Practising in the Margins: High Turnover, Low Unit Cost

Abstract

Aside from the additions and alterations that are the average architectural office's staple, the classic practice model is of low turnover and high unit cost. The articles in this issue of 3 offer an alternative vision, but do they go far enough? Reflecting on their arguments and on his own experience of five decades in practice across continents, Leon van Schaik – Professor Emeritus at the School of Architecture and Urban Design, RMIT University, Melbourne – offers his vision of what architects' role is and could be.