Chris Williamson, the co-founder of Weston Williamson + Partners (WW+P) and the President-Elect of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), shared his opinion on the NEOM megaproject debate initiated by the Saudi Arabian government. He emphasized the importance of respecting individual architects’ and organizations’ opinions on participating in such ambitious projects.
“We all form our own beliefs, our own version of truth and that should be respected. I’ve read all The Guardian and other critical articles, and I’ve also spoken to many people more directly involved and formed an opinion, which is always, of course, open to change if there is new information,” he added.
“I’ve always insisted that my colleagues form their own views and if they have issues working on any project their views are respected.”
Williamson’s stance on the project’s course represents a rarity: architects and firms do not openly discuss their involvement in Saudi projects, and as Weston Williamson + Partners has been involved in designing THE SPINE, the high-speed rail network for The Line, this sparks a change.
“I really don’t think it is in anyone’s interests to have a social media soundbite exchange on such an important topic. A respectful roundtable with different interest groups would be the most informative way forward,” said Williamson when addressing the social media debate around the Saudi project.
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Reflecting on his experience, he further mentioned that he has not worked on the NEOM project for a year since completing his commission.
“There was a time when I was working in USA and felt uncomfortable with what was reported to be happening in Guantanamo Bay or the plight of many prisoners incarcerated elsewhere. The UK in the 1960s was not a particularly tolerant place in many respects — it is important to look at the direction of travel of the country in question, not merely where they are now.”
Previously, Williamson served as the International Vice President of RIBA and with his recent comments on such controversial mega projects fosters a dialogue within the architectural community for respectful discussions on global architectural practices.
