The ''RIBA Journal'', (often known simply as the ''RIBAJ''), is an architecture magazine and website published by the

Royal Institute of British Architects The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three suppl ...

, based in London. It has the largest circulation of any UK-originating architecture magazine. Alongside the monthly publication in print, the online edition is updated daily and has additional content.

History

The RIBA has issued publications since its foundation in 1834, and the magazine evolved from these. It was established in 1893 as the ''Journal of proceedings of the Royal Institute of British Architects'' and was the same year renamed ''Journal of the Royal Institute of British Architects'' or simply ''The RIBA Journal''. Until

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

it appeared fortnightly, then monthly. Until the 1940s it was usual for the RIBA Librarian also to be editor of the RIBA Journal. A notable example was Edward 'Bobby' Carter, from 1930–1946. From 1986 to 1987 it was rebranded ''The Architect: The Journal of the RIBA'', then reverted to its previous title. Between 1993 and 2008 the magazine was published in a joint venture with an outside publisher, the Builder Group, later absorbed into

UBM plc UBM plc was a British business-to-business (B2B) events organiser headquartered in London, England, before its acquisition by Informa in 2018. It had a long history as a Multinational corporation, multinational media company. Its main focus was ...

. The RIBA kept a 25% stake. In 2008 the RIBA once again took 100% ownership, contracting out its publication to Atom Publishing. In 2012 the publication moved to RIBA Enterprises, the commercial wing of the Institute: since 2016 it has been published directly by the Institute. Part of RIBA Publishing, it operates largely on a self-financing commercial basis through advertising, sponsorship and non-member subscriptions. This arm's length relationship extends to its independent editorial voice, which is by policy not controlled by the Institute. In 2015 the magazine moved into new offices at 76 Portland Place designed by architects Theis + Khan in what had previously been the

Institute of Physics The Institute of Physics (IOP) is a UK-based learned society and professional body that works to advance physics education, research and application. It was founded in 1874 and has a worldwide membership of over 20,000. The IOP is the Physic ...

building. In 2012 the magazine launched a magazine supplement "Products in Practice" or PiP, which is published four times a year, edited by Jan-Carlos Kucharek. In 2013 both the RIBAJ and PiP were redesigned by Matt Willey, relaunching in September that year. In 2014 the website, ribaj.com, was also redesigned and relaunched, with numerous subsequent upgrades. The ''RIBA Journal'' operates a "digital first" policy whereby material is published first online. In January 2019 the cover was redesigned by Linda Byrne of consultancy Alphabetical Order. In 2022 it refocused its offering around design in the making looking at the process of making and opportunities for architects. In 2009 and 2014 the ''RIBA Journal'' won the International Building Press National Journalism "Magazine of the Year" award in its non-weekly category In March 2016 a critical independent survey of the RIBA by another publication, ''

Architects' Journal ''Architects' Journal'' is an architectural magazine published in London by Metropolis International. History The first edition was produced in 1895. Originally named ''The Builder's Journal and Architectural Record'', from 1906 to 1910 it was ...

'', asked the question "What does the RIBA do best?" Respondents voted for the ''RIBA Journal'' by a clear margin, with a high approval rating. From February 2021, ''RIBA Journal'' has been edited by Eleanor Young. Jan-Carlos Kucharek is deputy editor, and Isabelle Priest managing editor. Chris Foges, previously editor of ''

Architecture Today ''Architecture Today'' is an independently published British architecture magazine, founded in 1989. Largely comprising in-depth building studies, it is published ten times per annum and is available free-of-charge to Architects Registration Board ...

'' was appointed contributing editor.

Campaigns and awards

In 2016 the ''RIBA Journal'' instigated the MacEwen Award, subtitled "architecture for the common good", named after its campaigning former editor Malcolm MacEwen and his town-planner wife Ann MacEwen. Other awards include Rising Stars for young construction professionals, and a writing competition in collaboration with the RIBA's Future Architects Network. In 2019 it launched a series of podcasts, RIBAJ Meets. The ''RIBA Journal'' also publishes the annual RIBA Awards including the

Stirling Prize The Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize is a British prize for excellence in architecture. It is named after the architect James Stirling, organised and awarded annually by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The S ...

and

Royal Gold Medal The Royal Gold Medal for architecture is awarded annually by the Royal Institute of British Architects on behalf of the British monarch, in recognition of an individual's or group's substantial contribution to international architecture. It is gi ...

for architecture.

Circulation

The ''RIBA Journal'' has a circulation of 25,160 in June 2021.

Former editors

The editors since 1968 were: * Hugh Pearman (2006–2020) * Amanda Baillieu * John Welsh * Richard Wilcock * Jose Manser * David Pearce *

Jonathan Glancey Jonathan Glancey, is an architectural critic and writer who was the architecture and design editor at ''The Guardian'', a position he held from 1997 to February 2012. He previously held the same post at ''The Independent''. He also has been invo ...

* Peter Murray * Monica Pigeon * Roger Barnard * Malcolm MacEwen

References

External links