The highly competitive climate of architecture practice in Australia is making it tougher for firms to decide whether to take on projects that have ethical or moral implications, according to a leading principal.
David Holm of Woodhead told Architecture & Design that only a week ago his firm decided not to pursue a project because of the potential damage it could do to the firm’s profile.
Holm said it is important that any “delicate” projects are discussed in an “egalitarian” and “democratic” way. The firm has previously been the subject of protest groups for its work.
“We’re a collective collaborative here … there are many different views on the social and political aspects of projects, so it can also be difficult to get a consistent view,” Holm said.
This comes as Grimshaw Architects, an international firm with an office in Melbourne, has come under fire from climate change protestors for taking on a controversial project.
The firm was recently announced as the masterplanners of the $23 billion expansion of Heathrow airport, which includes a third runway and a sixth terminal.
The project has been charged with undermining the firm’s green credentials, which include designing the Eden Project in Cornwall and being a founding member of the UK Green Building Council.
Firms working on such projects “deserve to have the spotlight thrown on them”, Greenpeace spokesperson Ben Stewart said.
Greenpeace has dubbed the Heathrow project “the greatest climate change project on the planet”.
Last week Plane Stupid, an activist group against the Heathrow expansion, stormed the Architects Awards to hand out a spoof award to the Pascall & Watson, the firm tipped to be in line for the Heathrow work.
Handing out the award, protestor Tracy Howard said: "We're here today to let the architecture world know about the diverse and growing movement against the third runway and airport expansion across the country. Those involved with airport expansion will have to include this growing opposition in their designs and in their budget".
“Trying to build a green airport is like trying to polish a turd,” Joe Ryle, Plane Stupid activist and Heathrow resident, said.
