And you thought architects just designed buildings...

The profession must adapt to become holistic problem-solvers amid economic, well-being and sustainability challenges.

- Sean Chiao

Visionary modernist Zaha Hadid is known in Singapore for her state-of-the-art Science Centre and the distinctively curvaceous d'Leedon condominium. She once said, "If you want an easy life, don't be an architect."

Low earnings, long hours, a lack of work-life balance, and high levels of stress have led to a decline in retention among young architects in many parts of the world. In Singapore, a 2021 survey by the Singapore Institute of Architects revealed that only 7 per cent of young graduates saw themselves staying in the profession long term.

The demands for sustainability, technological integration and human-centric design are greater than ever. Mounting pressure and dissatisfaction within the field are pushing architects to reconsider how they operate and advocate their value.

The result is that architecture is at a crossroads. Architects must now evolve from traditional designers into holistic problem-solvers who understand the complexities of the modern world and shape environments that meet both current and future needs.

How do they do this, and ensure the viability of the profession while withstanding economic pressures and meeting the growing demands of sustainability?

RETHINKING THE ART AND SCIENCE

Having worked in built environment consultancies for over 30 years, delivering diverse urban and infrastructure projects globally, I have developed a fuller appreciation of the contributions that architects can make.

Their influence extends beyond aesthetics to shaping the evolution of cities, the way communities engage, and how societies transition towards sustainable futures.

As architect Philip Johnson, famous for his role in shaping the postmodern architectural movement, once pointed out: "All architects want to live beyond their deaths." It's the lasting impact of their designs that defines their legacy.