The scale and speed of urbanisation around the globe are occurring on a large extent which imposes significant issues and new challenges since these rapidly changing urban environments emerge coupled with inequalities which affect opportunities to participate and access. This reality calls for the realignment of the architectural and urban discipline and new roles for built environment professionals. Therefore, this study investigates, critically discusses and proposes what can the emerging roles be for practitioners while challenging this unequal reality and how they can or cannot promote positive social impacts.