Στοιχεία για το θεσμικό πλαίσιο και την άσκηση του
επαγγέλματος της αρχιτεκτονικής στην Ελλάδα - Ευρωπαϊκό πρόγραμμα Leonardo
da Vinci "Come si fa"
Institutional framework and profession practice in Greece
Association of Greek Architects
Detailed research within at least one specific professional field
(Institutional Framework)
1. The Revision of the institutional framework of the
Architect' s profession practice Decree 4663/30, constitutes a fixed demand
of the sector, and SADAS-PEA has repeatedly pointed out the need for the
legislation of a new framework which will be able to correspond to the
contemporary conditions with a new determination of the sector's competences,
based on the studies' cognitive content.
But also the other Associations (Civil Engineers - Mechanical Engineers)
have admitted that the current legal settlements -applied since 1930 and
according to which we all do almost everything at the expense of scientific
and social deontology- are anachronistic and unable to correspond to the
current reality. Everybody agrees on the following:
· Unqualified persons must not exercise professions that require maximum scientific training and specialization.
· The countless repercussions of the cost and the quality of the works due to the detachment of the architects' professional rights from their scientific competence must not charge the whole society.
· The trivialization of the role and the devaluation of the profession of the architects from the State and from all enacted bodies (Technical Chamber of Greece) in general, must not continue.
2. Where the architecture sector and more specifically the professional relations between architects and civil engineers are concerned, architects have pointed out the need for a clear determination between the two professions, based on the cognitive content of their studies. The right of architectural practice should be obtained after 5 years of university level studies that will provide the graduate with the capability for a complete and balanced apprehension of architecture, the aesthetic and functional knowledge, the theoretical documentation, the social embedding and the technical competence of Architectural work, as thoroughly described in the 3rd article of the EEC Architects Directive. Such a regulation would enable the upgrading of the projects' specifications, the supervision's quality and the works' control.
3. At the same time, the architects have recognized a social reality, created by the present institutional framework regarding those practicing the profession of the architect and the civil engineer up to now. It is obvious that a special settlement should be provided for the above professionals in the new institutional framework. Today the architects are over 17.000 and they are more than sufficient as for the needs of our country.
4. In this direction, after many years of efforts a common decision of the Associations of Architects (SADAS-PEA) and Civil Engineers has been published on 12.3.1985, based on the EEC Architects Directive, and was communicated to the Ministry of Environment and Public Works and to the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE). The regulations and processes foreseen in this decision, agreed and charged both by the Government and the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) were one-sidedly materialized and only where the civil engineers of the European union were concerned. The procedures that concern the national area have stopped with the responsibility of both the government and the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE).
5. As known, in August 1985 the Directive 85/384/EEC
"for the mutual recognition of degrees, certificates and other titles
in the field of architecture and the establishment of measurements for
the facilitation of real exercise of the right of installations and free
services" was published. The above directive was incorporated in
our internal Law (with a 6 years delay for which our country was convicted
by the Court of European Communities) with Presidential Decree 107/1993
which brings forward the provisions of the Directive regarding the minimal
requirements of the content of the degree of Architectural studies, that
constitute an essential condition for the Practice of the architect's
profession.
These conditions are the following:
a) Studies of University level with architecture as their main object.
b) Studies that should maintain a balance between the theoretical and
practical aspects of Architectural education.
c) Studies of a minimum duration of 4 years with a full-time attendance
at a University or a similar educational institution (or at least 6 years
at a University or a similar educational institution, from which at least
3 years should be of full-time attendance).
d) Successful certification of the above education with a competition
of university level.
It is therefore obvious that holders of degrees or certificates that do not fill the above minimal conditions of architectural studies cannot practice the profession of the architect.
During 5-6 May 2001, a conference of the representatives
of the European Union's Organizations of Architects was held in Athens;
matters of professional exercise of architecture concerning the origin
countries were presented during the conference, pointing out the formation
and structure of the professional institutions, the existing
legislative regulations, the application of European directives and their
recent modifications.
The Association of Greek Architects (SADAS-PEA) considers
the matter as a major professional priority, as the eventual abolition
of the EEC architects' directive brings forward, in a dramatic way, the
matters of professional competence as for the practice of technical professions
in the European Union.
The practice of architecture by architects is undoubtedly connected with
the improvement of the urban space, the upgrading of the constructions'
quality and the determination of the competences of technical professions
on a wider level.
General Data
Greece became a member of the European Union in 1981.
Athens is it's capital.
According to the last census of 2001, the country's population is 10.964.020
in an area of 131.957 km2.
In Greece there are five Architectural Schools of a five-years duration
of 10 semesters.
1. In Athens
SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE n. t. u. a. (National Technical University of Athens)
Founded in 1917
Duration of Studies: 5 years / 10 semesters
Graduates from 1975 to 2002: 3.411
Present undergraduates of all 10 semesters: 1.650
2. In Thessalonica
ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI, SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY FACULTIES OF
ARCHITECTURE
Founded in 1956
Became an independent section by Decree 1268/1983
Duration of Studies: 5 years / 10 semesters
Graduates from 1970 until today: 3.555
Present undergraduates of all 10 semesters: 1.638
3. In Patras
UNIVERSITY OF PATRAS - SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
Founded in 1999
Duration of Studies: 5 years / 10 semesters
There are not any graduates yet
Undergraduates of all four years: 431
With the gradual development of the Program of Studies, the students will
be able to choose between three directions:
a. Conservation and restoration of buildings and groups of buildings
b. Urban planning and urban reformation
c. Planning of interior space, landscape and object
4. In Volos
UNIVERSITY OF THESSALY - POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL - DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL
ENGINEERING
Founded in 1999 (Presidential Decree 208/99)
Duration of Studies: 5 years / 10 semesters, Specialization
There are not any graduates yet
Total amount of undergraduates of all years: 382
5. In Xanthi
DEMOCRITUS UNIVERSITY OF THRACE - DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING
Founded in 1999 (Presidential Decree 208/99)
Duration of Studies: 5 years / 10 semesters
There are not any graduates yet
Total amount of undergraduates of all years: 315
The degrees of all five Architectural Schools are equivalent
to the degrees of the European Union counties.
In order to gain admission to Greek Universities and Technological Institutions,
candidates take examinations of a Pan Hellenic level after the completion
of their studies in the two last grades of Greek Lyceum (high school).
About Professional Practice
Until 1982, in order to exercise the profession of the architect, graduates
of Greek Universities and equivalent foreign schools had to take written
examinations conducted by the SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE n. t. u. a. The ones
that succeeded had to register in the records of the Technical Chamber
of Greece (TEE), which is a prerequisite for the exercise of the profession.
From 1982 until today, so as to register in the records of the Technical
Chamber of Greece, graduates take oral examinations conducted by the Technical
Chamber of Greece in two ways:
a. by the dissertation
b. based on unities (the examination is realized on three out of five
unities according to Ministerial Decision 5/4/39, Government Press 713/8/5.10.84).
In Greece, training practice is not compulsory after the completion of
studies (tironcino). However, the registration in the records of the Technical
Chamber of Greece is compulsory.
Graduates also register in the records of the Architects Scientific Association,
SADAS-PEA (Association of Greek Architects).
The Technical Chamber of Greece is the official Technical Advisor of the
State ever since 1926 and it controls graduate architects as well as all
graduate engineers of all specializations.
The crisis regarding graduate architects
With decree 2916/2001 Technological Educational Institutions of three-years
studies (TEI) become schools of higher education, by augmenting the duration
of studies from three to four years. With the new regulations, higher
education consists of two parallel sectors: the university sector, which
includes universities and polytechnic schools and the technological sector,
including Technological Educational Institutions.
Employment
Today, there are about 16.100 architects engineers in Greece. 13.653 are
registered in SADAS-PEA.
About 60% are employed by the Private Sector.
About 25% are self-employed as free lancers.
About 15% are employed by the Public Sector (Ministries, Public entities,
Public Organizations, Municipals and Banks).
Rate of Salaries
The Private Sector's rate of salaries is different than the Public Sector's
one.
The Public Sector follows the rate of salaries of civil servants, while
there is a collective contract of employment for the Private Sector.
Professional rights for design - supervision
Decrees 4663/1930 and 1418/1984 determine the professional rights for
research and supervision of various technical projects, for both the Public
and Private sectors.
a. Design - supervision of all Architectural Projects
b. Design - supervision of static projects (for special constructions
a joint signature of the engineer is required).
Fees for design - supervision of technical projects
Through the Ministry of Environment, Land Planning and Public Works, the
State has determined the minimum fee cost both for private and public
projects.
Penalization of the profession
Decree 2331/1995, article 20, amendment of article 286 of the penal code.
Article 286
"Whoever, during the realization of a design or the management of
a construction or any other similar project or a demolition, acts deliberately
or by mistake against the mutually recognized technical rules and therefore
endangers the life and health of a person is penalized with imprisonment
up to two (2) years".
Professional Activity
Architects in Greece are employed in three sectors of occupation:
1. The Private sector,
2. The Public and Wider Public sector and
3. The Self-employment sector.
We would like to point out that the higher percentages, regarding the presence of women engineers, appear within Architects (about 35%).
Architects employed in the Public and Wider Public sector (Corporations, Municipals, Organizations) constitute approximately the 15% of the total number of architects.
This percentage appears to be constantly reducing, because the current employment is not analogous to that of 1980 and 1990. Furthermore, women architects occupy a high percentage when compared to men.
In the Private Sector there is a percentage of approximately 60% of the total amount. It includes employees of small or large Technical Firms and small or large Design Offices. They may be plain employees that handle current matters or they may set their Design or Contractor's Degree at the disposal of the relevant firm or office.
The sector of Self-employment concerns those who deal with design and supervision of private projects, keeping a private office or co-residing with engineers of other sectors, e.g. civil engineers, electrical engineers, surveyors.
According to a research conducted by the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE), the percentage of free lancers, self-employed persons and employers is higher among the residents of Thessalonica and other areas of Greece, compared to their colleagues in Athens.
Where fees are concerned, civil servants are the most underpaid employees, with regards to the work they produce and the exclusive use of their professional practice license, which they dispose to the State. According to the general point of view, a SPECIAL PAYROLL FOR ENGINEERS should be created.
Most private sector employees, working at private firms, are facing problems. They work over 8 hours on a daily basis. A 33% works 9-10 hours and a 16% over 10 hours. A 42% works 7-8 hours and the rest of them, work approximately 7 hours. Architects of Thessalonica and other areas of Greece work over 10 hours, again when compared to the ones of Athens.
There is also a category of architects that their work is not related to architecture (approximately 2,5%).
Architects practicing their profession have to deal with the following problems:
1. Illegal competition and absence of meritocracy
2. Insufficient institutional framework
3. Low fees
4. Non-fortification of professional rights
5. Bureaucracy and difficulty in cooperation with Public Services
6. Downgrading of profession's validity
7. Excessive working hours
8. Non-correspondence between education and market needs