Neal Shasore argues RIBA presidential election is toothless
Architecture historian Neal Shasore argues that the upcoming RIBA presidential election will do little to address the profession's deep-seated issues. He traces the election's history to 1981, when Owen Luder defeated Andrew Derbyshire with just over 5,000 votes on a 36.4% turnout. Shasore notes that voter turnout has since fallen below 10%. He contends the election is an 'invented tradition' that distracts from real power bases, such as the remunerated chair of the RIBA board and the CEO. Shasore points to the 1920s RIBA Defence League and the 1931 Architects' Registration Act as examples of systemic problems persisting for a century. He criticizes the lack of debate on key decisions like ending the V&A partnership or the Repeal, Reserve, Regulate campaign. Shasore concludes that a short-term president cannot effect meaningful change and calls for accountability where policy is actually formed.
Key facts
- Neal Shasore is a British architecture historian and former CEO of the London School of Architecture (2021-2025).
- The RIBA presidential election has been held by membership vote only since 1981.
- Owen Luder won the 1981 election with just over 5,000 votes against Andrew Derbyshire's nearly 3,000, on a 36.4% turnout.
- Voter turnout in the most recent RIBA presidential election was under 10%.
- The RIBA board chair is a remunerated position with fiduciary responsibility, selected without membership vote.
- The RIBA's House of Architecture plans show the chair's office is the largest of the three executive rooms.
- Key RIBA decisions like ending the V&A partnership and the Repeal, Reserve, Regulate campaign were not part of any recent presidential ballot.
- The Architects' Registration Act of 1931 protected the title 'Registered Architect' after decades of lobbying.
Entities
Artists
- Neal Shasore
- Owen Luder
- Andrew Derbyshire
- Jake Brown
- Eric Hobsbawm
- Terrance Ranger
Institutions
- RIBA
- Dezeen
- London School of Architecture
- GLC Architects' Department
- Salaried Architects Group
- Society of Architects
- RIBA Defence League
- RIBA Emergency Committee
- Architects Registration Council
- ARB
- V&A
- Architects' Journal
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- 66 Portland Place
- Whitehall
Sources
- Dezeen —