Reflections on UKREiiF and why we need a RIBA Room of Architecture

Our collaboration with James Bridle for Bold Tendencies

At UKRiiEF there were many RIBA members and reps - lead by Chris Williamson - busily walking and chatting, sitting on panels and at round tables, or being hosted at dinners and drinks receptions - fantastic and tireless advocacy for the profession.

UKREiiF uniquely provides a non-London centric landscape for numerous valuable quick-fire chats and intense conversation - with over 16k people representing the many faceted interests and specialisms within the built environment sector.

Many of the conversations I was involved in this year at UKREiiF focused on our industry's shared responsibility to the communities we serve. In the face of multiple crisis - from Housing to Climate - I believe these require an ethical renewal of how we all work together, with a focus on truly sustainable, regenerative and resilient communities, and RIBA can be that agent of change needed to help renew our industry, because Architects have the experience and creative responses to how we can work through these complex challenges.

To achieve this, RIBA has to be at the centre of these discussions at UKREiiF - and other events across the calendar - where hard and knotty issues are being discussed, often with an Architect invited to participate, but rarely with an Architect leading and forming the day’s agenda.

What we need is a base from which to set the agenda and lead the meetings. We need a room designed by Architects to host talks and workshops with collaborators, that has corners, edges and thresholds to meet new contacts or renew shared values, that provides a bit of shelter and places to sit, take a breath, to grab a biscuit and make a much needed cup of tea.

With the RIBA House of Architecture being constructed to provide a base for the profession in the capital, we also need a reusable pop-up RIBA Room of Architecture for each and every event across the UK in 2027, such as FutureBuild, Footprint, and esp. UKREiiF.

As RIBA London Chair I have limited influence in National level decision making to advocate for this, however I’d hope that if elected to National Council (voting opens 15th June) I’ll be able to work hard with colleagues within RIBA to achieve it. I believe that with members support and participation, this could be an exciting annual ‘small project’ for RIBA to showcase the talent of our members and provide a base for the profession at next year's events.

Doug Hodgson, New-works Founding Director, RIBA London Chair