Obsolete? Relevance of the architect’s role and the changing nature of the architectural profession

Abstract

This paper uses an exploratory approach and literature analysis as strategies of inquiry to report on the general state of the architectural profession in selected developed and developing countries. Through review of published articles on the architectural profession, architects’ roles and their workplaces/practices,  a research strategy is developed, starting with a comparative analysis in the evaluation of the profession in regard to past, present and future relevance. A similar comparative analysis is used in investigating strategies employed in maintaining the position of the architect, where four key strategies from adapted from the literature are discussed with respect to both developing and developed countries.

The findings reveal growing concerns towards the relevance of the architect’s role and the profession in general, both in developed and developing nations. The study further discusses strategies recommended from the literature to be put under consideration to ensure the sustained relevance of the profession.  

Keywords

• Architectural profession,Communication,Architectural education,Architectural design process,Architects role,User involvement,Innovation,Knowledge Management

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