GIA CHAPTER REPORT: AUTUMN 2021
After months of a seemingly deserted city centre throughout the course of the pandemic, Glasgow is about to become a hive of activity: COP26 is here and leaders from around the world will descend on the city to set-out and agree on the principles for implementing the Paris Agreement agreed in 2015. The construction industry continues to be one of the foremost contributors to carbon emissions, and as the traditional leaders of the design team, the role of the architect in acting to reduce these through the design process should not be underestimated. As part of a holistic response that seeks to raise awareness of both the challenges that lie ahead as well as the positive impact that architects can have – and are having – in reducing carbon emissions through design, the six chapters of the RIAS have worked together on a common platform of wide-ranging events and initiatives that are aimed at engaging industry partners, the public and delegates of the conference which will happen on the run-up to, during and after COP26.
Each chapter has prepared a series of maps and walking routes as part of a series titled ‘Tidal Walks’. The GIA’s routes are predominantly focussed on Glasgow with most taking in the COP campus and explore issues around the broad topic of sustainability, showcasing exemplar projects in the city covering themes such as retrofit, biophilic design and energy as well as highlighting buildings at risk through rising sea levels. The maps are available via the RIAS website and each map gives a brief summary of each of the points of interest along each walking route.
Related to the ‘Tidal Walks’ series, in collaboration with John Gilbert Architects the GIA are co-hosting a series of organised morning runs during COP26. Residents of the city and delegates can join our knowledgeable guides for breakfast running tours of Glasgow, showing how the city is changing to meet the ambitions of the conference. Our guides recently completed two trial runs around the north and south of the city and welcome anyone to join us! Tickets are available via Eventbrite and the GIA’s website.
The chapters have also collaborated on a series of ‘Tidal Markers’ which are located within each chapter area and aim to raise awareness of the dangers posed by sea level rises. The GIA’s permanent marker will be cited on the Isle of Luing whilst a travelling marker will also be popping-up in locations around the chapter and making its way from Oban in the north to Dumfries and Galloway in the south throughout the period of the COP26 conference.
As part of an initiative intended to encompass the entire chapter area, the GIA have also invited chapter architects to prepare displays in their shopfront windows of their work in relation to sustainability and climate change. Participating practices are encouraged to curate their own displays of drawings, models and images to show how they are playing their part in responding to climate change. To assist with their displays, practices are being supplied with a series of informative window vinyls which include common messages and a QR code linking to the RIAS website and each shopfront will be featured on the GIA’s website and social media. This series of ‘shopfront exhibitions’ will run through November and December.
The GIA will also be hosting a pop-up shopfront at 274 High Street. Opening later in October, the exhibitions aim to highlight the impact that climate change will have on Glasgow, why we must all work together to combat it, and important role architecture plays in our environment. Please come along and visit us and pick-up a map for one of our walking routes!
Finally, to engage with younger audiences, the GIA have partnered with the RIBA and are planning to run a bespoke workshop for secondary students in response to the how architecture can help with the Climate Crisis. The workshop will explore how architecture and the built environment can tackle climate change, whether that is through sustainable design, changing where and why we build, or looking at ways we can reduce our carbon footprint.
With all of these activities, events and initiatives going on, it is important not to lose sight of the central reason for their happening: the world faces a very real challenge in climate change and immediate action is required, and as architects, I genuinely believe that we can play a key role in facing that challenge with optimism and creativity.