The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published outgoing RIBA President Stephen Hodder’s special report, ‘Client & Architect: developing the essential relationship’.
The report, one of the legacies of Stephen Hodder’s two-year presidency, provides practical advice from clients and architects about how to improve their services and unlock greater value.
The report findings were gathered under Stephen Hodder’s ‘RIBA for Clients’ initiative, which engaged hundreds of clients from a wide range of sectors through roundtable discussions and one to one interviews.
The ‘Client & Architect: developing the essential relationship’ special report summarises findings from hundreds of clients under five key themes:
- Championing the vision
- Bolstering skills and techniques to deliver and champion the vision from concept to completion.
- Listening and understanding
- Understanding a client’s needs better helps architects optimise overall value.
- Engaging with people
- Some architects lack the people skills needed for collaborative working.
- Delivering technical talent
- Clients want architects to maintain their interest through the delivery phase and beyond.
- Learning and Improving
- Clients are increasingly expecting evidence of competence and the effectiveness of designs.
RIBA President Stephen Hodder said: “Over the last two years, we have engaged with some 500 clients to develop architectural knowledge by listening and learning from clients. The objective has been to provide architects with researched insights into the changing needs of major categories of clients so that we can shape our services to better support their outcomes. I hope this report, and the ongoing work which will flow from it, will help architects unlock new opportunities and, importantly, develop the essential relationship between client and architect.”
Sean Cook, Design Director, Clivedale London said: “Stephen Hodder’s proposition will help the profession to remain relevant in the construction industry today. Architects not only should, but must lead the vision, respond positively to clients’ key drivers, and robustly manage its delivery from inception to completion.”
The RIBA Client Liaison Group, chaired by Nigel Ostime of Hawkins\Brown, will continue its work supporting this initiative under new RIBA President (from 1 September) Jane Duncan. It will look to develop the themes of ‘Client & Architect: developing the essential relationship’ and to initiate new programmes in a process of continuous improvement.
The RIBA President’s report, ‘Client & Architect: developing the essential relationship’, will be officially launched at an ‘RIBA for Clients’ Reception on Tuesday 15 September at RIBA, 66 Portland Place, London. The event will be attended by a mix of clients, architects and fellow professionals from the construction industry and will include a panel discussion with clients and their architects, facilitated by broadcaster and presenter Tom Dyckhoff.
