Above: National Library of Australia in Canberra, designed by Noel Potter.
A raw deal for sole practitioners is causing the profession to lose its dynamism and is putting off young architects, according to recently-honoured architect, Noel Potter.
As large, global practices begin to monopolize the profession, sole practitioners are being squeezed out, Potter, who was honoured as part of the Australia Day celebrations last week, said.
“Many sole practitioners struggle to get work now and have to consolidate with so-called named architects to get commissions,” he told Architecture & Design.
And, if the profession continues to lose sole practitioners it will become less dynamic, which in turn will deter young architects from entering and remaining in the industry, he said.
“Starting salaries are terrible. They’re about the lowest paid of any graduate. And [young architects] can see that there’s a big hill to climb,” the Canberra architect said.
Potter, who developed a professional practice lecture series before his retirement, as well as working as a senior counsellor for the Australian Institute of Architects, said that the profession should bring back apprenticeships.
“When they come out, [graduates] can put up their brass plate and say they’re an architect but they don’t know anything about practice — they know the rules and regulations but they don’t know how to play the game.”
There still needs to be a “bridge” between university and practice, Potter said, especially when it comes to legal knowledge.
“It’s not just what architects face from clients, but from the legal fraternity. Contract and negligence law can get very complicated,” he said.??Working with an architect can be great preparation for practice, Potter said.
“I think it’s a wonderful profession, I just think it’s a pity that young architects don’t get a fair go … The best talent doesn’t come from the top. I think it’s individual talent - when you’re just slaving over the drawing board - that’s when it shows.”
