Clerkenwell installation invites architects to shape ‘safer buildings’ conversation

Building materials manufacturer, wienerberger, is inviting architects to be part of a live, evolving digital installation at this year’s Clerkenwell Design Week, as it explores what building safety really means to a profession being reshaped by regulation.

From 19 to 21 May, wienerberger will install a digital mosaic wall, titled ‘The People Behind Safer Buildings’, within EH Smith’s Clerkenwell showroom.

Architects and specifiers will be invited to share their personal perspectives on building safety and compliance, with each contribution forming part of a live digital installation that will evolve across the three days of the festival.

The final mosaic will reveal an image capturing both the industry’s collective responsibility to deliver safer buildings, and the complexity involved in doing so.

Designed to create a moment of reflection and conversation within the busy festival programme, visitors are encouraged to pause, contribute, and connect with peers by sharing what building safety means to them, helping to shape a collective industry snapshot.

This installation builds on recent research by wienerberger, which highlights the growing pressures architects face as building regulations evolve. The report discusses the ways in which the Building Safety Act (2022) has placed increased administrative, financial, and creative pressure on those responsible for design, with 95% of architects experiencing an increase in workload since the Act was introduced.

Insights gathered during the event will be used to further explore how the industry can better support architects in managing compliance, with findings informing future research and product developments.

Kate Painter, Strategic Marketing Manager at wienerberger, said:

“At wienerberger, we’re committed to building for what’s next – by understanding industry pressures, facilitating conversations, and highlighting the real-world cost of compliance.

“Architects are at the heart of delivering safer buildings, but the demands placed on them are rapidly increasing. We want to provide a platform for practitioners to share these challenges more openly and highlight where improvements need to be made.

“By continuing to foster collaboration and develop solutions across the supply chain, we can work better to deliver buildings that are compliant, without compromising on innovation.”

‘The People Behind Safer Buildings’ installation will be on display at the EH Smith Design Centre, 38-42 St John Street, Clerkenwell, from 19 to 21 May.

For more information about wienerberger, go to: www.wienerberger.co.uk.