Architecture forms the spaces we live in, work in, and move through. Built design reflects values, priorities, and culture. However, when the architectural field lacks diversity and is dominated by only a narrow slice of society, it risks designing spaces that don’t serve everyone equally.
‘In order to produce a better built environment that better serves our communities, we require a diversity of individuals with different personalities and lived experiences to design, deliver and maintain our shared environments’ (Durham & Choi, 2024)
‘Education and awareness are essential factors to encourage an inclusive mindset amongst architectural design professionals… and foster a design process based on inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility principles for the built environment.’ (Zallio & Clarkson, 2021)
The consequences of an undiversified architectural profession are significant. An unvarying architectural field is more likely to overlook the lived experiences of underrepresented communities. Design decisions may unintentionally reinforce social inequities; through inaccessible public spaces, unaffordable housing, or urban developments that displace vulnerable populations. ‘As architects, diverse teams allow us to create better work for our diverse world. Our contributions to our communities fall short when they fail to include a broad range of perspectives.’ (Minott, 2020)
‘As the book superbly demonstrates, it is the differences we all possess that strengthen the environments we create’ (Zallio & Clarkson, 2021)
Without that diversity, architecture recycles the same ideas, priorities and culture. It weakens the profession’s credibility in tackling architectural challenges, from a lack of diverse role models in the field to urban inequality. ‘Young people need roles models to see themselves in the profession to believe they belong in it. A lack of role models limits the pipeline of future talent, keeping the cycle going.’ (Minott, 2020)
Growing up, it was natural to think that Architecture could be a route to helping people’, but architects collectively ‘are not representative of the populations they serve. I believe that the pipeline bringing young people, women, people of colour and working-class students into my profession is fundamentally broken and must be fixed’ (Elsie Owusu, 2020)
Elsie Owusu is an architect who was honoured by the Queen for services to architecture as Founding Chair of the Society of Black Architects.
Diverse representation matters, not just as a moral requirement, but as a design necessity. Architects from varied backgrounds bring unique perspectives to how spaces function and feel. A diverse architectural team have varied responses to challenges in the built environment, depending on their lived experiences and cultural upbringing, offering a different perspective to consider. These insights lead to more inclusive architectural solutions. Diversifying architecture is about rethinking who architecture is for and who gets to shape it. An inclusive built environment starts with an inclusive profession.
References
Durham, H., & Choi, G. (2024). Inclusion Emergency. Routledge.
Kudzai Matsvai. (2024). Inclusion Emergency: “An emergency that we can no longer afford to ignore.” Building Design. https://www.bdonline.co.uk/briefing/inclusion-emergency-an-emergency-that-we-can-no-longer-afford-to-ignore/5130023.article
Minott, G. (2020, October 26). Op-Ed: The future of our profession depends on diversity. The Architect’s Newspaper. https://www.archpaper.com/2020/10/op-ed-the-future-of-our-profession-depends-on-diversity
TEDx Talks. (2020). Architecture: Why Diversity Matters | Elsie Owusu | TEDxEuston. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSn_097rf94
Zallio, M., & Clarkson, P. J. (2021). Inclusion, diversity, Equity and Accessibility in the Built environment: a Study of Architectural Design Practice. Building and Environment, 206, 108352. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360132321007496
Figures
Figure 1: Inclusion Emergency by Hannah Durham and Grace Choi. Published in 2024, it is an up-to-date review of the lack of diversity represented in the field.
https://www.bdonline.co.uk/briefing/inclusion-emergency-an-emergency-that-we-can-no-longer-afford-to-ignore/5130023.article
Figure 2: Elsie Owusu
https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/archive/elsie-owusu-leaves-feilden-mawson
Figure 3: Architecture: Why Diversity Matters by Elsie Owusu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSn_097rf94
