“NEW DIRECTIONS: Deploying Architects’ Skills for Distressed Environment”

The architectural profession, by its own account, is both in search of identity and in transition, looking to reclaim purpose, scope, value and meaning of architects’ work. This identity crisis is shaping and redefining what is it to be an architect in the 21st century and demands that the education of architect adapts to new challenges driven by the climate change and digitalisation of work and life. At the same time, the core framework for becoming a competent architect remains at the intersection of cultural, technical and social disciplines where critical thinking and design skills combined with spatial briefs lead to creative solutions of concrete problems. However, there is a lack of clarity on the architect’s social agency and a general lack of knowledge by the public on the value of architect’s work.

If an architect can be perceived as a socio-spatial problem solver, in other words, an activist, there is a need for new learning and reframing of the old learning into one more responsive to current conditions in the 21st century. That learning can be situated within a formal education and formation of architect but it cannot be static. Instead, it has to morph with life-long learning rooted in the architectural practice, but more importantly in society and professional advocacy shaped by the international professional associations, particularly at the EU level.

This presentation will look into global findings on changes of the role and profile of architect during education and beyond, articulated by the Education Commission of the Union of International Architects -UIA. It will draw inspiration from the initiatives by the Architect’s Council of Europe expressed in its publication “Form Follows Transformation”. Finally, it will reflect on regional opportunities arising from the platform New European Bauhaus Forum for Bosnia and Herzegovina.