Architectural Review

Architectural Review
Title	Architectural Review
Discipline	Architecture
Language	English
Country	United Kingdom
Established	1896

Architectural Review is a professional periodical and evaluative mechanism that examines proposed and existing built projects across urban centers such as London, New York City, and Mumbai. It interfaces with institutions like the Royal Institute of British Architects, the American Institute of Architects, and the International Union of Architects to influence commissions, competitions, and preservation policies in contexts including the City of Westminster, Greater Manchester, and the European Union. Editors, critics, and juries from organizations such as the Getty Foundation, the World Monuments Fund, and the Prince's Foundation often contribute to debates about controversial schemes in areas like Battersea, Shanghai, and Dubai.

Definition and Purpose

An architectural review is a formal appraisal practice used by bodies including the Planning and Development Committee of a City Council, design review panels convened by authorities such as the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, and advisory groups linked to universities like University College London, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and ETH Zurich. Its purpose aligns with mandates from agencies such as the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and the National Trust to assess proposals affecting conservation areas like Bath, Carcassonne, and Venice. Reviews inform funding decisions by grantors such as the Heritage Lottery Fund and underwriting by institutions like the European Investment Bank.

Historical Development

Formal review processes trace antecedents to commissions formed by patrons including the Medici family and regulatory edicts such as the Town and Country Planning Act 1947. Modern institutionalization occurred alongside bodies like the Garden Cities and Town Planning Association and the Civic Trust in the 20th century, and during postwar reconstruction programs involving the Ministry of Works and architects from the Smithsons’ practice. Internationally, review traditions were shaped by events like the Great Exhibition and policy instruments promulgated by the Council of Europe and the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III).

Process and Methodology

Review methodologies borrow from juried processes used by competitions run by the Royal Academy, peer review practices at institutions such as the Architectural Association School of Architecture, and planning protocols used by municipal bodies like New York City Department of City Planning and Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority. Techniques include visual impact assessments employed in projects near sites like the Tower of London and computational simulations used in edifices by firms such as Foster + Partners and Zaha Hadid Architects. Panels typically evaluate context, scale, materials, and circulation drawing on charters like the Athens Charter and approaches from researchers at Harvard Graduate School of Design and ETH Zurich.

Legal and Regulatory Framework

Reviews operate within statutory regimes exemplified by instruments such as the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, zoning codes enforced by authorities like the New York City Department of Buildings, and heritage protections administered by agencies such as Historic England and the National Park Service. Judicial precedents from courts including the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and tribunals like the Landlord and Tenant Board have clarified the weight of advisory opinions. International agreements by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and directives from the European Court of Justice also intersect with review outcomes in transnational projects financed by entities such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

Roles and Stakeholders

Key actors include elected officials from bodies like the Greater London Authority, design professionals from firms such as Arup, conservation officers employed by councils like Glasgow City Council, developers represented by corporations such as Lendlease and Skanska, and community groups allied with organizations like English Heritage and Save Britain's Heritage. Academic advisers from Columbia University, professional critics from journals linked to the RIBA Journal and commentators affiliated with the Pritzker Architecture Prize also participate. Financial stakeholders include insurers such as Lloyd's of London and lenders like Barclays and Deutsche Bank.

Impact on Urban Design and Heritage

Reviews have shaped masterplans in locales like Canary Wharf, conservation outcomes in precincts such as Oxford, and skyline debates in cities including Sydney and Hong Kong. They influence award-winning works recognized by prizes such as the Stirling Prize and the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, and affect adaptive reuse projects at sites like Tate Modern and the High Line. Review recommendations interact with urban strategies produced by agencies like the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and preservation charters administered by the International Council on Monuments and Sites.

Criticisms and Controversies

Critics from think tanks like the Adam Smith Institute and advocacy groups such as Architects for Social Housing argue reviews can be biased toward established practices represented by firms like Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and can marginalize grassroots actors including tenants' unions in disputes over regeneration in neighborhoods like Hackney and Brixton. Contentions have arisen in cases involving projects by developers such as Westfield Corporation and controversies adjudicated in venues like the Royal Courts of Justice. Debates often focus on transparency, conflicts of interest involving consultancies like AECOM, and representativeness raised by campaigns coordinated with organizations such as Friends of the Earth and CPRE.

Category:Architecture