Some of the world’s most acclaimed architects have given their thoughts on the challenges facing the built environment at a Pritzker Laureates discussion panel at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The 2016 Pritzker Prize winner, Chile’s Alejandro Aravena, participated in the event – called Pritzker Laureates' Conversation: Challenges Ahead for the Built Environment – yesterday (5 April) alongside Glenn Murcutt, Jean Nouvel, Renzo Piano, Christian de Portzamparc, Richard Rogers and Wang Shu.

In a wide-ranging discussion which touched on challenges such as mass urbanisation, climate change, population growth and bureaucratic planning policies, each speaker underlined the need for positive action among architects, designers, planners, governments and end users to improve the spaces where we live, work and relax.

Among the points raised, Rogers warned that the role of architect has become “that of a decorator” instead of a leader seeking to improve built environments; Nouvel bemoaned the rules and regulations restricting innovative architecture around the world, particularly in his native France; and Murcutt called for more buildings "which look good in real life and not just in photographs.”

CLAD was live tweeting from the event, and a few of the panel’s hard-hitting points and calls for action during the event can be seen below.

Murcutt: The planet having too many people is the biggest problem, but it's an issue which no one wants to talk about #pritzkerprize

— CLAD (@CLADglobal) April 6, 2016

Aravena: The migration to cities is good news in principle but scarcity of means to respond has no precedent in human history @PritzkerPrize— CLAD (@CLADglobal) April 5, 2016

Piano: Saving cities and making them better places to live is one of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing mankind @PritzkerPrize— CLAD (@CLADglobal) April 5, 2016

Aravena: Just because the problem is big, doesn't mean the solution has to be. @PritzkerPrize— CLAD (@CLADglobal) April 5, 2016

Wang Shu: Architectural design doesn't need to follow history, we can let natural evolution stop - we can have a revolution @PritzkerPrize— CLAD (@CLADglobal) April 5, 2016

de Portzamparc: Physical space is a world that the contemporary world no longer has a grip on - we need to take it back @PritzkerPrize— CLAD (@CLADglobal) April 5, 2016

Rogers: "Role of architects is being eroded - we're seen as decorators" Time we looked at it in a different way @PritzkerPrize— CLAD (@CLADglobal) April 5, 2016

Murcutt: We need to make buildings which look good in real life, not just buildings which photograph well @PritzkerPrize— CLAD (@CLADglobal) April 5, 2016

Nouvel: We can't stay in our little world of architecture - we have to talk to decision-makers and politicians to make change @PritzkerPrize— CLAD (@CLADglobal) April 5, 2016

Nouvel: Politicians are blind and don't see the situation, but we know we cannot progress like this. I propose to fight. @PritzkerPrize

— CLAD (@CLADglobal) April 5, 2016