You are on page 1of 55

Prashant Kaushik

The COA has came into force on 1st September, 1972 constituted by the Government of India under the provisions of the Architects Act, 1972. The Council of Architecture is charged with the responsibility to regulate the education and practice of profession throughout India besides maintaining the register of architects.

Five architects possessing recognized qualifications elected by the Indian Institute of Architects from among its members; Two persons nominated by the All India Council for Technical Education Five persons elected form among themselves by heads of architectural institutions in India imparting full-time instruction for recognised qualifications; Chief Architects in the Ministries of the Central Govt One person nominated by the Central Government; An architect from each State nominated by the Government of that state; Two persons nominated by the Institution of Engineers (India) from among its members; and One person nominated by the Institution of Surveyors of India from among its members.

An Architect must register himself with the Council of Architecture. For registration, he/she must possess the requisite qualifications according to the standards of Architectural Education Regulations, 1983

Maintaining Register of Architects When a person gets the requisite qualification and undergoes the necessary education under the regulations of COAs minimum standards, that person is eligible to get registered. Registration provides an authority to practice architecture in INDIA with approval from the council of architecture. False registration or misusing the title of an architect is a punishable offence, which equals to the seriousness of a criminal offence.

Prescribing Minimum Architectural Education Standards For institutions and colleges in India to have the authority to grant qualifications, certain minimum educational standards have to be upheld, and these standards are prescribed by COA. These standards also specify admission eligibility, duration of the course, staff standards, accommodation, content and structure of the course, and examination rules and regulations. All the colleges and institutions of architecture can be called upon by COA for information about their courses. COA does this to ensure that the highest standards of education prescribed by the Act are upheld and many inspections are conducted for the same reason.

Recognition of Colleges and Institutions of Architecture in India The architectural institutions in India grant certain architectural qualifications, which need the approval of Central Government in order to be recognised. The COA appoints a number of inspectors who inspect the institution for recommendation purposes.

Withdrawal of Recognition of Colleges and Institutions of Architecture in India The COA has it in its power to make a representation in front of the Government when it believes that the recognition of an educational institution or college should be withdrawn. This can happen when the inspection (by inspectors appointed by COA) reveals that education standards set by the act are not being followed by the institution. The investigation would include examination of course structure, training, staff, equipment and all other facilities that the institute provides.

Governing Profession of Architects There are certain regulations which govern an architect such as professional conduct, guidelines for architectural competitions, professional etiquette, professional ethics, and engagement conditions. The Architects Regulations, 1989 enumerates these points, and every architect has to observe and follow the guidelines of professional conduct stated by the Act. Disciplinary action could be instigated against the architect if the guidelines are violated, and their behaviour would also fall under professional misconduct as per the act.

President
Vice president Executive Committee 5 members Disciplinary committee 3 members. Must meet once every 6 months Annual report and accounts to be published in gazette of India

Registration of architects Educational standards Practice standards for practicing architects Recognized qualifications. Withdrawal of Recognition of Colleges and Institutions of Architecture in India Governing Profession of Architects Make Regulations and Appoint Officers and Manage Fund

Make Regulations COA has the power to make regulations even if the new regulations are not consistent with the provisions of the act. It has to obtain approval from Central Government for the same. Appoint Officers and Manage Fund In order to carry out its functions, COA can appoint officers and fix their allowance. It also manages the fund through which all its expenses are incurred. This fund includes money received from the Central Government.

A code of conduct is a set of rules that outlines the duties and responsibilities of a particular person, groups or organization. All professions are bound by these codes, including architecture which is a process of designing, planning and construction of buildings and other structures. There are 25 rules of the code of conduct given by the government of India for the practice of architecture called ARCHITECTS (PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT) REGULATIONS, 1989.

These states that Ensure that his professional activities do not conflict with his general responsibility to contribute to the quality of the environment and future welfare of society, Apply his skill to the creative, responsible and economic development of his country, Provide professional services of a high standard, to the best of his ability,

Inform his client of the conditions of engagement and scale of charges and agree that these conditions shall be the basis of the appointment, Not sub-commission to another architect or architects the work for which he has been commissioned without prior agreement of his client, Not give or take discounts, commissions, gifts or other inducements for the introduction of clients or of work, Act with fairness and impartiality when administering a building contract,

Maintain a high standard of integrity, Promote the advancement of architecture, standards of architectural education, research, training and practice, Conduct himself in a manner which is not derogatory to his professional character, nor likely to lessen the confidence of the public in the profession, nor bring architects into disrepute, Compete fairly with other architects, Observe and uphold the council's conditions of engagement and scale of charges, Not supplant or attempt to supplant another architect,

Not prepare designs in competition with other architects for a client without payment or for a reduced fee except in a competition conducted with the architectural competition guidelines approved by the council of architecture. Not attempt to obtain, offer to undertake or accept a commission for which he knows another architect has been selected or employed until he has evidence that the selection.

Comply with council's guidelines for architectural competitions and inform the council of his appointment as assessor for an architectural competition , When working in other countries, observe the requirements of codes of conduct applicable to the place where he is working , Not have or take as partner in his firm any person who is disqualified for registration in COA, Provide their employees with suitable working environment, compensate them fairly and facilitate their professional development, Recognize and respect the professional contribution of his employees, Provide their associates with suitable working environment, compensate them fairly and facilitate their professional development,

Recognize and respect the professional contribution of his associates, Recognize and respect the professional contribution of the consultants, Enter into agreement with them defining their scope of work, responsibilities, functions, fees and mode of payment , Shall not advertise his professional services nor shall he allow his name to be included in advertisement or to be used for publicity purposes save the following exceptions :-

A notice of change of address may be published on three occasions and correspondents may be informed by post, an architect may exhibit his name outside his office and on a building provided the lettering does not exceed 10 cm. In height , advertisements including the name and address of an architect may be published in connection with calling of tenders, staff requirements and similar matters, may allow his name to be associated with illustrations and descriptions of his work in the press or other public media but he shall not give or accept any consideration for such appearances, may allow his name to appear in advertisements inserted in the press by suppliers or manufacturers of materials used in a building he has designed, provided his name is included in an unostentatious manner and he does not accept any consideration for its use, may allow his name to appear in brochure prepared by clients for the purpose of advertising or promoting projects for which he has been commissioned, may produce or publish brochures, pamphlets describing his experience and capabilities for distribution to those potential clients whom he can identify by name and position , may allow his name to appear in the classified columns of the trade / professional directory and/or telephone directory/ website.

The Architect is required to provide services in respect of the following :

Taking Client's instructions and preparation of design brief. Site evaluation, analysis and impact of existing and / or proposed development on its immediate environs. Design and site development. Structural design. Sanitary, plumbing, drainage, water supply and sewerage design. Electrical, electronic, communication systems and design. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning design (HVAC) and other mechanical systems. Elevators, escalators, etc. Fire detection, Fire protection and Security systems etc. Periodic inspection and evaluation of Construction works.

The Architect shall, after taking instructions from the Client, render the following services:
CONCEPT DESIGN [STAGE 1] : Know Client's requirements, examine site; and prepare a design brief for Client's approval. Prepare report on site evaluation, state of existing buildings, if any ; and analysis and impact of existing and/ or proposed development on its immediate environs. Prepare conceptual designs with reference to requirements given and prepare rough estimate of cost on area basis.

PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND DRAWINGS [STAGE 2] : Modify the conceptual designs incorporating required changes and prepare the preliminary drawings, sketches, study model, etc., for the Client's approval along with preliminary estimate of cost on area basis. DRAWINGS FOR CLIENT'S/ STATUTORY APPROVALS [STAGE 3] : Prepare drawings necessary for Client's/ statutory approvals and ensure compliance with codes, standards and legislation, as applicable and assist the Client in obtaining the statutory approvals thereof, if required.

WORKING DRAWINGS AND TENDER DOCUMENTS [STAGE 4] : Prepare working drawings, specifications and schedule of quantities sufficient to prepare estimate of cost and tender documents including code of practice covering aspects like mode of measurement, method of payments, quality control procedures on materials & works and other conditions of contract.
APPOINTMENT OF CONTRACTORS [STAGE 5] : Invite, receive and analyse tenders; advise Client on appointment of contractors.

CONSTRUCTION [STAGE 6] : Prepare and issue working drawings and details for proper execution of works during construction. Approve samples of various elements and components. Visit the site of work, at intervals mutually agreed upon, to inspect and evaluate the Construction Works and where necessary clarify any decision, offer interpretation of the drawings/specifications, attend conferences and meetings to ensure that the project proceeds generally in accordance with the conditions of contract and keep the Client informed and render advice on actions, if required. In order to ensure that the work at site proceeds in accordance with the contract documents/ drawings and to exercise time and quality controls, the day-to-day supervision will be carried out by a Construction Manager (Clerk of Works/ Site Supervisor or Construction Management Agency in case of a large and complex project), who shall work under the guidance and direction of the Architect and shall be appointed and paid by the Client. Issue Certificate of Virtual Completion of works.

COMPLETION [STAGE 7] :

Prepare and submit completion reports and drawings for the project as required and assist the Client in obtaining "Completion/ Occupancy Certificate" from statutory authorities, wherever required. Issue two sets of as built drawings including services and structures.

Architectural design is an intellectual property of the Architect. The drawings, specifications, documents and models as instruments of service are the property of the Architect whether the project, for which they are made, is executed or not. The Client shall retain copies of the Architects models, drawings, specifications and other documents for his information and use in connection with the project. These shall not be used for any other project by the Client or the Architect or any other person, except for the repetition as stipulated in the Scale of Charges.

All disputes or differences which may arise between the Client and the Architect under Conditions of Engagement and Scale of Charges with regard to the meaning or interpretation or matter or things done or to be done in pursuance hereof, such disputes and differences shall be referred for arbitration to the Council of Architecture. The arbitrator shall be appointed by the President, Council of Architecture. The arbitration shall be conducted as per the provisions of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The decision and award of the arbitrator shall be final and binding on the Architect and the Client.

An easement is a legal right that allows someone to use part of a property that he or she does not own. There are several different types, the most common being affirmative, negative, express, implied, permissive, prescriptive, conservation, and preservation. The various rights granted by each depend on the nature of its creation and its continued use. A negative easement usually prohibits something. This type typically references architectural elements of a building on a property, such as barring the building of a structure higher than two stories.

Right to light, also called solar easement. The right to receive a minimum quantity of light in favour of a window or other aperture in a building which is primarily designed to admit light. Sidewalk easement. Usually sidewalks are in the public right-of-way, but sometimes they are on the lot Ancient Lights - A doctrine of English Common Law that gives a landowner an Easement or right by prescription to the unobstructed passage of light and air from adjoining land if the landowner has had uninterrupted use of the lights for twenty years. Once a person gains the right to ancient lights, the owner of the adjoining land cannot obscure them, such as by erecting a building. If the neighbour does so, he or she can be sued under a theory of Nuisance, and damages could be awarded

A request for tenders is a formal, structured invitation to suppliers, to bid, to supply products or services. In the public sector an official fee is needed to fortify and secure the tender bid engagement documents, such a process may be required and determined in detail by law to ensure that such competition for the use of public money is open, fair and free from bribery and nepotism. The three types of tendering methods are Open Tendering; Selective Tendering and Negotiated Tendering.

This tendering process comprises various stages. The first phase includes the pre-qualification stage, where the client lays down criteria for qualifying for the work being tendered. This phase is considered as an important stage as it drastically cuts the number of bidders and select only capable bidders. The second stage is the tender invitation phase, where the client publishes or issues invitations to shortlisted bidders or to the public. This may not require media channels for communication. The third stage is the tender clarifications and addenda phase, in which the client responds to the queries raised by the bidders in writing. It also engages possible issuance of tender addendums amending parts of the tender documents.

stage is the tender offer/bid submission phase where bids are presented in the form specified, mostly sealed envelops and then there is the tender opening and the post tender clarification phase whereby the client goes through the tenders and seeks any clarification from the bidders. The next stage is the award phase where the client issues an acceptance letter to the successful bidder who is usually, but not always, the lowest bidder and the last stage includes the formalization of contract phase where the necessary documents are signed to formalize the agreement. The fourth

In selective tendering process, the client selects only contracts that have delivered excellent results in previous similar tenders. This process includes three ways such as: an advertisement may produce several interested contractors and suitable Firms are selected to tender; the consultants may contact those they would wish to put on an ad-hoc list; and many local authorities and national bodies keep approved lists of contractors in certain categories, such as work type and cost range. - See more at:

In this process the client holds a one-to-one discussion with contractors to negotiate the terms of contract, as such tenders are mainly used for specialized projects like lift systems, airport projects etc at a larger level which includes a limited number of contractors who engage in these kind of projects from the industry . In the Indian tendering scenario, frameworks are determined by guidelines set by the relevant international bodies including FIDIC or International Federation of Consulting .

Pre qualification document in tender is document which provides information that enables potential applicants to decide whether to participate. It also indicate any important/ specialized requirements requested to qualify for pre qualification . The time allowed for preparation of the pre qualification normally more than six weeks. Basically it is a standard template to eliminate those who does not fulfil the requisites. It is a filtering process.

Direct costs are those that are needed to produce the output of a particular project or service itself. For example, the salaries and on-costs of people working directly on the project, project travel and subsistence, project materials and equipment, and other costs easily identiable as part of the project. Overheads are those costs needed to support and administer projects, activities, and the organisation more generally. These costs, often called indirect, core, central, support or management and administration costs, are often shared or split amongst various people or activities in your organisation. The full cost of an organisation includes both the direct costs of the projects and services and the overheads. Therefore, the full cost of each of the services includes both the direct costs and a portion of overheads.

Overheads can generally be broken down into four categories: Premises and office costs, Central function costs, Governance and strategic development costs, General business development costs.

The Council of Architecture Competition Guidelines provide a new up to date code that safeguards the interests of promoters and of architects. Many architects regard competitions as a valuable opportunity for research, perhaps for the study of a new building type, or for exploring the possibilities of new technical ideas and for gaining new experience. On the other hand, the profession's willingness to allow its members to compete without fee is a remarkable concession to the promoter without parallel in any other profession. One of the principal aims of the competition is to explore hidden talents among younger Architects. To many competitors, it often is the first step to a successful career.

The entries will be judged only by those who are qualified to interpret the competitors' presentations and to judge if the design selected meets with the promoter's requirements. The guidelines therefore lay considerable emphasis on the mandatory requirement of Assessors and the qualifications. The appointment of the Assessors should therefore be the immediate and first step the moment the promoter decides to go in for a competition. The President of the Council of Architecture, if so requested by the promoter, may suggest a panel of names experienced in this type of project proposed, for appointment as Assessors. Their responsibilities commence with the approval of the brief of the competition project. The Assessor may even help to prepare the brief.

For practical reasons, this responsibility is often taken by the Senior Assessor who would then be available to advise the promoter on all matters connected with the competition from the promoter's decision to hold the competition till the final award. Duties of the Assessors : Assist in the preparation and approval of the brief. Study and understand the requirements of the Local Authorities. Visit and examine the project site, if necessary. Advise on the appointment of the Technical Advisers, if necessary. Finalise the competition conditions. Prepare the final report/award.

The project brief is the most important document. The success of the competition will depend upon the clarity and the completeness of the brief. For complicated projects such as Hospitals, Airports etc. which are under constant development or projects encompassing highly technical elements, a Technical Adviser would be considered necessary in the initial stage to help the Promoter and the Assessors to draw up the brief and subsequently to advise the Assessors on the technical aspect of the competition entries.

Article 1 Architects registered with the COA, firms with partners registered with the COA, architecture students of the COA registered schools can took part in these competitions. Neither the promoter, assessor or his employees, his firm, associates shall compete or assist a competitor or act as an architect for the competition.

Article 2 The draft competition conditions including time table, registration fees, prize monies/honoraria, board of assessors, the programme etc. of competitions shall have been finalised within the framework of the guidelines prescribed by the Council of Architecture before any announcement is made by the promoter of the competition. The conditions of the competitions shall clearly give: Conditions based upon guidelines prescribed by the Council of Architecture. Type of Competition. Purpose of the competition and intentions of the promoter. Nature of the problem to be solved. All practical and mandatory requirements to be met by the competitors. Number, nature, scale and dimensions of the documents, plan and/or models.

Estimates if required in standard form issued with the conditions. Nature of prizes. Names of Assessors. Necessary information required for conducting the competition. The competition shall be conducted in English. All competition designs shall be submitted anonymously.

OPEN COMPETITIONS Competitions in which all Architects are invited to participate through an announcement by advertisements in suitable media and through circulars which may be issued by the promoters. Open competitions for projects estimated at less than Rs. 10,00,000/-may be restricted to Architects who have their main or branch office in the State of the project site.

LIMITED COMPETITIONS FOR COMPETITIONS BY INVITATION Competitions in which limited amount of Architects (approx. 5 to 8) selected by the promoter on the advice of the Senior Architect Assessor or Board of Assessors, are invited to participate. Each participant who submits his designs shall receive an honorarium.

SPECIAL COMPETITIONS A competition may also combine town planning as well as design problem, and may involve the use of industrial components or participation of developers. In such competitions participation may be required to be limited to professionals or group of professionals with certain definite expertise. In such cases the competition announcement shall clearly define the field of expertise.

In finance, valuation is the process of estimating what something is worth. Items that are usually valued are a financial asset or liability. Valuations can be done on assets or on liabilities. Valuations are needed for many reasons such as investment analysis, capital budgeting, merger and acquisition transactions, f inancial reporting, taxable events to determine the proper tax liability, and in litigation.

You might also like