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Tradition, I am afraid to say, is a term that has been much maligned and misunderstood in recent years. We live in a world that has become so pre-occupied with change and innovation, that we can all too easily forget how crucial traditions are in handing on the immense richness of human knowledge, wisdom and skill. Instead of acknowledging, respecting and integrating our traditions with innovatory science and art, the last century has witnessed a rather dismal tendency to discard our inheritance. All too often the baby has been thrown out with the bath water, with tradition being consigned to the museums or the history books. This tendency has applied across many, perhaps most, fields of human endeavour, and I have tried, in recent years, to sponsor some initiatives that are trying to forge an alternative. So, my Foundation for Architecture and the Urban Environment, where your conference is being held, is promoting the integration of traditional techniques in urban planning and design, the fine and applied arts, to support more sustainable and humane living environments. My Foundation for Integrated Medicine is making similar attempts to bring together the best in traditional medical practice, not as an alternative to the orthodox approach, but to integrate with it - combining the best from both traditions. My efforts to encourage organic agricultural practices also draw heavily from techniques that, until quite recently, appeared to be in danger of disappearing altogether. These examples are not ones that seek to preserve traditions as empty gestures, but rather are trying to create the basis for traditions to live again, to be practised in the real world and again help people to re-connect with their past, instead of being forever disconnected from it. If (and it is I fear, a very big if!) we are successful in this approach, then I happen to believe that we will not only discover a more humane and habitable environment, a better way of life, but we will also have a far more likely chance of saving our world's resources for the benefit of future generations. I am convinced from all of my travels to other countries and cultures, and from all of the people that I meet, both in this country and abroad, that there is a universal human need for places that express a fundamental sense of humanity and harmony. I am sure that your new network, by connecting traditional craftsmen, designers and others around the world, could become quite a force for keeping these traditions alive at a time when they are under more serious threat than at any time in history. Knowing where we are in our community is all about shared history and the special way we do things - our traditions. These traditions make our past an organic part of our lives, and make the lives we live so much richer. They also, at the same time, give us something precious we can pass on to our children. There's nothing wrong with being modern or up-to-date, but the idea that this means we should just cast off all the traditions that give us our place in the world is very damaging indeed, and is clearly causing many problems, whether social, economic or environmental, across the globe. Traditional building and traditional places have lessons for us all. They are not just the fantasy of some architect or planner who wants to make his or her mark on the world; they have often evolved over centuries to suit the local climate and make best use of local materials - sometimes in ways we don't realise until we try and do something different. Traditional places belong to the communities that live in them; they grow up together and are part of one another. This bond means that the places can change as the community changes but in a kindly sort of way that doesn't jar or upset the balance. Traditional places and buildings improve our quality of life. It's no accident that these are the places where most people want to live - including, of course, most of the architects who are first to ridicule traditional architecture! I'm so pleased that this new International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism is going to help to keep these ideas and practices alive and I'm very interested to see how this conference will link ideas about traditions across all kinds of different aspects of society, art and culture. I have been asked if I will be the Patron of this new organisation and I am delighted to accept, and I hope too, that your association with my Foundation will continue to grow and that each will find support from the other.
I wish you all success in your endeavour and I hope you have a rewarding day.
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I am sorry I can't be with you today to listen to what promises to be a fascinating series of talks dealing with the theme of tradition, and for the launch of the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism. I am though, extremely pleased that this new initiative appears to have caught the imagination and support of many people already, and I hope too, that the association and support of my own Foundation for Architecture and Urbanism, can help to develop the network in the months ahead.
INTBAU UK is a registered Charity no. 1103068