A survey of architecture practitioners has found that an overwhelming majority of architects are concerned about the climate crisis, but they continue to face resistance to change from the wider built environment industry.
The survey was conducted by the cross-institutional research group Architecture Climate Future, comprising researchers from the University of Queensland, University of New South Wales, RMIT University, University of Sydney, Western Sydney University and Building 4.0 CRC.
Conducted in late 2022, the survey received 899 responses from practitioners.
“We asked practitioners about their perceptions of the climate crisis, what they and their practice were doing about it and their hopes for the future of the profession,” Liz Brogden, who coordinated the survey.
The survey round that 93 percent of architecture practitioners reported concern about climate change, and that 95 percent agree that architects should be part of the solution to climate change issues. 79 percent reported that their workplaces are actively involved in sustainable practices.
The survey also revealed a gap in knowledge for practitioners. While 86 percent were confident about applying passive design principles, only 26 percent were confident with whole life-cycle assessment and 22 percent were confident applying Indigenous care for Country strategies.
“Many felt that the profession falls short due to a lack of knowledge,” the survey report reads.
“This knowledge gap was observed by some as a “pipeline problem” starting in higher education, where outdated curricula perpetuate a lack of skills and knowledge about sustainability. In practice, staff need retraining, with some respondents expressing frustration that senior staff hold entrenched beliefs and resist change. The need to build change management skills was also mentioned.”
Brogden added that “Many respondents said they were overwhelmed by the number of different sustainability rating systems and tools available, with a strong call for a more ‘standardized’ central source of climate information.”
According to respondents to the survey, access to education is also scattered with 83 percent relying on self-education to upskill, 42 percent said target sustainability CPD would be useful, and 79 percent said Indigenous care for country is an important part of the solution to climate change.
Additionally, 82 percent of practitioners felt obstructed by barriers to achieving sustainable design outcomes, with the majority citing clients (61.3 percent) and developers (51.9 percent) among the top three barriers.
“[The respondents] observed that clients frequently focus on capital expenditure without considering operational costs over the life cycle of a project. Compounding this problem is the fast turnover development model driving a “race to the bottom” approach to sustainable design.”
The survey also generated 1063 recommendations for action, which included increasing knowledge about sustainability, advocating for more support and connecting across industries and disciplines, and with First Nations peoples.
Architects feel implicated in climate change issues because of the environmental impacts of the built environment, and this can have psychosocial implications for the profession,” Brogden said.
“But being solutions-oriented and a creative discipline, architecture is also perfectly placed to imagine and advocate for effective climate action.”
Source: Architecture - architectureau
