Architects cleared to keep name

The Architects’ Registration Board (ARB) have ruled that UK outfit Architects can keep using their name.

The decision comes after retired architect Ray Bryant reported the band to the profession’s regulatory body. He pointed out that none of the band were on the ARB register.

According to bdonline, Bryant asked: “Is it permitted to call yourself an architect if you are clearly working in another profession? Or is the plural not covered by the act?”

The ARB’s professional standards administrator Sarah Loukes responded directly to Bryant stating that while the body would prosecute unregistered people passing themselves off as architects in the context of the industry, they would take a more relaxed view when it came to the word being used outwith the profession.

She added: “The ARB accepts that the word ‘architect’ is being increasingly used in other contexts. You have indeed evidenced a good example.

“It was never the intention of the Act to regulate the title for its own sake. The ARB, therefore, takes a pragmatic view and accepts that the use of the word causes no concern when used in a context which is clearly not related to the design and construction of buildings.”

The ARB’s professional standards manager Simon Howard adds: “We had complaints about L’Oreal because they said they were ‘architects of eyelashes.’ And we had complaints about Leighton Baines, the Everton football player, because he was described as ‘the architect of Everton’s success.’

Meanwhile, the band have issued a teaser video of their latest track A Match Made In Heaven. View it below. Details on the follow-up to their 2014 album Lost Forever // Lost Together will be released on March 7.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald newspapers, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.