Protection of Function: Why We Need It

This is an article summary from the Rethinking the Architectural Profession in the Post-Grenfell Era essay series written by enframe. Summaries available on the Building Safety wki and full articles via Substack links in each article.

Complex, often controversial and regularly debated in the industry, Protection of Function is the focus of our next series of articles. We’ll be looking at why we need it; how we define it; historical context and some uncomfortable truths; and how we might move forward with a unified approach.

In the UK, the title "architect" is protected under the Architects Act 1997, but the function of architectural work is not.

Not protecting function allows unregulated individuals to perform critical tasks like submitting Building Regulations applications, managing High-Risk Buildings (HRBs), and even supervising construction projects.

This lack of regulatory oversight exposes the public to significant risks. With an estimated 20,000 unregulated ‘architectural designers’ or ‘consultants’ operating alongside approximately 42,000 registered architects, the system fails to ensure safety, accountability, and professional standards.

Grenfell Tower is a stark warning of what can go wrong when architectural functions are performed without proper regulation. The tragedy revealed the devastating consequences of unqualified individuals overseeing complex, high-risk projects.

Other professions already protect their function. Doctors, lawyers, and veterinary surgeons cannot legally perform their roles without regulation. So why is architecture so different?

It's time to move beyond protection of Title and start protecting the function of architectural work to safeguard public safety, uphold professional standards, restore trust and value the Architect.

We want to hear from you. Should architectural functions be protected by law? What are your ideas, or solutions?

Sign-up to read the article and comment here: Enframe Substack Protection of Function: Why We Need It

--enframe

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