ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
The Beginning
When will the architect be
needed?
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
&
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
Client
Contracting
Team
Statutory
Authorities
Design
Team
Figure 1.1 - The Building Team
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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).
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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.
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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)
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice Handout # 1
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).