![]() ![]() If a law graduate with five years’ experience can command a salary of £60k, shouldn’t an architect with five years post qualification experience be commanding a salary of at least the same? Retrospective salary surveys are a useful tool, but they should be balanced with a more commensurate, or even aspirational, forecast of remuneration that recognises the complex tasks and risks that we take on – surely this would not contravene the competition laws that led to the disbandment of fee scales, and would force practices to value their services and staff more? Recent initiatives such as the Pay 100 have highlighted the issue of architects’ low pay, particularly at the beginning of our careers, and in contrast to other comparable professions. It is up to practices to compete for work fairly and without bringing profession into disrepute, by relying on unpaid overtime and low salaries to resource and underdeliver their projects – it’s dangerous and unhealthy. No one is going to solve this problem for us. The undercutting of fees is an issue at every level of the profession. What do you think architecture practices need most support with?Īs a profession we have been serially undervaluing our core activities for decades – from our experience this trait is not limited to the UK either. From left to right: Mike, Max, Derek and Sophie (Credit: Paul Fuller) Make no mistake, this isn’t an easy route to follow, but it opens us all up to think differently about the places that we make. Their unique insights add value to our work in ways that a traditional university education can only fail to provide. Derek originally trained as a car mechanic and Max was a metal roofer before taking a part-time course at the University of Greenwich. There is a lot of snobbery still in the industry, but the ability to accept candidates from different backgrounds and experience can only enrich what we do. The cost and relevance of full-time study to practice, combined with low salaries, will not attract the best and more representative next generation of candidates we need to make practicing architecture a more attractive prospect and career. We have been taking clients and teams through the stages early, so that there are no surprises.Īccess into architecture is also a ticking time bomb for the profession. Over the last year we have been actively setting up procedures for becoming Gateway 2 ready. We can’t complain about being marginalised if we, as a profession, don’t use this genuine opportunity to take the lead. There is a perception within some quarters of the profession that the risk of this activity is to be avoided, but these thoughts are surely counterintuitive, as the process is primarily about de-risking the construction and occupation of buildings. This is an opportunity for practices to take on more responsibility within the development of the built environment, and with this agency comes greater authority and ultimately more worth. ![]() However, one particular focus for us currently is the Building Safety Act. There isn’t one single most important issue for architects to focus on there are many issues continually affecting the way that we all practice and design. What do you think is the most important issue for architects to focus on right now, and what are you doing as a practice to tackle it? This month, RIBA London spoke to Atomik Architecture's leaders Mike Oades, Derek Draper, Max Fraser, and Sophie McCarthy. Atomik values the social aspects of construction and strives to seamlessly integrate into projects with a humble attitude to accomplish tasks effectively. This adds value through efficiency, freeing up more budget for delight.Ī strong focus has been placed on technical proficiency and Atomik Construct was introduced last year after engaging in various technical projects. ![]() The benefit of this approach means that it can take creative ‘swipes’ between sectors benefiting clients with a richer result that is more closely attuned to the brief. Combining large practice expertise and efficiency (Foster+Partners, Aedas, and Woods Bagot) and a small practice attention to detail, they have created a nimble organisation. ![]()
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