Ethics in Architecture

Interior rendering of THE LINE, Neom, Saudi Arabia (from the project website).

I recently watched a video produced by architect and YouTuber Dami Lee about THE LINE, a project that raises significant questions regarding the ethical duty and moral obligations of architects. Typical of everything on her YouTube channel, the video is informative and entertaining, with impressively high production values. I encourage you to watch it. 

In a nutshell, The Line will be a colossal 170-kilometer-long linear city in Saudi Arabia's Neom region, aiming to accommodate a population of up to 9 million people. Some estimates project a cost of up to $1 trillion (USD). Designed to be car-free and powered by renewable energy, it's part of Saudi Vision 2030. Initial construction began in 2021, with a completion target of 2030. Despite promises of economic growth, the project faces criticism for displacing indigenous tribes and threatening wildlife. Architects, including Norman Foster and Francine Houben, withdrew due to ethical concerns, while others like Thom Mayne, David Adjaye, Peter Cook, and Rem Koolhaas remain involved despite the project’s adverse environmental and human rights impacts. 

As an architect, I inhabit a profession where ethical dilemmas are not merely theoretical constructs but real-world challenges that can profoundly shape the built environment and society at large. An unimaginably huge project like The Line poses an obvious ethical quandary. At the opposite end of the scale, architects regularly navigate through ethical shades of gray that equally test our moral compass and professional integrity. 

At the forefront of ethical debates lies the notion of complicity. The Line is a simply a prominent case in point, with architects knowingly collaborating on a venture linked to a regime accused of deplorable human rights abuses and political repression. The hypocrisy of architects who choose to prioritize financial gain or professional acclaim over ethical considerations highlights the complex interplay between personal values, professional obligations, and societal impact. 

Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident and journalist, was assassinated in Istanbul, Turkey by agents of the Saudi government in October 2018 at the behest of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (photo by April Brady / POMED, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons) 

Architects face moral predicaments rooted in issues of social justice, environmental sustainability, and cultural preservation. For instance, when designing affordable housing projects, we routinely address competing priorities of cost-efficiency, community engagement, and design excellence while ensuring equitable access to safe and dignified living spaces. Similarly, in urban renewal initiatives designers balance the need to revitalize blighted neighborhoods with the risk of gentrification and displacement, striving to promote inclusive developments that benefit existing communities. 

Environmental ethics loom large in my profession. The imperative to mitigate climate change and minimize the ecological footprint is central to every project we undertake. Sustainable design principles, such as energy efficiency, net-zero and Passivhaus design strategies, and use of environmentally friendly materials, are second nature to our work. They reflect our broader commitment to environmental stewardship and responsible resource management. Yet, we must often confront trade-offs between sustainability goals and project constraints by resolving the tension between idealism and pragmatism in pursuit of environmentally conscious design solutions. 

Cultural ethics present another layer of complexity, as architects grapple with the necessity of preserving heritage sites, indigenous architecture, and cultural identity in an increasingly globalized world. The tension between modernization and tradition underscores approaching cultural heritage with sensitivity and respect, engaging in meaningful dialogue with local communities and stakeholders to ensure that design interventions uphold cultural values and foster a sense of belonging. 

My firm routinely faces the dilemma of balancing the client’s budget with a desire to deliver the highest quality or most sustainable solution possible. A client’s design preferences might clash with our own design principles or aesthetic sensibilities. Managing the tension between community input and the requirements of our public sector projects or balancing social equity with market demands are other examples. 

Cultivating a nuanced understanding of the architect’s professional responsibilities and ethical obligations is crucial. Carl M. Sapers (1932 – 2018), Hon. AIA, was an adjunct professor on legal practice at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design from 1984 to 2009, and one of the country’s preeminent lawyers in architecture and construction law. His framework of ethical obligations for the architect included four points: 

1. The architect is responsible for making sufficient income to support the architect and his or her family. 
2. The architect is responsible for the sometimes-conflicting requirements of serving the client. 
3. The architect is responsible for the sometimes preceding and competing interest of serving the public. 
4. The architect has the responsibility to have devotion to the art of architecture.

Similarly, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Code of Ethics underscores the architect’s duty to promote the public interest, serve clients competently, uphold professional integrity, respect colleagues' rights, and safeguard the environment. The Code is structured into three tiers: Canons, Ethical Standards, and Rules of Conduct. There are six canons, prioritizing obligations to the public, clients, profession, colleagues, and the environment. Ethical standards outline goals and member expectations, while rules of conduct enforce the code. Canons emphasize advancing architectural knowledge, promoting public interest, serving clients professionally, upholding professional integrity, respecting colleagues, and prioritizing sustainable design. These guidelines ensure that we prioritize societal well-being, professionalism, and environmental responsibility in our practice. 

Western terminus of THE LINE at the Red Sea (from the project website).

Ultimately, ethical decision-making in architecture is fraught with ambiguity and uncertainty. Sooner or later, all architects confront moral jams that lack clear-cut solutions. For me, The Line presents no such ambiguity—I find it to be abhorrent on multiple levels. The preposterously dystopian project does serve as a stark reminder of the ethical challenges inherent in routine architectural practice.
 
Architects must remain vigilant in scrutinizing their actions and strive to uphold ethical standards that transcend individual projects and shape the profession's collective ethos. By engaging in ongoing dialogue, reflection, and ethical inquiry, we can tackle the moral complexities of our profession with integrity, humility, and a commitment to the common good.