Just like manufacturing, architecture is dependent on international trade. British architects export their services, bringing back work and revenues, while a net influx of foreign architects fills offices: A fifth of the profession nationwide is foreign, and in London, a third, according to British architect Piers Taylor. Norman Foster, who heads Foster + Partners, more than 1,000 architects strong, said, “My practice absolutely depends on talent, and much of that talent is foreign.” — Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times details responses of leading British architects, including David Chipperfield, Norman Foster, Richard Rogers, in the light of the looming March 29 deadline for the UK to officially leave the EU—if this Brexit happens without further delay.
"Chipperfield has emerged as architecture’s Churchill in the letter-writing campaign, as he has waged an eloquent, diplomatic campaign of letters to the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Guardian, among others," writes Joseph Giovannini for the LAT. "Like other 'remainers' who mainly argue staying in the EU in economic terms, Chipperfield does acknowledge the economic advantages of remaining, but he points out that commercial criteria and the myopia of money have crowded out the philosophical and political debate."
Last June, the AJ reported that prominent UK architecture firms, Foster + Partners and Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, even considered leaving London for the European Union if Brexit meant a significant drag on their ability to attract international talent.
On the opposing end of the spectrum, architects supporting the UK dropping out of the EU membership, such as Zaha Hadid Architects director Patrik Schumacher, welcome Brexit as "offering an enhanced ability and chance to experiment with new policies that dare more economic freedom." (Read Schumacher's Archinect op-ed here.)
But what do the small practices say, the ones that can't compete with these millionaire starchitects that rely so heavily on their EU-subsidised foreign labour? It might benefit local mom and pop offices actually, who knows. Whenever it is about Brexit and architecture we read about poor Rogers, Foster and Chipperfield as if that's all there is to it, so tiring.
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looks like they're getting a few-week extension now if there's no brexit deal by march 29, but that isn't helping anyone.
Surprise! All multil-multi-milionaires are globalists.
Norman Foster's net worth is 150m, whether pounds or dollars is irrelevent.
Ehh? Weird that Zaha Hadid architects are leavers....a few weeks ago they were advertising jobs in Berlin.
Not weird at all when you consider who runs the firm.
But what do the small practices say, the ones that can't compete with these millionaire starchitects that rely so heavily on their EU-subsidised foreign labour? It might benefit local mom and pop offices actually, who knows. Whenever it is about Brexit and architecture we read about poor Rogers, Foster and Chipperfield as if that's all there is to it, so tiring.
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