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+ Is your Architect qualified?
In light of the recent construction boom and because more people are getting involved in their own construction projects, the public has learnt expensive lessons and suffered great loss by using (cheaper?) unqualified or under qualified individuals. Of course this also poses a threat to the dignity of the architectural profession.
Developing property in today's market place is a big investment, thus it’s critical to make informed decisions regarding the professional assistance you will require.
The categories of professionals in the architectural field can be summed up as follows:
- Professional Architect
- Professional Senior Architectural Technologist
- Professional Architectural Technologist
- Professional Architectural Draughts person.
These categories were established by the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) with the objective of protecting the public from misconduct. They also identify a work schedule which limits certain categories to a level of competency (the same principle applies to the medical profession where a nurse won’t be allowed to perform the work of a surgeon etc.).
Unfortunately the public is misled by individuals claiming to be architects when in fact they are unqualified. In order to become a professional architect the candidate must obtain a five year B.Arch/M.Arch degree from a university (not a university of technology), after which a two year apprenticeship must be completed. Meanwhile a registered architect must have passed the professional practice exam and register with SACAP. The title "architect" is thus also a legal one, indicating that a person has demonstrated his or her professional competence by examination (a professional architect will always indicate his or her registration with the suffix Pr.Arch behind his or her name).
When engaging the services of any individual in the above mentioned categories it is imperative that you know what qualification they have and insist on their proof of registration. The registration number can then be confirmed on SACAP's website: www.sacapsa.com. By law, no individual who is not registered with SACAP is allowed to submit building plans for approval to municipalities.
+ What does an architect do?
People often feel that architects are too expensive without really knowing what they do or without considering the long term benefits of making use of their services. Building in today's marketplace is a complex undertaking requiring many different products and skills. An architect understands these complexities and works closely with you so as to design an appropriate response to your requirements. A SACAP (www.sacapsa.com) registered architect is professionally qualified, legally registered and bound by a professional code of conduct, thereby being appropriately trained and experienced to perfectly coordinate and manage your building project.
By investing in the services of an architect, you ensure an exploration of various options for the design of your building. With involvement from the initial design concept your architect will consider aesthetics, orientation, massing, circulation, energy efficiency, furnishing and siting. Your architect can produce site studies, help secure planning and zoning approvals, and also perform a variety of other pre-design tasks. Plus, when architects are involved in the earliest planning stage, they gain more opportunities to understand your business, develop creative solutions, and propose ways to reduce costs. Thus through good design, an architect can increase the value of your building and may produce significant savings. Your architect's understanding of space, especially when it comes to operating, staffing and/or tenanting the building can lead to a facility that adds to the productivity and efficiency of your operation.
Architects work in five broad stages:
- Appraisal and definition of the project
- Design concept
- Design development
- Technical documentation
- Contract administration and inspection.
Throughout the project, your architect will thus control the design, planning and quality of workmanship and materials to meet time and budgetary constraints. Your architect will be your independent adviser, liaising on your behalf with consultants, builders, and suppliers and ensuring compliance with the spirit and intent of the project. On large projects your architect will act as principal agent (team leader) where his/her role will be to coordinate a team of specialist consultants such as civil-, structural-, electrical- and mechanical engineers, quantity surveyors, interior designers and landscape architects.
Successful projects - i.e. those that achieve the desired results for their owners, users and architects - result from informed clients working with skilled architects to form professional, business (and often personal) relationships.
+ Selecting your architect?
Architecture firms come in a variety of types and sizes, with each firm possessing its own unique combination of skills, experience, interests and values. This sometimes makes it difficult to choose the ideal architect, whether you are a first-time client or an experienced client in a new situation.
That’s why it’s usually wise to interview more than one firm, unless of course you already have a good relationship with an architect. Begin your search by contacting the owners of similar facilities or projects and ask who they interviewed and ultimately selected. Find out who designed buildings that you have admired or that seem especially appropriate.
Arrange interviews with firms that you feel can do your project because of their expertise, experience and ability to bring a fresh look to your situation.
Why is interviewing firms so crucial?
Because interviewing architects addresses the one intangible issue that can't be communicated in portfolios - the chemistry between you and the architecture firm. Interview a few firms to get a good idea of the possibilities, but not so many as to make an already tough decision more complicated. When interviewing a firm, ask for examples of projects similar to yours in type and size. Ask how they will approach your project and request names of previous clients that you may contact.
Now you should have a clear picture of how the architect will gather information, establish priorities and make decisions, and very importantly, how fees will be calculated. Make sure that the firm's style, personality, priorities, and approach are compatible with yours. All good architects will listen to you and translate your ideas into a viable construction project. Look for a good listener and you will find a good architect. When talking to past clients assess both the performance of the firm and the performance of the resulting architecture. You may want to visit existing buildings to see them in use.
Base your final decision on an appropriate balance between design ability, technical competence, professional service and cost. It is important to note that selection is a mutual process. The most thoughtful architects are as careful in selecting their clients as owners are in selecting their architects. Also they are as interested in a successful project as you are, and they know that good architecture results from the fruitful collaboration between architects and clients.
+ Questions to ask your architect?
| 1. |
What does the architect consider to be the important issues or considerations in your project? What are the challenges? |
| 2. |
How will the architect approach the project? How will the architect establish priorities and make decisions? |
| 3. |
How will the architect gather information about your goals and needs? |
| 4. |
What does the architect expect from you? |
| 5. |
What sets the architect apart from the rest? What is the architect's design philosophy? |
| 6. |
Which individual from the architecture practice will you be dealing with directly? Is it the same person that will be designing the project? Who will be designing the project? |
| 7. |
How busy is the architect? What is the internal time scale for him/her to provide you with the various design and documentation stages? |
| 8. |
How does the architect establish fees? What would the architect expect to be the fees on your specific project? At what stages will fees be due? Should the scope of the project change, will there be additional fees? |
| 9. |
Would the architect require additional services from surveyors, engineers or quantity surveyors? Should it be the case, who would he/she recommend? |
| 10. |
What are the steps in the design process? How will the architect explain the project? Will you see drawings, photorealistic perspectives or animations? |
| 11. |
What services does the architect provide during construction? |
| 12. |
Does the architect have a list of past clients that you can contact? |
This should not only help you understand both the architect’s and your own responsibilities, but will also help prevent costly surprises later in the construction process.
+ Getting started with your building project?
In order to end a building project successfully it is critical to start it by establishing exactly what your needs and requirements are. Every person has his or her own knowledge, experience, aspirations, desires and needs, and above all, you also provide the recourses to realise your expectations. Some people may have vast experience in the construction industry, many others have much less, but whatever your situation, it makes sense to start with some self-examination to assess what you already know and what you will establish with your architect's help.
The questions outlined below can serve as a guide.
| 1. |
What activities do you wish to accommodate in the project? An architect with experience can help you refine your requirements and spatial needs and set out a defined programme. |
| 2. |
Do you already have a site, or do you need your architect's input in choosing the right location for your project? |
| 3. |
Have you or your organisation set a fixed construction schedule and budget? |
| 4. |
What should your building communicate to the public aesthetically? Do have any design aspirations? |
| 5. |
What are your overall expectations for the project? |
| 6. |
How will decisions be made? Will a single person sign off decisions, or would there be a committee? |
| 7. |
How much information do you need to make decisions? |
| 8. |
Where will the recourses to create and operate the project come from? |
| 9. |
How much experience do you have in design and construction? If you have gone through the process before, where were you the most successful, and where were you the most disappointed? |
You don't need complete answers to these questions; your architect will indeed help you think them through.
This clarity should help you select the best architect for the project.
+ Working with your architect?
YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT
The design of a building often includes the input of many other consultants such as engineers and quantity surveyors, but none of the aforementioned are as important as your and the architect’s combined input. The standard client-architect agreement provided by the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) provide clear guidance on what is expected from the client, and your architect will assist you in clarifying them.
As the client you will typically provide the following supporting services:
| 1. |
You will be responsible for the outline of design objectives, constraints and criteria, including space requirements, flexibility, expandability, special equipment and site requirements. The ultimate success of your project depends on the quality of your brief. |
| 2. |
The budget, including contingencies for tender purposes, on site changes and other costs should be put in place by you as the developer. |
| 3. |
You will have to timely approve the sketch plans in order for the architect to continue with the next phase of the work, namely technical documentation. |
| 4. |
A zoning certificate and survey of the site (which should include all services and sewer inlet levels) as well as geotechnical surveys are the responsibility of the developer. When engaging in big construction projects, it could be necessary to gain information like soil bearing values, air and water pollution tests, hazardous materials testing, as well as ground water level testing. |
| 5. |
During construction it will be your responsibility to pay the contractor according to the payment certificate issued by either the architect or project manager. |
| 6. |
You also carry the responsibility to promptly notify the architect of any observed faults or non-conformance with the contract documents of the project. |
| 7. |
The construction of all new buildings and renovation works should be covered throughout by insurance policies. Depending on the contract and type of construction this could either fall under yourself or the contractor. Your architect should be able to clear up your responsibility in each case. |
Remember that you are part of the building team. It is imperative that you maintain effective communication with your architect throughout the project so he/she can act in your best interest at all times.
+ Gaining approval for your building?
Approval for your project must be obtained from a number of local council departments, and on larger projects approval from possibly the Department of Water and Forestry, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and the South African National Roads Agency. And when you’re altering an existing old building (usually older than 50 years) you might also have to apply for approval from the National Monuments Council.
Planning approval applications are generally lodged during the working drawing stage, when enough information is available to submit the drawings to the council. Your architect can submit the application together with the relevant drawings on your behalf (although the owner must normally sign the drawings and application form). To save time your architect might request that you sign a power of attorney which will enable him/her to submit plans on your behalf. A municipal approval fee is charged in relation to the area of the project, which is payable by the owner because it’s not included in the architect’s fee.
The drawings and specifications will then be checked against regulations before you are issued with approval to build. Your architect liaises with the building control department to provide additional information that may be required. Because your architect is familiar with their procedures; this process can usually be expedited. The building approval system exists to ensure that the country’s standards of health, safety and amenity are adhered to.
During certain phases of the construction it is the contractor’s responsibility to inform the town council’s building inspector that an inspection is required. Should your contractor fail to do so, a fine can be issued. The building inspector will again inspect the completed works and should he/she be satisfied that the structure was erected according to the submitted plan. If so, an occupation certificate will be issued.
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