On 1 January 2026, Chris Williamson took a deliberate and provocative step. He allowed his registration with the Architects Registration Board to lapse, describing the framework as 'absurd'.

In practical terms, the sitting President of the RIBA, a practitioner with more than forty years’ experience and the founder of one of the UK’s most successful practices, can no longer legally call himself an architect.

"Since I was 18 it's all I've ever wanted to do. But to be asked to pay an annual fee (which is increasing each year) to the ARB for the title - when the function isn't regulated seems madness."

This conversation was filmed in the weeks leading up to that announcement. It captures Chris at a moment of conviction, before he went public with a decision that challenges how the UK regulates the built environment.

As a working class kid, Chris was told architecture wasn’t for "the likes of him." Decades later, as RIBA President and co-founder of Weston Williamson + Partners, he's reshaped global cities through transport and infrastructure.

If you are interested in how architecture survives the collision of technological shift, class barriers, commercial pressure, and declining influence - this is for you.

0:00 Intro

1:28 Chris' route into architecture

4:55 Class and the barrier to professional entry

6:37 Founding ⁨@wwparchitects⁩

12:27 Why architects are losing influence

14:31 Specialisim vs generalism

19:14 In defence of competitions

22:38 Partnerships, pressure and asking for help

27:08 AI: can anyone be an architect now?

30:19 Handing over WW+P to the next generation

32:58 What do you want you legacy to be?

36:56 How to fix architecture's influence problem

41:10 What Chris is doing as RIBA President

45:08 Why young architects aren't joining the RIBA

49:17 Protection of function vs title

52:21 What success as RIBA President looks like