DC CABE and Moylan join RIBA in battle against Olympic marketing ban

On Friday president Angela Brady unfurled a banner at the institution’s London headquarters naming all the architects involved in creating the venues, temporary structures and accommodation for the London Games in defiance of the controversial marketing gagging order (see below).

Now it has emerged DC Cabe and Moylan have joined the growing support for the RIBA ‘guerrilla war’ against LOCOG rules preventing design and construction firms from advertising their association with the Games in a bid to protect sponsorship rights.

Design Council trustee Rab Bennetts said: ‘Design Council Cabe feels equally strongly that the ban should be lifted. 

‘We discussed holding some kind of London 2012 projects exhibition some time ago and were told it was not legally possible, which is absurd.’

Others to have joined the campaign are the Landscape Institute and the British Interior design institute (BIID).

Previous story (03.08.2012)

Brady turns to guerrilla tactics to promote gagged Olympic architects

The RIBA has celebrated the architects behind the 2012 Olympics in defiance of the controversial marketing gagging order

Earlier today (3 August) RIBA president Angela Brady unfurled a banner at the institution’s London headquarters naming all the architects involved in creating the venues, temporary structures and accommodation for the London Games.

London 2012 organising body LOCOG has imposed rules preventing design and construction firms from advertising their association with the Games in a bid to protect sponsorship rights.

Brady, who appeared in a homemade dress with ironed-on images of Olympic buildings, was joined by architects, engineers and supporters of the initiative who gathered beneath the scroll chanting ‘lift the ban’.

She told the AJ: ‘Now is the time to stand up for our architects. I really thought they were going to lift the barring of architects and engineers the day they opened the games. The eyes of the world are on London right now and what are we doing to show off?

‘We’ve got 17 events by UKTI and the government to promote UK PLC to a world audience [yet] we’ve got a gagging order on the very people who should have the credit. I hope the ban will be lifted today.’

Many architects have felt frustarted by the punitive marketing protocol, especially those that were not involved in designing the main arena. Susan Carruth, an associate at Piercy Connor, told AJ this week: ‘We haven’t experienced any direct increase in enquiries or workload as a result of the Games because we haven’t been able to advertise our involvement.’

The AJ’s Paul Finch this week called for the country’s architects to be given the applause and appreciation they deserve for their work on London’s 2012 Games.

More than 40 practices helped design showcase venues, the Olympic Park and the Athletes’ Village.