ARCHIVE Buro Happold Competition winner blog
An excellent blog post from Rob Pollard, winner of our student architect essay competition.
As an architecture student, and having recently researched and written an essay myself, I feel that Designing Buildings Wiki is an excellent source of information for fellow students. Other than the RIBA library, there are very few dedicated resources where students can research architectural history and theory. Designing Buildings Wiki gives us an instant-access online resource with a helpful encyclopaedic format. This a great resource for research and it also allows us to publish our own work online.
For my own essay ‘The History of the Architect as a Profession’ I had to travel to London to use the RIBA library. I wanted to include a list of the bodies that govern the architectural profession in different countries around the world, but couldn’t find comprehensive, up to date information anywhere. There was very little online, and my university library was only of limited help. So I had to compile a list from scratch myself by searching for each individual governing body.
Having gone to all that trouble, and knowing my list and the rest of the research I’d done for the essay would be useful to other people, it was great to be able to upload it onto Designing Buildings Wiki. So now when people search for information about the architectural profession they will find my essay. Try googling – architecture "governing bodies" – and you’ll see it already comes up on the first page of the results.
Check out the other winners of our student competitions
- The winners of the student engineer competition...
- The winners of the student architect competition...
Smart cities - Great new article by Buro Happold
50% of the population lives in cities, but they account for 75% of the consumption and 75% of the pollution…Smart Cities should be about more than just technology….they should also balance opportunities through smart planning, design and construction...
Featured articles and news
The benefits of engaging with insulation manufacturers
When considering ground floor constructions.
Lighting Industry endorses Blueprint for Electrification
The Lighting Industry Association fully supports the ECA Blueprint as a timely, urgent call to action.
BSRIA Sentinel Clerk of Works Training Case Study
Strengthening expertise to enhance service delivery with integrated cutting-edge industry knowledge.
Impact report from the Supply Chain Sustainability School
Free sustainability skills, training and support delivered to thousands of UK companies to help cut carbon.
The Building Safety Forum at the Installershow 2025
With speakers confirmed for 24 June as part of Building Safety Week.
The UK’s largest air pollution campaign.
Future Homes Standard, now includes solar, but what else?
Will the new standard, due to in the Autumn, go far enough in terms of performance ?
BSRIA Briefing: Cleaner Air, Better tomorrow
A look back at issues relating to inside and outside air quality, discussed during the BSRIA briefing in 2023.
Restoring Abbotsford's hothouse
Bringing the writer Walter Scott's garden to life.
Reflections on the spending review with CIAT.
Retired firefighter cycles world to raise Grenfell funds
Leaving on 14 June 2025 Stephen will raise money for youth and schools through the Grenfell Foundation.
Key points for construction at a glance with industry reactions.
Functionality, visibility and sustainability
The simpler approach to specification.
Architects, architecture, buildings, and inspiration in film
The close ties between makers and the movies, with our long list of suggested viewing.
SELECT three-point plan for action issued to MSPs
Call for Scottish regulation, green skills and recognition of electrotechnical industry as part of a manifesto for Scottish Parliamentary elections.
UCEM becomes the University of the Built Environment
Major milestone in its 106-year history, follows recent merger with London School of Architecture (LSE).
Professional practical experience for Architects in training
The long process to transform the nature of education and professional practical experience in the Architecture profession following recent reports.