Working Class Heroes
Class is the elephant in the room of architecture. It’s an open secret that posh people educated at selective and private schools, inheriting family wealth and connections enjoy disproportionate success in a sector still riddled with barriers and prejudices that penalise working class people. An Architecture Foundation study of the practices featured in its book New Architects 3 found that just 45 per cent of their founders had been to state schools – a dramatically lower percentage than even notoriously elitist Oxbridge – meritocracy is a myth!
It's not that every architecture worker is rich – a junior designer pulling overtime is probably working for less than the minimum wage – but research suggests that half of all architects come from families where at least one parent held a management or professional career.
It doesn’t have to be this way! A more inclusive sector, able to appreciate and champion working class voices could not only give young people from less privileged backgrounds the same opportunities as their middle class peers, but could better connect with the wider public and the community it serves. Architecture has nothing to lose from becoming less dominated by posh nepo babies, but everything to gain.
At this Accelerate Debate, our speakers will celebrate a working class hero of theirs who deserves to be better known and celebrated in the industry. Join us at RichMix to hear about some remarkable working class designers and interrogate the wider question of class in architecture.
Speakers
Time and Location
Thursday, 14th September
7.00pm – 9.00pm (doors: 6.30pm)
Rich Mix, Shoreditch
Please note this event is in-person only but related topics are discussed on Open City’s free podcast every week for remote audiences. Search for Open City wherever you get your podcast to subscribe.
Tickets
Standard: £12.00
Concessions: £8.00
Image
In the 1970s, when many of the best architects worked for local authorities (as shown in this National Union of Public Employees poster from the era) the profession was arguably more inclusive of working class talent as success was less dominated by middle class people with the capital to start their own practices.
Partners
The Section of Architectural Workers (SAW), is a grassroots trade union for architectural workers in the U.K. SAW collectively take action and fight against the negative impacts of architectural work on workers, communities, and the environment.
Members of SAW organise both in their workplaces and across the sector around overwork, under-pay, unstable employment, a toxic workplace and university culture, discrimination and unethical practice. Members facilitate collective casework, host training and events, and run campaigns.