New-works doesn’t actually propose anything all that new.
New-works doesn’t actually propose anything all that new.
Our Low Line arches project were detail designed through construction by delivery specialists, while we remained at our client’s side as concept guardian
The structure we have described in our About Us page is not unheard of. Our industry is populated with talented architects whose strengths lie in different stages. Ideas focused people move into ‘design’ practices where their ideas solve the riddles and unlock a project’s potential. Technical minds gravitate towards delivery where the challenges of bringing a project into the real world lie.
We are in the former camp. We are ideas focused.
At TDO we also delivered a great number of projects over 14 years, and set high standards for ourselves in doing so. Through providing all-services architecture we became aware that the realities of the two distinct phases of a project - ideas and delivery - required two distinct personalities, which don't always coexist to the same extent in individual architects.
We see a quiet mental health crisis in our profession that is in part fuelled by an expectation (partly self-imposed) that architects should provide a full range of architectural services and fill any generally unspecified roles on a project in doing so. We believe that is compounded by marginal fees, which lead to a reliance on un-paid overtime.
We feel passionately that this culture needs to change. We can do that by all but the smallest and largest practices moving away from an all-services model, and into the more exciting space of specialists teams working together: design architects collaborating with delivery architects.
Our engagement with MMC, particularly our FAB house project for Urban Splash, has taught us that there are some incredibly talented and inspirational designers we should be celebrating and handing over to for the delivery phase.
Delivery practices - executive architects - already exist. But too often they are architectural ghost-writers. One of our favourite delivery practices has delivered two Stirling prize shortlisted buildings, but you would not know it.
One of their sources of work is sub-contract services for concept architects short on resource to deliver their projects. Their clients might not even know about the arrangement.
Our belief is that the prevailing all-services model of architectural services means architects say they can do too much. That they are experts in everything, concept and delivery. Say yes first and make it work afterwards.
We believe the breadth of knowledge required of our profession necessitates embracing specialism. We can’t do it all, and in fact our clients probably don’t want us to.
Delivery architects should be in the foreground and involved in the concept phase to input on optimising the design, and concept architects should remain involved throughout delivery at their clients’ sides as concept guardians.
Under the BSA our clients have a greater duty than ever to appoint teams with the right skills, experience and processes. We believe this is best achieved with transparency and by specialists working in collaboration. We do not believe this needs to cost our clients any more: there are no additional architectural services to be done.
We believe this approach will lead to better quality control, more choice and better value for clients, more sustainable models of practice, more appropriately skilled teams, more sustainable buildings and improved wellbeing in the profession.
Tom Lewith, New-works Founding Director