Chris Williamson, the current President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), is making waves with his unconventional leadership. In just six months, he has challenged established norms by relinquishing his professional architect designation and unveiling an ambitious proposal for a high-speed rail system across the UK and Ireland. His actions stem from a desire to ignite greater ambition within the architectural profession and demonstrate the profound impact architects can achieve, even with the ceremonial limitations of his presidential role.
Williamson's tenure began with a sense of urgency to effect meaningful change within the two-year presidential term. Initially, he harbored concerns about making a significant mark. However, an encounter while presenting Part 3 certificates to architecture students proved to be a pivotal moment. The realization that graduates needed to pay a subscription fee to the Architects Registration Board (ARB) simply to use the title of 'architect' struck him as illogical. This observation spurred his bold decision to terminate his own registration with the ARB.
The move to step down from the architects' register, which meant he could no longer officially call himself an architect, was met with surprising support from RIBA. Despite his initial expectation of resistance, the institution embraced his provocative idea, quickly issuing a press release that solidified his commitment. Williamson views this action not as a mere publicity stunt, but as a catalyst for critical dialogue. He believes it has successfully brought both the ARB and RIBA to the negotiating table, fostering essential discussions about the future of architectural regulation and the profession's functions that necessitate oversight.
Beyond his stance on professional regulation, Williamson captured public attention with his grand vision for 'The Loop' – a high-speed railway network designed to link nine cities across the UK and Ireland, including Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bangor, Dublin, and Belfast. This extensive project, envisioned with elevated stone viaducts, aims to reignite a sense of national ambition for infrastructure development. He draws parallels to the rapid railway construction of the 19th century, lamenting a current lack of forward-thinking in significant projects.
His proposal for 'The Loop' has garnered a mixed reception, contrasting sharply with the widespread approval for his decision to renounce his architect title. Williamson acknowledges the public's divided opinions, noting that while the ARB decision received overwhelming support, his rail project has been met with a 50/50 split of enthusiasm and critique, especially on social media. Despite the backlash, he remains steadfast, emphasizing the need for resilience and a 'thick skin' when pursuing large-scale, transformative ideas.
Williamson’s inspiration for such large-scale endeavors comes from observing ambitious projects in other nations, notably Saudi Arabia, where he has faced criticism for his studio's involvement. He admires the enthusiasm engineers often show for infrastructure and draws parallels to visionary architects like Cedric Price, Archigram, and Will Alsop, whose innovative but sometimes impractical ideas nonetheless pushed boundaries. He also cites Steve Jobs's pursuit of the iPhone as an example of realizing an ambitious vision without a predetermined path.
Addressing concerns about the feasibility of such projects, particularly in light of the UK's troubled HS2 high-speed rail initiative, Williamson argues that past setbacks should not extinguish future aspirations. He points to historical successes like the Channel Tunnel and acknowledges that even celebrated figures like Isambard Kingdom Brunel encountered financial difficulties. For Williamson, these examples underscore that temporary failures are part of the journey toward achieving extraordinary feats. He hopes that his presidency will ultimately empower and encourage young architects to think big and challenge the status quo, much like he endeavors to do.