From the very first moments of humanity we have had a need for shelter, and have sought to create it where it does not naturally occur. This talk will consider the role of architects in society almost from those first moments glimpsing some of the highs and lows of the profession throughout its western history based on the research Eleanor has done for her soon to be published book 'Architect: The evolving story of a profession'. Of especial focus for this lunchtime talk will be the role of the architect in the building of the great gothic cathedrals, and in the church building boom of the nineteenth century.

Eleanor will be giving this talk from Rome while in residence at The British School at Rome and hopes to have additional insights to add from the research she will be undertaking whilst there.
Eleanor Jolliffe is a practising architect, an Associate at Allies and Morrison and a freelance writer with Master’s degrees in engineering and architecture. She has a regular and long-running column in Building Design with further published work in the Architects’ Journal, Architectural Review, Dezeen, Unherd and the Saturated Space research group at the Architectural Association (AA). She was awarded the 2023 Rome Scholarship in Architecture at The British School at Rome and her first book 'Architect: The evolving story of a profession', co-authored with Paul Crosby of the AA is being published by RIBA in early 2023.