Martin Knight's RIBA Council election statement:
Ben Derbyshire PPRIBA FRSA HonAIA
Chair, HTA Design LLP, designers and placemakers in the built environment. Past President, RIBA. President, London Forum of Amenity & Civic Societies. Commissioner, Historic England. All views expressed are my own.
I believe that good design is vital – that it improves lives, adds value and is lasting – and that architects have the skills, opportunities and moral obligation to improve the built environment. The RIBA is the loudest voice the profession has to make positive change.
Speaking as an architect but also as an employer, whose colleagues include German, Spanish, French and Italian as well as UK nationals, I know the huge benefits of diversity and how much richer, successful and more enjoyable our work has become through these international relationships. As much of world politics appears to retreat behind national boundaries I believe architects should reach beyond them, to protect and grow our cultural riches and encourage the transfer of knowledge and skills.
The RIBA enjoys a strong reputation internationally and, especially over the term of this RIBA Council, I believe the RIBA should be a leading voice in support of UK and EU workers’ rights through the process of Brexit as well as in promoting and developing the long-term reputation of British architectural practices and education worldwide.
I previously served two terms on RIBA Council (2008-14) and understand the challenge as well as the potential that Council has in both representing the membership and helping the RIBA to be the progressive and outward-looking face of our profession.
Martin Knight founded Knight Architects in 2006 and the twenty-strong studio is a leading international practice specialising in infrastructure and bridge design. Alongside many project-specific awards, the practice was named Specialist Consultant of the Year in the NCE/ACE Consultants of the Year Awards 2015 and BD Infrastructure Architect of the Year 2017. The practice has completed bridges in Germany and New Zealand as well as numerous projects in the UK and is active in China, Finland, Germany, Ireland and Sweden. Martin is 2017 Visiting Professor at TU Graz, Austria and sits on the Design Review Panel of the Design Commission for Wales.