Architects Declare

[edit] Introduction

Architects Declare is a network of architectural practices dedicated to addressing climate change and biodiversity. The organisation was launched in the UK in May 2019. It is now part of Construction Declares which operates in more than 20 countries. Numerous built environment disciplines have signed up to variations of the original 11-point strategy.

[edit] The declaration

In the UK, the 11-point declaration states that those practices agreeing to its terms will seek to:

1. Raise awareness of the climate and biodiversity emergencies and the urgent need for action amongst clients and supply chains.
2. Advocate for faster change in the industry towards regenerative design practices and a higher Government funding priority to support this.
3. Establish climate and biodiversity mitigation principles as the key measure of the industry’s success: demonstrated through awards, prizes and listings.
4. Share knowledge and research to that end on an open source basis.
5. Evaluate all new projects against the aspiration to contribute positively to mitigating climate breakdown and encourage clients to adopt this approach.
6. Upgrade existing buildings for extended use as a more carbon efficient alternative to demolition and new build whenever there is a viable choice.
7. Include life cycle costing, whole life carbon modelling and post occupancy evaluation as part of the basic scope of work, to reduce both embodied and operational resource use.
8. Adopt more regenerative design principles in studios, with the aim of designing architecture and urbanism that goes beyond the standard of net zero carbon in use.
9. Collaborate with engineers, contractors and clients to further reduce construction waste.
10. Accelerate the shift to low embodied carbon materials in all work.
11. Minimise wasteful use of resources in architecture and urban planning, both in quantum and in detail.

Every signatory organisation within Architects Declare is expected to self-govern its progress towards achieving the commitments it has made.

[edit] Updates

In December 2020, Foster and Partners announced that they had withdrawn from the declaration, stating: "Foster + Partners has withdrawn from Architects Declare because, since our founding in 1967, we have pioneered a green agenda and believe that aviation, like any other sector, needs the most sustainable infrastructure to fulfil its purpose..."

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Architect.
• Climate Change Act.
• Climate emergency.
• Climate Emergency Design Guide: How new buildings can meet UK climate change targets.
• Households Declare.
• Net zero carbon 2050.
• Net zero carbon building.
• Regenerative design.
• Structural engineers' climate action.
• The architectural profession.
• What we need for the journey to net-zero carbon emissions.

[edit] External resources

• Architects Declare.
• Construction Declares.