IBA fails to promote us to public, say members

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05 April 2007

By Will Hurst

Largest ever survey of the profession calls on the institute to campaign harder on key issues

The RIBA is failing to communicate architects’ role and status to the wider public, the largest ever survey of the thoughts of the profession revealed this week.
Despite the huge increase in the public’s awareness of architecture through programmes such as Grand Designs and the televising of the Stirling prize, architects continue to feel misunderstood and marginalised.
The £70,000 survey drew a response from 2,400 architects — or 8% of members — with over half disagreeing with the statement that the “professional status of the architect is understood and respected by the public”. A similar percentage disagreed that the RIBA communicates the architect’s role successfully.
However, in better news for the organisation, the study found strong support for its campaigning stance on the built environment and found that three quarters of those questioned felt proud to call themselves members.
The institute is drawing up a Plan for Success based on the findings, which will be launched in the summer. It will contain a renewed focus on research and campaigning and better communication with members, plus a revamped website.

“Turning the RIBA into a campaigning organisation is absolutely the right thing to do”

Jack Pringle

President Jack Pringle insisted the RIBA was on the right track but said members were hard to please. “The message is loud and clear,” he said. “The idea of turning the RIBA into a campaigning organisation is absolutely the right thing to do. The survey has validated my mandate and has said ‘stick up for the ordinary architect’.
“The membership is hugely ambitious — they won’t let us off the hook on anything and want the institute to fire on all cylinders. And why shouldn’t it?”
The survey also found that only 8% of members are active in the RIBA and that those who use its services have a better view of the institute, rating 10 key services, including the RIBA library and legal help, as excellent.
“Those who use our services seem very pleased with them,” chief executive Richard Hastilow said. “But there is no complacency. We are determined to improve both our two-way communication with members and our engagement in several areas.”
The survey also included a separate review of the RIBA’s relations with external organisations such as government departments, clients and industry bodies.

Fonte: BDonline