Architects and designers join Global Climate Strike to demand government action

Architecture studios Stanton Williams, Grimshaw and dRMM and designers Usman Haque, Sebastian Cox and Ben Terrett are among the creatives taking to the streets to protest political inaction over climate change in today's Global Climate Strike.

The Climate Strike is a movement spearheaded by schoolchildren protesting the lack of action over climate change by refusing to go to school on Fridays.

"Our Civilisation faces its greatest challenge with the climate emergency, a tumultuous situation that's entirely of our own making," said Grimshaw chairman Andrew Whalley in a statement.

"Architecture will play a vital role in tackling these challenges."

Millions of young people around the world are expected to lead the 20 September day of strike action.

"Together with many of our industry colleagues, dRMM will be joining the Fridays for Future youth strikers, as a demonstration of our commitment to fighting the climate emergency," said dRMM on their website.

The Stirling prize-winning practice said it would join the Global Climate Strike rally in London this morning.

It will then hold an internal forum at its studio later in the afternoon to discuss what more the practice could do in the fight against climate change.

"Our planet is under threat like never before"

Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old climate activist from Sweden who has been challenging world leaders to do more to avert a climate crisis, has urged adults around the world to strike from work.

Architects heeding her call to action include Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Penoyre & Prasad, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Bennetts Associates and MSMR Architects. They were joined by designers including Haque, Cox and Terrett along with curator and writer Max Fraser.

"Our planet is under threat like never before," said British practice Waugh Thistleton Architects on Twitter, who has also closed their office to join the march.

"That is why we are joining the millions worldwide to demand action."

Other British architecture studios striking today include Nimtim Architects, John Gilbert Architects, Cox Architects, Arbor Architects and Mole Architects. They are joined by others in the design industry.

"We are hugely inspired by the ongoing youth movement and will therefore be out today in solidarity with students of the world in support of climate action now," said furniture brand Viaduct on Instagram, who are also joining the strike.

"An estimated 38 per cent of global energy-related emissions come from buildings and the construction industry," said striking architecture practice Mikhail Riches.

"We ask our colleagues, clients and those in power to respond actively to the grave concerns of our younger generation. We need to act now."

Children strike all over the world

Architecture studio Chetwoods is joining the climate strike marches in both London and Birmingham, wearing T-shirts ordered specially for the occasion from sustainable fashion brand Rapanui.

Schoolchildren are leading strike marches all over the world, including in major cities such as London, Paris, New York, Melbourne and Perth.

Last night Dezeen livestreamed the Architecture of Emergency summit in London, where a packed audience listened to experts and activists call for a radical systematic overhaul of politics and the global construction industry.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that the world has less than 12 years to prevent temperatures rising beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius and prevent catastrophic climate change.

Architects have gathered at a rally organised by the UK Green Building Council at 11.45am outside the Building Centre in London.

Joining the #ClimateStrike today? Tag Dezeen in your pictures to share your strike demands.

Main image by Goran Horvat from Pixabay.