Architects' Milo Lecture

We hold a prestigious lecture in June every year, named after our first Clerk Col Peter Milo.

This year it will be extra special - a great speaker and a very special location.

The speaker will be Sir Charles Saumarez Smith CBE.  Sir Charles was trained as an architectural historian at the University of Cambridge and the Warburg Institute, before working in museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery and, most recently, as Secretary and Chief Executive of the Royal Academy.  He now writes about architecture as architectural critic of The Critic and author of John Vanbrugh: The Drama of Architecture, due to be published in November.

His lecture is titled The Role of the Client.  There is vast literature on the role of the architect but there is surprisingly little discussion of the role that the client plays in the building process — in the preparation of a brief, the selection of an architect, the supervision of the design and, perhaps most of all, the oversight of the process of construction.  Most people involved in architecture spend their entire lives in it, but people are often clients only once.  So, the question arises: would it be helpful if clients had training to be clients and, if so, what should this training consist of?

Now, the venue will be 8 Bishopsgate - the winner of our City Building of the Year Award in 2024. It was designed by WilkinsonEyre, led by our member Oliver Tyler, and we will use its purpose-built lecture theatre and then the viewing gallery on the 50th floor for our reception. 

Timings: Drinks from 5.30pm / Lecture at 6.15pm / Reception on 50th floor at 7.30pm

This is an event not to miss and you can book below.