Architectural Community
Reflections on two years leading the Edinburgh Architectural Association
My two-year term as president of the Edinburgh Architectural Association (EAA) ended at our Annual Members Meeting last week. It therefore seems a fitting opportunity to reflect not only on that experience, but on what it means to be part of a professional membership organisation.
As the architecture profession faces an ever-growing list of challenges, it seems more important than ever for architects to act collectively through our professional bodies, both to drive positive change in our industry and to support each other to make better architecture.
In 2022 I was working from home after recently starting my own practice and it was easy to feel professionally isolated. I joined the EAA council to become more connected to the architectural community and after spending two years learning how the organisation works, I decided to stand for president in 2024.
The EAA is one of six local chapters of RIAS and my time as president has given me greater insight into the workings and ongoing evolution of the wider national organisation. Whilst RIAS operates nationally across advocacy, policy and professional support, my view is that the chapters are there to foster an architectural community by creating opportunities for architects to meet, discuss work, exchange ideas and feel part of a wider professional culture.
The EAA is run by a council of trustees and when I took on the presidency, I felt that my role was to give those volunteers the platform and confidence to contribute ideas, organise events and take ownership of the organisation. That shared sense of responsibility is what allows a voluntary organisation like the EAA to thrive.
Since then, the EAA council has grown in number and momentum. We now have an engaged and proactive group of trustees, and meetings that are well attended, focused and lively.
We have turned our annual members meetings into dynamic, sold-out events. Our awards evening is now a real celebration of the work of our members. We have introduced a well-attended lecture series, curated a beautiful exhibition, and organised several building tours.
We have also strengthened our connection with academia. We are collaborating with ESALA on the lecture series and have provided students with opportunities to engage with practicing architects. As president I delivered a lecture to students about the role of the professional bodies and how they impact on my work as a practicing architect. We are also exploring the possibility of a student travel bursary to further strengthen these connections and support younger members of our community to experience architecture beyond Scotland.
The feedback we have received from our members is that this recent activity has increased the sense of an active architectural community in Edinburgh. This has been down to the sustained hard work and dedication of our volunteer trustees over the last two years.
As with any organisation there are still areas we want to improve, particularly in how we engage with members. Over the next session we will be improving our website to better reflect the work of the organisation and looking to strengthen connections to the wider chapter area, beyond Edinburgh.
As I pass the reins over to the incoming president, Emma Garland, I am looking forward to seeing her put her own stamp on the role. Going forward I will continue to help organise lectures and will remain on the council as Past President, using my experience to support Emma and help the EAA build on our recent momentum.
27.05.26