A ‘new alliance’ is being forged between designers and commercial property developers, who are championing progressive design, in projects as diverse as apartment blocks, houses, hotels and offices. While some architects are taking a proactive role in development, others are cutting out a new position for themselves as designer-developers. This is all happening at a time that property developers are starting to recognise the added value that an architect can bring to a scheme. By taking a truly international look at the projects architects and developers are achieving together, this issue explores the economic and demographic opportunities that are now driving architect-developer alliance in cities as diverse as Amsterdam, Hong Kong, London, Malmo, Melbourne, Montreal, New York, Phoenix and Tokyo. As architects and property developers break boundaries together, they are also beginning to transcend an established pattern of notorious and longstanding ill will. Could this herald a new age of economic saviness in architecture and an appreciation of design input in development?

‘Property development has to be market driven and certainly not product driven. The architect can creatively add great value to the developers' commercial objectives by design - in doing so he can achieve his architectural agenda at the same time.’ Kenneth Yeang.

‘There is a new generation of developers that is becoming enlightened to the cultural value of design excellence, and a new generation architects that is becoming enlightened to the cultural value of fiscal risk, reward, and responsibility. Thank goodness the old guard is dying of obsolescence. Our cities will revel for the evolution.’ Gregg Pasquarelli, ShoP/Sharples Holden Pasquarelli

‘I don’t know when "architecture" fell out of the discussion. Maybe in the haste to make money, or when short-term thinking replaced long-term thinking. The real question is: Why would architecture not make profit? I think we have proven the opposite.’ Winka Dubbledam

BUILD

Winka Dubbeldam and Archi-Tectonics

Michael Graves & Associates

Jones Studio, Inc

Kenneth Yeang

Richard Meier Architects

Bob Nation

ShoP/ Sharples Holden Pasquarelli

Robert AM Stern Architects

Cary Tamarkin

Kerstin Thompson Architects

Practice Profile – estudio Teddy Cruz

Property Development and Progressive Architecture - nidottu, Englanti, 2004