Meet Muyiwa Oki, who is breaking boundaries as the youngest-ever president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the first black person to hold the position. At 32, Oki is employed by Mace, a construction company with a focus on decarbonisation strategies, rather than being a principal architect. His goal as president is to give a voice to the often overlooked workers in the architectural profession and celebrate the collaborative effort that goes into creating good architecture.
Sitting in the boardroom of RIBA’s headquarters in London, Oki is surrounded by reminders of the differences between him and his predecessors. Previous presidents, predominantly white men, were leaders of successful architectural practices and were often credited as sole authors of famous buildings. In contrast, Oki’s role involves working with clients on decarbonisation strategies, a concept that would have been foreign to architects of the past. As president, Oki plans to push for the idea of “retrofit first,” emphasizing the environmental benefits of reusing existing buildings instead of constructing new ones.
The architectural world, including historians, critics, and architects themselves, often focuses on the works of individual architects like Christopher Wren and Norman Foster. This approach is simplistic and disregards the contributions of under-recognized associates, who may not receive due recognition or fair compensation. It also sidelines the vital role architects can play in areas such as sustainability. Oki aims to address these imbalances by advocating for workers’ rights, including an end to unpaid overtime and creating supportive working environments that promote professional growth.
Oki believes that the current path to becoming an architect, which involves many years of education and practice, is long and challenging. He supports proposals for shorter alternative routes to qualification. He also wants architects to expand their focus beyond traditional design details and embrace diverse perspectives to tackle the significant issues of our time. By making the architectural profession more relevant and useful to society, architects can potentially increase their earnings and improve employee compensation.
Oki’s approach to architecture is rooted in practicality rather than a pursuit of artistic greatness. He finds inspiration in well-executed projects, such as Central Park in New York, which showcases the beauty of good design integrated into a bustling city. He admires the ingenuity of buildings like the Gherkin, where one ingenious design element, such as a single piece of curved glass, can make a significant impact.
In his previous role at Grimshaw Architects, Oki worked on the reconstruction of Euston station for the HS2 high-speed railway line. He appreciated the opportunity to be part of a socially significant infrastructure project that surpassed individual interests.
As the new president of RIBA, Oki will need to engage with government officials, housebuilding lobbies, and other stakeholders who may prioritize factors other than the quality of the built environment. His focus and dedication to his role will be crucial. Fortunately, he takes over an organization that has undergone reforms under his predecessor, Simon Allford, and is hopefully in better shape than before.
While the inner workings of RIBA may not typically capture the general reader’s attention, it is vital for the health of the architectural profession and the quality of our built environment. Oki’s appointment as president has already brought attention to RIBA, and it is in everyone’s best interest that he succeeds in his mission.
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