Arup Architecture: the project as the provision of a service

Arup and Partners started off as an engineering firm founded by Ove Arup in 1946. Even in the Sixties, Ove Arup was speaking about “Total architecture” and wanted to introduce architects into his firm to make it an entirely independent organisation. The group founder’s intention has now come to fruition. Today, the Arup firm does everything: it can be an engineering firm (only providing structural support for an architectural project created by another firm) and an architecture firm (Arup Architecture) which comes up with the initial concept of the project and then constructs it. The paper focuses on the intricate structure of the world of Arup. In order to satisfy the client, i.e. construct the work in a short time and on budget, Arup Architecture puts together a different team for each project, made up of architects, engineers and economists from its different offices. The continuous rotation of the people involved is due to the geographical situation and specific expertise required by the different projects. The paper highlights how the projects accomplished entirely by Arup Architecture do not make merit assessments about the places where the works are constructed. It is the legislative and economic context of the particular project location that determines the multiform architecture of Arup Architecture. Unlike other large firms in which the name of the reference architect is highly prominent in the media and that always feel the need to put their brand on show, often making changes to the initial programme, Arup is instead a provider of services. Arup Architecture’s goal is to construct architecture that remains as close as possible to the agreed costs and schedule.