Health, Safety, and Welfare

I am really inspired by the writings of John Habraken and how he questions the role of an Architect now versus what they were in the past.  He states:

“…we come from a tradition of monument builders, but today we are almost entirely immersed in design for everyday environments. Where we come from is very different from what we do now. The way we see ourselves is a product of the past and is becoming increasingly counter productive”.

  I understand his argument that the built environment has become less diverse because designers and architects are becoming overly involved.  But, could we also say that when we elevated architecture to become a profession then we also began to create safer environments for everyone? Though tactical architecture allows the everyday person to alter their environment, can we honestly say that the everyday user can create a safe environment for others to use?  It is our profession to safeguard the public’s health, safety and welfare. But if we relinquish our role to the everyday person, will they be able to do the same without our special knowledge?