Simon Allford

The AHMM co-founder will serve as president elect from September 1 and will then serve as RIBA president for a two-year term beginning on September 1, 2021 followed by one year as immediate past president from 2023-2024.

RIAS president, Christina Gaiger, said: “Congratulations to Simon on being elected as the next RIBA President. I wish him all the best for the role and very much look forward to working with him to continue to strengthen our joint public message around the value of an architect.”

The role of RIBA President was established in 1835 and is the highest elected position in UK architecture. The president chairs RIBA Council, which acts as the representative body for the membership.

Collective Architecture director Jude Barber and Sumita Singha, founder of Ecologic and Architects for Change, were among those to declare their bids for the role.

Simon Allford said: “It is a privilege to have been elected and I look forward to working with members, Council, Board and staff to create a leaner, more open, productive, engaged and reinvigorated RIBA.

“We need an institute of ideas with architecture front and centre, hosting debates, lectures and exhibitions reflecting changing cultural and practice contexts. We need an institute that celebrates and promotes members’ work at home and worldwide. We need an institute that is a practice friend, enabling members to share ideas about best ways of working, using today’s technology to help advance architecture for the benefit of society – our Charter obligation.

“I am committed to the ‘House of Architecture @ RIBA’, an online and physical entity capable of forming alliances with clients, consultants and contractors to influence government over procurement and education, while also helping us to address global climate change and architecture’s pivotal role in a post-pandemic world.”