Συνεδρίαση 18 Ιανουαρίου 2003, Μιλάνο
ΗΜΕΡΗΣΙΑ ΔΙΑΤΑΞΗ
ΠΡΑΚΤΙΚΑ
Last update : 24/02/2003
TASK FORCE - PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
REPORT AND ORIENTATIONS OF THE MEETING
HELD IN MILAN ON JANUARY 18th
1. Participants :
Paola BALDONI
Claude BUCHER
Ian DAVIDSON
Sonja GASPARIN
Inis MESSARE
Ian PRITCHARD
Leopoldo FREYRIE (Part of the time)
2. Different comments of contributors :
2.1 Image, role and function of the architect :
- Difficulty to make civil society understand the stakes, the work and
the role of architects: therefore, it is necessary to:
=>Communicate on architecture, on the role and function of architects
through national and European bodies.
=>Act on the consumer's cultural deficit and lack of understanding
of architecture,
=>Increase public awareness ; landscape conservation, urban heritage,
architectural quality, sustainable development, …
- Forms of practice in architecture : small structures getting bigger,
- Following certain countries like Italy, Austria, integration of engineers,
town-planners and landscapers in the same office: pros and cons ?
- Issue of licences granted in some countries without professional (practical)
training (Italy, France, …)
- Issue of the unprotected title of architect in countries like Finland,
Denmark, Sweden,
- The architect is both an intellectual and a practitioner,
- The role and function of the architect are very different from one country
to another, from one region to another. Statistics are non-existent or
insufficient.
- The architect is a businessman/woman, ethics and public interest are
makeshifts. the architect defends his client's interests, including when
the latter is a builder (design -built). Does this necessarily mean non
quality ?
- The function of the architect has evolved with time : today, it encompasses
the culture of the project, his ability to design and to develop a project.
- Public interest : it is a very broad notion which goes beyond the role
and function of the architect. It is protected by rules and regulations,
not by the architects.
2.2. Professional practice : means of practice, remuneration, … :
- The issue of architects number: supply is higher than demand => numerus
clausus ?
- Specialization is more and more requested by the client => guarantee
of specific competence in the field concerned
=> suggestion of an official register mentioning
the competences of its members?
- The architect is able to understand the role and the functions of the
other professionals and all the aspects of a project (cultural, social,
technical, economic, …)
- Protection of the profession is not on, it is doomed to failure.
- Issue of fair remuneration for good quality work ?
3. Guidelines to be promoted :
3.1. Initial functions and professional skills:
Given the public interest and consumers' protection which form part of
a sustainable quality built environment , as well as the dangers and consequences
associated with the development of this environment, it is crucial that
architectural services be provided by properly qualified professionals.
Whatever the development of the role and function of architects, they
must have a high level training (in conformity with the UIA Accord on
recommended standards of professionalism in architectural practice). The
initial university-type training, of at least 4 to 6 years, has to be
completed by at least 3 years of practical training, guaranteeing the
necessary practical knowledge (in conformity with the content defined
by UIA (see appendix)) before being authorised to practice. This training
shall be certified by a diploma, delivered by a competent body, guaranteeing
the consumer that the person is professionally qualified to practice architecture.
Given the development of social and ecological conditions, of technological
progress and forms of practice in architecture, as well as of public expectations,
continuing professional development shall be compulsory and monitored,
and shall enable licence renewal.
Public authorities should delegate the monitoring to a competent body,
composed of an equal number of professionals and consumers (thus providing
the customer with a guarantee of continued competence in professional
practice).
3.2.development of the architect's role and function :
3.2.1. Present situation :
The role and function of the architect remains basically the same, even
though the form of practice is always evolving.
3.2.2. Definition of architectural practice :
The practice of architecture consists of the provision of professional
services linked to built and non-built environmental planning: it consists
of designing and building, extending, preserving, restoring or altering
spaces, buildings or groups of buildings. The architects' missions generally
concern, without any restrictions, town planning, landscape, urban design,
preliminary studies, works design, models and plans, technical specifications,
coordination of technical documentation prepared if necessary by other
professionals (consultant-engineers, urban planners, landscapers and other
experts), construction economics, contract administration, building follow
up (referred to as « site management or works management » in some countries),
and project management.
Such a wide definition is neither conceivable, nor realistic for only
one architect.
The Task Force members agreed to recall that however society, mode of
practice and therefore, the "individual" architect's profile
develop, the architect was, is and will always be the one to carry and
be responsible for the project .
This wide definition covers a very wide range of competences, roles and
forms of practice .
The new architects directive will therefore have to establish the conditions
of the training, and insure that with free circulation, each country respects
the same conditions of qualification, entitling the architect to practice
.
This is the basic profile of any architect. Then, according to his skills
and opportunities, the architect will develop one specialization or another,
one specific function or another in the overall process of carrying out
a project, keeping his overall and general competence when he builds a
project and is always the creator and the manager of the project, always
with an overall and general competence for the project to be undertaken,
whilst continuing to play the role of the person who carries out and is
responsible for the project to ensure its perfect realization.
La Task Force agreed that individual practice by the omniscient architect
is of a bygone age, even for small operations (such as a detached house).
The architect is part of a larger team made up of all kinds of specialists,
including other architects, and all sorts of skills and specializations
necessary for building. His role as mediator, co-ordinator of the different
players must be emphasised. This role (conductor) will become more important,
given the increasing number of players/persons involved.
The past situation "architect-contractor = architect creator"
is changing : if the architect is still sometimes the creator, his role
as contractor is declining, and he is becoming the mediator of a multidisciplinary
team he coordinates.
3.3. Profile development / society development :
What are the consume demands ?
What are the clients' expectations ?
Their interest are or may be diverging ?
3.4. Role of professional bodies :
Lobbying or monitoring and disciplining ?
3.5. Social and political role and function of the architect :
Those functions and roles must be developed, it is necessary and indispensable
=> need for a cultural function of the citizen capable of understanding
and managing his destiny with the support of competent professionals who
are able to understand the role of the architect.
3.6. The architect works for his client (business) <> public interest
3.7. Fair remuneration :
What can be done to counter impoverishment of architects ?
3.8. Desirable rapprochement with the UIA committee => strengthening
means and efficiency :
Strasbourg, January 27th, 2003
Claude BUCHER