Arkitekterna och byggbranschen : om vikten av att upprätta ett kollektivt självförtroende

Doctoral thesis, 2005

The dissertation deals with the relations between architects and other parties on the Swedish building market. The starting point is the pronounced desire for a stronger role that architects in general have, but also the rather conspicuous fact that architects are more or less invisible in the wider context of the building industry. Chapter two accounts for a number of conclusions drawn by the stately commissioned Byggkommissionen in its report. The commission has identified "old structures" and a "shift in relations of power" as problems that need to be addressed. In the same chapter it is also being acknowledged that architects as well as technical consultants to a large extent are absent in the report. Chapter three presents the theoretical framework for the dissertation. It opens with a discussion of how institutionalised cultural and structural conditions, historically established conceptions, self images and social contexts, together maintain positional shifts in power. In the same chapter there is also an introduction to theories on social dilemmas and their way of working. The concept "social capital" is identified as a resource commonly managed by a group of people. "Collective memories" are also being identified as having a large impact when it comes to what expectations on the performance of others that a group has. In the following chapter, which forms the major part of the dissertation, a study of the change in conditions for the architectural profession during the second half of the twentieth century is presented. The study is divided according to a series of phases that can be seen as important steps towards the understanding of why the social capital of the building industry has been deteriorating. Chapter five observes certain connections between institutionalised conditions and professional self images. In view of these discussions the question is asked whether the role of the architect is developing towards a higher degree of autonomy. The last chapter finishes by discussing the importance of establishing self-confidence on a collective level.