The 2020s have brought significant challenges for many practices. With increasing global instability, accelerating technological innovation, and continued downward pressure on architects’ fees (and upward pressure on costs), architecture as a business is increasingly under scrutiny.
Nevertheless, architects’ businesses have proven themselves to be resilient and adaptable, able to seek out new markets and adopt new working practices. Indeed, over the last few years, RIBA Chartered Practices have succeeded in growing revenue each year. Total revenue now tops £4billion.
Ensuring the long-term sustainability of architectural practice, however, means looking beyond current challenges and successes to explore what may lie ahead. The Future Business of Architecture offers that longer-term, research-based perspective by exploring a range of possible future scenarios.
Taking a thematic approach the programme examines:
- tomorrow's work types
- future-ready practice management
- technological innovation
- future skills and roles
Looking ahead 10 years, many challenges can be seen, but so too can extensive and varied opportunities for the profession.
Throughout the second half of 2025, RIBA is publishing a series of white papers examining the emerging themes from the research. These are introduced by an overview of the programme and an analysis of what the RIBA Horizons 2034 programme means for future business. The white papers are to be accompanied by a CPD webinar on RIBA Academy and an online global conference.
The Future Business of Architecture is a RIBA Horizons programme, sponsored by Autodesk.
