handout#

ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1


The Beginning

When will the architect be

needed?


Every building begins in the mind of one person

wanting:

A home built for their family,

A speculator wishing to build a block of flats to sell for a profit,

A trader seeking a shop to dispose goods,

An industrialist needing a factory to manufacture products.

The building may be required for

pleasure, income, utilitarian uses, or

many other purposes.


At some stage, the innovator will seek

professional advice to help translate ideas

into a completed building.

Traditionally, the first person the innovator

will generally turn to, is the architect.


Nowadays the practice of architecture is

extremely complicated.

In truth it is both these things

Some see it as a

combination of

understanding

different architectural

styles, possessing

artistic sense and

being able to create

buildings which delight

the eye.

Others view it as

possessing skills in

construction

technology and

applying them to the

design of buildings.


To be a successful and efficient

architect

Artistic skills

BUT

Technological skills

working knowledge

of laws, regulations,

customs, costs,

business, circulation

patterns, access, and

special needs.

&


What professional role and

service will the architect

provide his client?

The architect is employed by the client to act

as his agent and see that he is provided with a

building which will satisfy his needs.

Enter the Architect


While offering his/her services, an architect

is expected to be concerned with a number

of issues:

First, the Building will satisfy the functional

requirements of the occupants.

Second, the building is attractive to look at,

concerned with massing, proportion, unity of the

various parts, and choice of the right materials.

Third, to choose a suitable structural form, and

appropriate finishes and services, taking care that

the completed building will not incorporate any

defects.


Choices related to costs. Often the architects

decisions will affect running costs and maintenance

costs for the future life of the building.

Other practical matters, such as how to minimise

the danger and inconvenience of fire damage, noise

transmission, and thermal loss.


The Arrival of the Architectural

Technologist

Worked alongside qualified architects and performed identical roles.

Small firms where the principals were the only

qualified architects, almost all the drawing work,

and much of the design work, was undertaken by

unqualified assistants. For two main reasons:

They were cheaper than their qualified architects

They have wide practical experience.


The Building Team

To design and construct a building its not

only the Architect who is involved, there is a

team.

The architect is likely to be the designer, and

lead the design team, but he is only one

member and will rely on the help and

cooperation of all the team members to

translate his ideas into a finished building.


The four main groups involved in the

design and construction of a building

are:

The client,

The design team,

The contracting team,

The statutory authorities


Client

Contracting

Team

Statutory

Authorities

Design

Team

Figure 1.1 - The Building Team


The Client

Also known as the building owner, and in the

building contract referred to as the employer.

The client may be a single individual, a small private

company, a large public limited company, a local

authority, a state corporation, a voluntary society,

or practically any other organisation you can think

of.

Client role is to tell the architect his requirements,

commission the works and either directly or

indirectly employ and pay everyone on the project.


The Design Team

The Architect

Building Services

Engineer(s)

Landscape

Architect

Interior

Designer

Quantity

Surveyor

Architectural

Technologist

Structural

Engineer

Other

Consultants

Clerk of

Works

CONTRACTOR

CLIENT

Resident

Engineer

Figure 1.2 The Structure of the Design Team


Architect

Role is to act as the clients agent in the design and supervision of the building, advising and guiding him as

necessary, from inception of the original idea to final

completion and occupation of the finished building. His

work will include the preparation of the design and

drawings and obtaining statutory approvals.

Architectural Technologist Will work in partnership with the architect, particularly in

the field of architectural technology, but he is often involved

in all aspects of the work, including contract procedures

and administration. Sometimes he will be responsible for

the design, and like the architect take on the role of team

leader.


Other Architectural Staff

such as technician, architectural assistant, and draughtsperson.

Clerk of Works

Generally employed directly by the client but acts as the architects representative on-site.

(Inspector, without the power to issue instructions

on his own authority).


Quantity Surveyor

Employed by the client as his own and the architects advisor on anything relating to the cost of the job

(preparing bill of quantities, checking tenders, and carrying

out valuations of costs during the progress of the project).

Structural Engineer

Employed by the client, as a member of the design team, to assist in the design, construction, and supervision of

the structural elements in the building.


Resident Engineer The resident engineer acts as the structural engineers

representative on the site (inspector).

Building Services Engineer(s)

The building services engineer(s) occupies a similar role to the structural engineer, but in respect of the building

engineering services that is, lighting, heating, drainage,

etc.


Landscape Architect

On large contracts, where the client is aware of the

contribution that well-designed landscaping can make to

the appearance of a building, a landscape architect may

be employed.

Interior Designer

where the client has special requirements for the internal decor, an interior designer is employed.

Other Consultants Occasionally the expertise of a specialist consultant will

be required, such as an acoustic engineer in the case of

a concert hall.


The Contracting Team

Contractor

Contracts

(Project)

Manager

Design Team

Surveyor

Scheduler

Estimator

Site

(Construction)

Manager

General

Foreman

Trade

Foreman

Trade

Foreman

Trade

Foreman

Site

Operatives

Site

Operatives

Site

Operatives

Storekeeper

Checker

Timekeeper

Wages Clerk

Site

Engineer

Subcontractors

and

Suppliers

Figure 1.3 The Contracting Team


Contractor or Builder

The contractor or builder is employed by the client, on the advice of the architect , to construct the building in

accordance with the drawings and other information

prepared by the design team.

Contracts (Project) Manager The contracts manager is employed by the contractor,

generally to run a number of contracts. The contracts

manager is the site managers immediate supervisor and may

on a large contract be permanently resident on the site and

be given the title of project manager.


Site (Construction) Manager The Site Manager is sometimes called the Construction

Manager (or Site Agent) and is employed by the contractor

to control the work on the site.

Site Engineer The site engineer is responsible for setting out and

controlling the accuracy of the building.

General Foreman The general foreman is responsible for the day-to-day

running of the site. The site manager generally makes contact

with the site operatives through him.


Surveyor The surveyor prepares interim valuations and final accounts

and measures work for subcontractors and bonus payments.

Estimator The estimator prices tenders and is involved with the cost

aspects of contracts, especially during the pre-contract

period.

Scheduler (Planner) The planner is responsible for scheduling and planning and all

aspects of the contractors programmes.


Other Staff These staff will depend on the size of the project and the

contractor, but will include buyers, plant managers,

storekeepers, timekeepers and wages clerks.

Trade Foremen These will be in charge of a gang (crews) of bricklayers,

carpenters, plumbers, etc.

Site Operatives These are the site workforce, including trades people,

apprentices, and labourers.


Subcontractors The subcontractors are responsible, under the control of the

contractor, for part of the construction work, such as the

supply and erection of the structural steelwork.

Suppliers Suppliers have the responsibility for supplying materials or

components used by the contractor in the building, such as

the supply of windows.


The Statutory Authorities

The following are some statutory authorities

in Bahrain:

The Central Office (Markaz Al-Shamil)

Civil Defence

Roads Directorate

Electricity & Water

Sewage Directory

Physical Planning Department (Zoning)


Summary of the Main Roles

Most people involved in the building process can

assume one of four main roles:

1. To provide the demand and the money (e.g. the

client or employer),

2. To design the building or help in the process (e.g.

the architect and the quantity surveyor),

3. To help build (e.g. the contractor),

4. To ensure that the building complies with the

prevailing legislation and regulations (e.g. with

planning and building regulations).

handout#

Documents

architect arcg

professional role

professional advice

architectural technologist

practice of architecture

completed building

different architectural

building team