Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the ARB decided to revise its code of conduct for architects to ensure competence and ethical practice remain at the forefront. The revised code is being consulted on now and there is still time to respond if you havent already done so.The simplification from twelve to six standards within the code is welcome and the emphasis on competence is very important in setting out a clear framework of conduct. However, I was surprised and saddened to see the word care disappear from this draft code.The first time I came across the term care in relation to architecture and professionalism was at university, during my diploma at London Metropolitan University. The head of school at the time, Robert Mull, introduced us to the notion that the architects role and responsibilities centre on an understanding of care that relates to the social and environmental impact of our actions.AdvertisementLater in my career, I took great solace in the expression reasonable care and skill. Again, defining what is reasonable is less relevant, but for those of us at the beginning of our careers, having something concrete that sets out ethical boundaries to our responsibilities is reassuring. Its a sort of social contract that I subscribe to and a mantra.Its true that care doesnt replace or override competence and its also true that being competent doesnt mean you dont care. But considering current technological advancements and the rise of AI, I believe care should be an essential guiding principle for practice and should be highlighted across all six of the standards: honesty and integrity, public interest, competence, professional practice, communication and collaboration, and respect.By adding care as a core principle, greater emphasis on our planetary boundaries and constraints could be addressed, as well as evolving technological advancements.In a world that is slow to invest in practical implementation for improving our carbon consumption and slow to regulate the technological advancements of AI, the revised code should be looking to think more long term and not just focus on issues relating to competence and potential inadequacy of continued professional development. Its important that it looks forward and deals with the critical issues that will maintain or expand the professions relevance.Care as I define it here is critical as an innately human characteristic. As architects and humans, we have a duty of care to the environment and people affected by our projects. Dont forget that carelessness leads to oversights and lack of accountability and is behind much of the negligence in the industry.AdvertisementIts also important to note that, as we navigate the complexities of AI and automated design tools, we need to ensure technology enhances rather than diminishes human judgment and creativity. The balance between efficiency and empathy becomes increasingly critical as our practice evolves.Another proposed consideration I would like to see in a revised code would be to change public interest to public and planetary interest, so acknowledging the fundamental connection between human wellbeing and ecological health. This shift would recognise our professions duty of care to future generations and the interconnected social and environmental impact of our decisions. There may also be an opportunity to improve on the duty of the architect to carry out diagnostics and explicitly support recommendations for retrofitting and adapting existing built infrastructure. The revised code should empower architects to champion sustainable alternatives, prioritising reuse and transformation over demolition.As an architect working for the public sector and also a chartered member of the RIBA, Ive tried to make sense of the boundaries of my duties and responsibilities between this and the Nolan principles of standards in public life. I made a diagram to try and understand the interdependencies between the standards and the principles. The result is a constellation of good ingredients. Most importantly, care is at the centre because it is fundamental to responsible architectural practice.It's not too late to show you care by submitting your thoughts to the ARBs consultation by December 12.Cristina Monteiro is an architect, author and co-founder of DK-CM2024-11-26Will Hurstcomment and share