- Systemic changes
The profession is not responding quickly enough to the climate emergency. As a network of individuals, ACAN directs personal expertise and efforts towards systemic change in architecture and the wider construction industry. ACAN operates without commercial affiliations, allowing us to act at pace and without conflicts of interest.
ACAN’s aims:
Rapid decarbonisation of the built environment through the transformation of the regulatory, economic and cultural system in which it is made, operated and renewed.
Ecological regeneration, through the immediate adoption of regenerative & ecological principles in order to promote the recovery and restoration of natural ecosystems.
Cultural transformation of the profession, by challenging and redefining the value systems at the heart of the industry and its educational system.
Through collective action and targeted campaigns, ACAN is working to demand, instigate and propagate the urgent transformation of the industry.
ACAN's first public meeting - breaking into working groups and thematic groups that enable the smooth running of the network. Public meetings occur fortnightly to maintain momentum.
ACAN's Architects Assembly Event - The Assembly opened with talks from a diverse panel of experts from climate, activist, policy and architectural backgrounds. These speakers outlined the facts around the climate and ecological crises, and their specific relation to architecture and the built environment. The first 'Architects Assembly' followed, ensuring all voices in the room were heard
ACAN's launch party, held in September 2019. Speakers on the topic of ‘How to Make Change’ were Sarah Broadstock (ACAN, Studio Bark), Hannah Little (London Irish Abortion Rights Campaign), Jeremy Till (Head of Central St Martins School of Architecture) and Julia Barfield (Construction Declares, Marks Barfield Architects). Also in the room and adding to the debate were members of Education Declares, Maria Smith (Interrobang, architecture of degrowth) and a host of others all wanting to be part of
Open meeting working group discussions
Architects Assembly break out discussions - the research working group analysed the outcomes of the discussion, and this has been used to inform areas of focus
