The Architects’ Journal Architecture News & Buildings
McAulay, founder of the virtual Anthropocene Architecture School, who has lectured at 19 architecture schools to date, argues that the answer to every brief should not be a new building. Architects must rethink their role as stewards of the built environment rather than designers, and students should be taught to scrutinise a brief in its larger context. Perhaps a vacant or under-utilised building nearby can be transformed to meet a client’s needs.
In this episode, McAulay argues that any brave head of school can make change right away and he cites specific examples. Students also have the power to collectively organise and ask for change. Tutors must upskill alongside students. McAulay insists that technical knowledge about climatic design is essential but it must go hand in hand with understanding a project’s social, political and cultural context. Metrics alone are not enough and they are most effective when applied to students’ projects and taught in an interdisciplinary manner by a range of specialists.
Murphy describes the workstreams of the ACAN Education group and makes a call-out for new members.
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About Scott McAulay
Scott McAulay founded the Anthropocene Architecture School (AAS) in 2019 as part of Glasgow’s Architecture Fringe. Since founding AAS, Scott has catalysed over 40 climate literacy workshops and participated in 100+ events. Both Scott and the AAS have an active social media presence, including extensive links to further resources and a climate literacy reading list of more than 100 titles on Instagram.
Scott completed his part one at the University of Strathclyde in 2019 and is currently working as an architectural assistant in Architype’s Edinburgh office, while continuing his climate activism. He was recognised as an RIBAJ Rising Star in 2020.
About Rosie Murphy
Rosie Murphy is diversity and solidarity coordinator for ACAN, the Architects Climate Action Network, and co-coordinator of ACAN’s Education Group. She is also an advocate for the Black Females in Architecture network and a mentor for HomeGrown+ with educator Neil Pinder, winner of this year’s AJ100 Contribution to the Profession Award. Rosie completed her Part 2 at the Centre For Alternative Technology in 2021, following her Part 1 at the Bartlett. She now works at social enterprise MATT + FIONA empowering young people to shape their own built environment.
Show notes: Projects and resources mentioned in this episode
Anthropocene Architecture School
Half Studio, University of Toronto, Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design
Some Kind of Nature studio, Manchester School of Architecture
The Entangled Activist by Anthea Lawson (Perspectiva Press, 2021)
Retrofit Reimagined, Birmingham (July 2021) Watch the presentations here
Bertschi School Living Science Building
Black Females in Architecture network
To contact the ACAN Education group, email education@architectscan.org
In association with
Climate Champions is produced in association with ACAN, the Architects’ Climate Action Network
Podcast produced and edited by Simon Aldous
Music: Edmilson do Pífano, Forró de dois Amigos. Interpretation: Felipe Tanaka e banda Balaio de Baião