Theme 2019 - ARCHITECTURE IS ENTREPRENEURSHIP?

Architects often frame their professional identity with almost exclusive respect to the buildings they design. Traditionally a client would consult an Architect to get consultancy services for his building needs and such services were very much limited to particular projects. His involvement in a broader picture was not very much emphasized and either it was left with certain other Professionals or such needs did not arise. But today, the need of the society has changed considerably.

This changing nature of the society and the issues it confronts should compel more Architects to consider their expertise and the manner in which it is deployed. Given the current economic distress, environmental strain and geopolitical unrest, there is growing pressure on societies to find creative solutions to vast, complex and acute issues that transcend the design of the built environment itself. Clearly the built environment and those that shape it are critically important, but it isn’t the only venue for Architects to make meaningful contributions to society. One key to exploring enhanced productivity for Architects may reside in the Profession’s self conceptions and its relationship to entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship which is considered a process by which one could pursue opportunities without regard to the resources they control bears a striking resemblance to the activities of an Architect, where Architects are adept at pursuing opportunities to shape the built environment.

Even though Architecture can be understood as an entrepreneurial endeavour, entrepreneurship isn’t often an explicit part of Architectural practice or education. As such, Architects rarely view themselves as active entrepreneurs or leverage their entrepreneurial potential in any venue other than Architectural practice. It is timely that we develop entrepreneurial architecture and make a significant change in the society and in the profession. What actions should be taken by the practitioners and educators to accommodate a transition should be explored as a more robust form of entrepreneurship is needed.

This conference explores entrepreneurship in Architecture, its limitations in practice and its potential role as a more integrated component of Architectural practice and also architectural education. Not only does an expanded understanding of Architecture and entrepreneurship promise to make Architects more effective within standard mode of practice, but it also represents latest opportunities for Architects to pursue unconventional methods of practice to address an expanding array of societal changes both locally and globally.

The conference will initiate discussion and a dialogue among the actors in the industry and the policy makers to be more aware of Architecture and entrepreneurship and why it matters and how?