What does Architecture week mean to you?

This week (15-24 June 2007) is Architecture Week in the UK. It is jointly organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects, Arts Council England and the Architecture Centre Network.
As an architect, I spend much of my time thinking about building design, but I appreciate this might not be the case for the average person in the street. And yet it doesn't take an expert to notice when a building has been poorly designed - if it's too hot or cold, for example, or the entrance is in the wrong place!

Quality design means first and foremost understanding the functions of the proposed building and the needs of the people who will use it. Like many walks in life this leads to a degree of specialisation, and this is where a non-specialist architect, let alone someone outside the profession, can't be expected to understand the detail. For example, Gelder and Kitchen are the UK's leading designers of flour mills, something we have been doing since the 19th century - so there isn't anything we don't really know about mill design. We also have lots of experience in healthcare work, primarily secure mental health facilities and care homes. At the same time we are currently involved in virtually no 'standard' residential work. So you won't see us on Grand Designs, but it's very possible that the bag of flour in your cupboard was produced in a mill designed by us.