Architects in Europe
the European Architectural Barometer
The European Architectural Barometer is a quarterly study of 1,200 architects in Europe. Architects from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands participated in the quarter three study, which focused on architects’ expectations regarding the threats and opportunities for their companies this year. The study is intended to measure the economic activity of architectural firms via a series of questions. These opinions, obviously, are largely influenced by the economic crisis that has affected Europe much as it has here in the United States. However, it should be noted that the survey was taken prior to the most recent collapses and bailouts of Italy and Greece and the restructuring of the Spanish Economy.
Architects in Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands have seen less work coming their way this year due to the economy. In the United Kingdom, architects are suffering from less assignments, and the assignments they are getting are smaller. As expected, German architects appear to be weathering these economic times better than other countries in Europe. Two out of three German architects were not affected by the economic crisis.
Opinions varied on what the biggest opportunities going forward would be. British architects see the biggest opportunities being renovation projects. Spanish architects see possibilities in new segments. Architects in Italy expect improvements only if impulses come from the government.
This study was conducted by Arch-Vision. The full results can be found at www.arch-vision.eu.