. All architects should : 1 Join their local amenity society, Civic Society or Conservation Area Advisory Committee (I guess only 1 per cent do at present). 2 Think not twice, but 100 times before being party to the destruction of a listed building. 3 Encourage the RIBA to be more active in conservation. 4 Press for SAVE's 14 recommendations. 5 Urge planning authorities to be much more flexible in granting permission for new uses for listed and ancient buildings. Does anyone know what happened to Grenville Powney's idea, launched in 1970, for a sort of Society of Owners of Listed Buildings? Such a group (300 000 strong) could collectively defend threatened buildings. H. Reginald Hyne Windsor Left to rot From Desmond Hodges RIBA, director of Edinburgh New Town Conservation Committee Sir : Here is a recommendation to add to the stirring list which concludes the 'Special save report' (AJ 22.11.78 p1002) : 'To establish a fund to which owners of listed buildings could contribute regularly, and from which they could borrow to pay for repairs. 'Tax-free interest on such savings to pay for systematic inspection, organised by the fund. 'Savings to be transferred at face value to new owners, but to be spent only on eligible repairs.' Such ready cash might reduce procrastination and the consequent appeals for HBC funds to avert the ultimate catastrophe. In fact the HBC might save money in the long run by making incentive payments to savers (no pun intended ! ). Anyone interested in these ideas is invited to contact me. Desmond Hodges 13a Dundas Street, Edinburgh National Heritage Buildings Agency From R. W. y. Chitham RIBA Sir: It is very heartening to see that one of the conclusions reached in the SAVE report on the dereliction of historic buildings Agency should be set up. You very kindly gave the opportunity to float this idea in your columns some 18 months ago (AJ 30.3.77 p588) on which occasion I made the point that once you embrace the concept of an agency of this kind, you discover a broad range of functions which it would be Not only could it take on powers of intervention to save 1124 The Architects' Journal 13 December 1978 The Cresset: the pursuit of anonymous space? See Maplestone's letter. w eke Belfast support for Hackney Belfast councillors were urged not to demolish large areas of Belfast for redevelopment last week by architect Rod Hackney. Instead he recommended them to initiate self-help rehab schemes based at street and neighbourhood level. Speaking at a special meeting in the Lord Mayor's parlour in Belfast's town hall, Hackney suggested that, ironically, Belfast could be a decade ahead of some English cities. 'You haven't fallen into the abyss of thinking that everything over 60 years old has got to come down', he said. Hackney's man in Belfast, Dave Gregory, with local resident (left) outside the shop where he lives (right). 'You have tighter communities here with already established leaders', he went on. Following a presentation of his Macclesfield scheme, one councillor declared it was the 'most fantastically stimulating thing I've heard for a long time'. While another councillor appeared to be concerned that 'we haven't got the right people here', the Lord Mayor pledged his support for the idea. 'What better way of community development than people doing up their own houses?' he said. But he added, 'we've now got to get it over to the [Government] Housing Executive'. Hackney's intervention in Belfast's housing problems is no accident. He was approached by the Woodvale Shankhill housing association last year and, after persuading the Housing Executive to declare a Housing Action Area, was appointed to rehabilitate 114 houses. Community designer Dave Gregory has been appointed to live above the housing association office in a corner shop within a stone's thrown of the barbed wire defences of the Crumlin Road 'peace line' and run the scheme. Executive's demolition plan revealed The action area is, however, only a small part of the Protestant working-class Shankhill district. An internal document of the Housing Executive, leaked recently to the Save the Shankhill Campaign, reveals that the executive would like to demolish Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Architect's Journal Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived JA https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/6b8c60e20e39ef8b9d5bf1318fb3ade1.pdf f2a3a445dbc6f43be1521bbf965a958d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Professional Issues Description An account of the resource A cohort of NAM members became engaged with the professional registration body, standing as elected councillors on the Architects Registration Council and its various committees. Hitherto entirely dominated by the RIBA bloc, the Council began to yield to a new dynamic through NAM's involvement, enabling fresh perspectives on such issues as mandatory fee scales, greater lay representation on the body, ethically-based standards of professional conduct, etc. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource NAM 4th Congress Report AJ 14 November 1978 Description An account of the resource The fourth annual national Congress of the New Architecture Movement was held at the School of Architecture in Cheltenham last weekend. In between wholesome meals and a rejuvenating to a punk rock group, over 90 people thrashed out the neat year’s policy of a movement which in only four years has significantly altered the face of architectural politics in Britain. Tension over alternative practice After virtually the only contentious debates in the whole weekend, Congress agreed to set up an Alternative Practice issue group ‘to develop the theory and practice of NAM members involved in worker controlled private sector organisations with the aim of providing socially responsible alternatives’. Participants were shown work carried out by the ARCAID group in Leeds and Support in London, both of which operate in the private sector but work co-operatively for poor clients such as tenants and community groups. Members of these groups believe that in the short term this kind of work provides the best way of making architects’ skills available to working class users. But several people believed there was a danger of the group clashing with the already established Public Design Group which recently submitted its OWN report on community architecture to Minister of Housing Reg Freeson.* This report argues forcibly that a community architectural service ‘should be based on the public sector and not on the private sector’. Despite initial tension between these two Views, itwas generally accepted by both groups that they could work in parallel. It was likely to take years to achieve reforms in the public sector and until that time the private sector experiments could provide valuable experience, a vehicle for propaganda, and a means of providing working class people with services they would otherwise be denied. *Community Architecture: a public design service, available from NAM, 9 Poland Street, London W1. £1. the abolition of the mandatory fee scale and the introduction of a fee system ‘based on standardised elements of service and ranges of cost to safeguard the public against unreasonable price increases and check the profession from unhealthy price cutting’. An end to secrecy Symbolising an end to the cloak and dagger secrecy that has been a feature of the movement until now, it was agreed that telephone numbers of spokespersons for the different issue groups should be circulated to the press. Speakers however reiterated that the movement should avoid creating ‘leaders’, because issues and ideas then* easily became obscured by personalities. New constitution A constitution for the Movement was adopted which firmly establishes itasa federation of issue, local and working groups accountable to the annual Congress and working for the general aim of promoting ‘effective democratic control of al people over their environment and by design and construction workers over their working lives’, A Liaison Group iselected each year to conduct administrative and financial affairs and to ‘act for the Movement’ between Congresses. Membership of NAM has increased over the last year from 92 to 120. Monday and the millenium “The Movement isgrowing inmaturity as its critique of the profession grows more refined’, said John Allan, a founder member at the opening of Congress. A substantial body of literature has been developed and the Movement’s magazine Slate isimproving with each issue. What is now needed is to translate quality into quantity. The profession ison the defensive, he said. While the trades and ‘para professions’ are becoming more professional with the introduction of codes and guidelines, the traditional profession is being forced to become more secular. NAM could take advantage of the consequent instability. Referring to the inherent tension between long term aims and short term tactics, he said that while the former could not be achieved quickly, some of the obstacles barring the way could be removed immediately. ‘Our predicament is not a question of bop <x » “ PIG is born To back up the work of NAM members acting as unattached representatives on ARCUK council and those working on the mandatory fee scale issue, Congress sct up a Professional Issues Group (PIG). The councillors have their work cut out responding to day to day issues explained the proposers. PIG would be a kind of ‘mop up’ group enabling NAM councillors to play a more positive role by taking initiatives. Congress formally endorsed the work of the eight NAM councillors, and aslate of candidates has been drawn up to contend the forthcoming unattached elections as itis anticipated there will be a further increase in the number of unattached representatives. Students wanted Student NAM groups should be set up in schools of architecture, but they should be autonomous groups and not controlled by any central body or the already established Education Group. This was the outcome of a debate in which some speakers advocated a recruitment drive among students. Few studentsaremembersofNAMalthoughdissentersCongressendorsedtheworkofthemilleniumorMonday’,hesaid,‘but more attended the Congress than in the Monopolies Group which produced an affirmation of the millenium and Previous years. the report “Way ahead’ recommending Monday.” Fee scale abolition endorsed Although there was a handful of The Architects’ Journal 15 Novernber 1978 925 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Architects Journal Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Murray Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 15-Nov-78