Short abstract:

This paper reports in-depth qualitative research into the skills and competencies of architects and architectural professional associations. It provides insight in how architects learn and how they wish to reconfigure their practices and create an epistemic culture to address climate change.

Long abstract:

Architecture is at the forefront of our transition to a net-zero carbon built environment. The challenge of climate change requires us to reconfigure architectural practices. This paper outlines the strategies and tactics used by architects in Aotearoa New Zealand to enable an epistemic culture - to develop and enhance their zero carbon skills and competencies. By drawing upon insights from Kemmis’ ‘ecologies of practice’, we highlight the creation of practice architectures (assemblages that enable and constrain practices) of zero carbon design. To do this we examine the contestation between orthodox and heterodox architectural practice traditions. In seeking to understand the creation of practice architectures for zero carbon design, we examine the distributed architectural practices that are made, re-made and unmade with reference to ‘practice archetypes’ that refer to emergent work practices that stipulate what expertise, skills and competencies are required to undertake the design of zero carbon buildings. By outlining the creation and contestation of practice architectures that seek to enable zero carbon skills and competencies within design, we demonstrate how ‘practices of learning’ can transform existing architectural practices and enable an epistemic culture for a workforce that has a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.