National President’s foreword: Architecture Australia, November 1996

Archive |

1 Nov 1996

This is an article from the Architecture Australia archives and may use outdated formatting

It should come as no surprise that the final issue of Architecture Australia each year is the most sought after, by members of the architectural profession, general readers and advertisers. It is, after all, “the Awards issue”.

The RAIA Architecture Awards program involves RAIA members around Australia and overseas, Regional, Chapter and National juries, and many people who devote hours of dedicated work. Together with our congratulations to those who have received awards must go our thanks to those who participated by submitting their work for consideration and those who gave their time to the often thankless task of administering and assessing more than 500 entries.

Each year the validity of the awards program is questioned by sceptics from within and outside our profession, and each year they fail to come up with any objections of substance. There can be no question that the authors of the submitted works benefit by peer review and the later public critical analysis and recognition. The profession at large benefits by the interest in architecture stimulated by the announcement of the awards (at local, state, national and international levels) and by the publication of awards entries. The popularity of the awards issue of AA is testiment to this.

“To those whose works have been awarded, congratulations and to those who have contributed to make the program an undeniable success, thank you.”

An Awards entry represents just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the work done on a project by the architect. Increasingly in the RAIA Architecture Awards program, consideration is being given to the procurement process, the arrangements and working associations between the architect, the client and the sub-consultants engaged in commissions, the quality of the documentation, the contract management and cost control achieved - in short, to the quality of design and project delivery.

In the previous issue of Architecture Australia, I emphasised that design was the architect’s principal point of difference in the current highly competitive marketplace. The dilemma is that without the ability to satisfactorily manage all aspects of a project, the value of good design is dramatically reduced.

The economist Adam Smith said “goods are not fully produced until they are in the hands of the consumer”. So it could be said, a building is not fully designed until it has been delivered ready for occupancy. Moreover, architects must fully accept and strive to complete their responsibility for a project in a manner which is not just satisfactory, but of the highest standard - a standard which reflects favourably on them and really warrants the title “architect”. Excellence in service delivery is a further way in which architects can differentiate themselves in a marketplace with a reputation for mediocre performances.

To those whose works have been awarded, congratulations and to those who have contributed to make the program an undeniable success, thank you.

As 1996 draws to a close, it is timely to reflect on the key events which will shape the future of our Institute in the immediate and long term, not least of which are official endorsement from the members for a restructure of the governance of the RAIA and a change of federal government which both pose challenges and opportunities.

As this is the last Architecture Australia for 1996, on behalf of the RAIA may I take this opportunity to extend the compliments of the season to all members and readers and extend good wishes for an enjoyable and beneficial 1997.

John Castles LFRAIA
National President