INDIVIDUAL SUBMISSION SET

Indian Architects Act 1972

Clause

Recognition of Qualifications granted by authorities in India (Clause 14)

Interpretation

There is a schedule of authorities which can grant architectural qualifications to an individual.  This schedule (list) is provided in the Official Gazette.  If any authority wants to grant such qualification (and is not already included in the schedule), it may apply to the Central Government to get that qualification registered.

The Central Government can then, after consultation with the COA (Council of Architecture), make an amendment to the Schedule, so as to include the qualification therein.  However, it may be noted (in the Schedule) that this qualification may be provided only after a certain date, (which is the date after approval.)

E.g. A new college being able to grant the qualification of a bachelor of architecture degree, only after approval from Central Government and Council. (And the date mentioned against the certified course) 

Clause

Withdrawal of Recognition (Clause 20)

Interpretation

The Recognition, from any institute may be withdrawn upon inefficiency found in the report by the Executive committee of the Council.  This may be due to inefficiency/lack in course, staff, equipment, curriculum, infrastructure et al.

On being found insufficient, the procedure goes through the Central Government, the Council of Architecture and the State Government.  If still found insufficient, an entry is made in the Schedule, against the architectural qualification provided by the institution; stating that it may only be considered a recognized qualification, if granted before a specified date.

Architectural Practice 2041

Evolution of architecture in 25 years

When you ask me, would the architectural practice be any different 25 years down the line?  I’d reply with both a yes as well as a no.

Yes because, you see, in 25 years things would change, building technologies would change, building materials, as well as building typologies would change, people’s requirements from the cities might change, and the entire concept of cities as we see today might change.  So, yes so many changes would definitely bring in certain changes in the architectural practices around the world.

But even after so many changes, when I look ahead 25 years into the future, I don’t see my role in the society changing much.  Obviously the technology would progress, and I can imagine myself building my schemes live in front of the clients, in my ‘virtual reality room’, but I would still be building for clients, who’d in turn be paying me for my design services.

So the offices might become a bit different, and so would the requirements of spaces elsewhere, but the basics of architectural practice, that’d pretty much remain the same.  Maybe there’d be more emphasis on a particular aspect of design, (like the current trend of rise in green technologies), even some changing architectural styles around the world, but not enough so to change the practice itself.

So, if I don’t expect the practice to change much, I don’t expect my role in the architectural field to change much either.  It’s possible, that there may be an attempt to design for developing countries, in a totally different way, maybe cheaper technologies, maybe green technologies, so employment opportunities might be a bit different from what they are today, but designing won’t.

My practice

As far as my practice is concerned, I’d like to keep a small one, in Mumbai or Navi Mumbai.  A small firm with architects and interns in a good and welcoming working environment.  I imagine my practice to be a workplace where professional activities and creative ones intermix.

I expect my firm to be a low rise building, of about 20-25m high, with people drafting and designing using the current technologies, i.e. software aided designing.  Apart from the current design processes, the thing that I’d find to be different would primarily be because of the outcome of new technologies.

One of those being the virtual reality technology, which I think could certainly develop to a point (in 25 years), where we are in a large look, with the architect designing in the space, whilst the client is simultaneously giving his views and opinions.

That I think, would take architecture (and allied fields) to a whole new level.

There’d be better understanding between the clients, the architects, the consultants, everyone.

“The technology would fill the gaps that communication couldn’t”

Future Clients

I see most of my future clients as young people.  When I say young, I mean people who’re about my age right now, maybe 5-7 years younger, or 5-7 years older.  People who’re engineers, chartered accountants, in the financial streams, etc.  People who I know personally, and who know me to be this creative person (an artist), as well as a budding architect.

In 2041, many of the older people from that lot would be retiring and I see myself and my practice designing their final homes/vacation homes.  Whereas the younger lot, would be buying their first piece of ‘homes.’, probably requiring unique interiors, or modifications.

Apart from them, I also see my firm as a collaborator, which would collaborate with international firms, on projects in India or in other countries as well.  I perhaps see a partnership in the future with firms similar to mine, in other nations of the world, collaborating when needed, to handle large scale projects as well, giving a tough competition to those big MNC firms.

Studio Ethos

More technology means more opportunities.  And more opportunities leads to a greater choice for working professionals to choose what they want to do.  When it comes to studio ethos, I’m always reminded of the 5^th year and 2^nd year design studios in CEPT Ahmedabad.  How they had overlooking spaces, and the seniors could look over and even interact effortlessly with their juniors.

I have something similar in my mind, where the administrative work and the main meetings would happen on the peripheral parts of the building; and there would be a path leading through the consultants’ offices right to the creative centre of the firm, where the playful atmosphere and the creativity are at its height.

It’s like being a child.  More playful the atmosphere is, the better the creativity gets.  There’d be rules and regulations, of course; but most importantly there’d be freedom; freedom of speech, freedom of action and freedom of work.

Other Changes

Apart from these, there would definitely be other innovations as well.  Like new ways of designing from home, new means of communications, effectively utilising our commute times (or removing the necessity of commute completely), as well as new ideologies of space.

These would have further implications on the work patterns, each impacting the other and the result becoming a highly difficult change pattern to predict.  But for now this is all that I’d stick to in my view on the architectural practice in 25 years.

That is what I feel about architectural practice 25 years down the line.  Ask me about 200 maybe 500 years down the line, then I’ll have to let my imagination run wild to answer the same question.

Architectural Competitions:

• Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP) Design Competition: 2016, by MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority)
• SPIRETEC Competition: 2010, by Spire World.
• IGNCA (Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts) Design Competition: 1986, first open international competition by the Indian Government.

Competition Selection Criteria and Processes.

Parties involved

• Promoter (If to organize, how to organize, registration and responsibilities as promoter)
• Competitor (eligibility to compete, rights of competitor)
• Assessor (qualifications, prepare and access brief, understand site, understand local authority requirements et al, setting competition conditions and final award.)

Process

From what I noticed, the ‘Competition Guidelines’ are mostly issued only on providing a required fee.  These basic guidelines are sent to each registrant architect/firm.  It consists of general information on promoter, cost of document, registration fee, honours or prizes set, purpose of competition, scope of design, eligibility, deliverables, procedure of submission, due dates, deadlines and terms and conditions, mostly.

Architects/firms are required to submit a cost estimate, specification chart, structural viability, et al along with their design intent.  Apart from that, various certificates (like COA registration), etc. need to be submitted as well, upon which the architect/firms’ registration is confirmed/complete.

Then the competition begins, with each team being provided with a Unique Registration Code (URC) to retain anonymity for the competition.

The prize money is set according to the competition guidelines set by COA (for India), and the assessors’ fee is based up on the built up area of the project involved.  The winning entry also receives the appointment as the project director for the construction of the project under a local architect.

Questions & Doubts

• Is the anonymity in the competition always maintained, in every design competition?
• If the anonymity is always maintained, how is it that some big firms like HOK, SOM, et al always seem to win these competitions?
• Do the smaller firms lack the power to influence, or the resources to back their designs and bids?
• Is it necessary for every design competition set in India to follow each and every set of guideline laid out by the COA?
• Can an architect use the design (in parts or complete) in other future projects?  Can the competition guidelines bar him/her from doing so?  If it is an architect with a particular distinct style of architecture, and similar details used in each building, can he/she not use his signature, just because of some competition rules barring him from doing so?

Architectural Tender:

• India Pavilion at the 62^nd Summer Fancy Food Show, New York City (USA)
• Project Management Consultancy Work for CMS Project, DDA
• RFP for Development of tourism projects alongside lighthouses on PPP basis.  Sunk Rock Lighthouse (off Mumbai Coast) by DGLL, NOIDA.

Meaning and Use

Meaning

Tender usually refers to the process whereby the government invites bids for large projects that must be submitted within a finite deadline.

Use

It is generally utilised by

• Government departments, offices and agencies.
• Private sector companies and businesses.
• Non-Government Organisations.
• Overseas markets and businesses.

Assessment of Tender Process

• Determining the type of tender process (Open Tendering, Select Tendering, Multi-stage Tendering or Invited Tendering.)
• Request for tender is prepared
• Tenders are invited
• Suppliers respond
• Evaluation and selection
• Notification and debriefing
• Contracts established and managed

Tender Example

India Pavilion, 62^nd Summer Fancy Food Show, New York City (USA)

• Online tender, bids for construction decoration and allied services.
• Detailed terms for tender provided.
• Tender by Indian Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO).
• Detailed terms of tender specified, (as detailed as what would happen in the event of a world war too).
• The bid opening date is 02.06.2016 at 3.00 PM.

Instructions for bid submission

•  The tender taken as example is in the bid submission stage.
•  Instruction provide in the e-tender, from registration to preparation/ submission of bids, etc.
• All the required details including forms, annexures as well as banner and initial construction requirements provided in a lengthy PDF.

Questions & Doubts

• What exactly is the difference between a tender and a competition?  How does one distinguish between them?
• Isn't competition also a form of a tender, with the design forming a major focus in the process?

Rahul Arora

A/2452/2012