INDIVIDUAL SUBMISSION SET

Architectural Practice_ 2040

Tencent Campus, Shenzhen, China.     Source: http://www.fastcodesign.com/

Tencent Campus, Shenzhen, China.     Source: http://www.fastcodesign.com/

    Tencent Campus, Shenzhen, China.

    Source: http://www.fastcodesign.com/

“Architecture is not about math, nor zoning, it’s about those visceral emotional connections that we feel in the places that we occupy” (Kushner, 2015). With this ideology in mind the architects of the present day predicts that the architecture of the future will be less flashy, but more useful on an everyday basis. NBBJ managing partner, Steve McConnell, states that “architectural design is moving from paying a lot of attention to the artifact—the physical thing—to a greater emphasis of the opportunity represented when people gather." The Tencent campus designed by the firm in China, where the clients wanted spontaneous interaction between its employees, NBBJ mapped the pathways that would be taken throughout the building by thousands of employees, designing the building to maximize intersections between those paths. (Ferro, 2015)

Julian Weyer, partner at C.F. Møller Architects, a Denmark based firm, agrees on the fact that clients are more interested in the thinking behind the design. Since the clients are more interested in the thinking behind the designs, outside the realm of the physical structure so the architects needs to collaborate with the experts of different field. Like all other disciplines, of which the construction industry is a major one, are undergoing drastic changes, the architecture practice now is in urgent need to cope with the increasing impact of the globalizing economy, the rapidly evolving information technology, and cultural complications as a consequence of the first two factors. This situation, hence, provides both with challenges as well as opportunities for the architects.  "We are already seeing today broad design teams that include social anthropologists and environmental scientists who are creating nurturing, sustainable and meaningful environments. In the future we will see policy makers joining these teams which will [create] a more holistic perspective of the built environment and effect broader change."  says Jay Brotman of Svigals + Partners, a New Haven, Connecticut-based firm. (Ferro, 2015)

We are in the age of media enhancement, where the speed of communication is much faster than it used to be. This helps in sharing of ideas and proposals in the public forum, and get feedback much quicker. As a result, architects can stay more informed and strategize matured designs. During the design process the end users and the general mass can becomes a part and helps in shaping up the building according to their needs, rather than just leaving it on the hands of the architect or the developers. This way the design or the building becomes a part of the society/community even before it’s physically built.

During the course of history, we have seen that the materials define the way a building is built. We see a transition of form and spatial arrangement from the time houses were up of timber, to modern day free floored R.C.C structures. Building materials always had a key role to play on how a building will look and function. With the advancement of technology, new materials, like PVC coated reinforcement bars, may increase the life span of a building or technologies like prefabrication and modularization will change the way we build, along with the designs.

Thus, it can be concluded that a design as well as a building should be such that it is influenced by the society/community and can influence the society/community for it to be sustainable.

The Indian Architect Act - 1972

Clause 23-  Preparation and maintenance of register.

(1)  The Central Government shall, as soon as may be, cause to be prepared in the manner, hereinafter provided a register of architects for India. 

(2)  The Council shall upon its constitution assume the duty of maintaining the register in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

(3)  The register shall include the following particulars, namely:- 

          (a)  the full name with date of birth, nationality and residential address of the architect; 

          (b)  his qualification for registration, and the date on which he obtained that qualification and                      the authority which conferred it;

          (c)  the date of his first admission to the register; 

          (d)  his professional address; and 

          (e)  such further particulars as maybe prescribed by rules. 

Interpretation

The clause starts by stating that the Central Government should be prepared in such a manner so that it can provide registration to architects for India. Then the council represents the governing body of the constitution whose charge is to maintain the register following the provisions of the Act. There are certain norms a register should include like name, nationality, residential address, qualification (the registrar fulfills the qualification criteria) stating the date and under which authority, the date of his first admission to the register, professional address and all other particulars as prescribed by the rules.

Clause 26- Procedure for Subsequent Registration.

(1) After the date appointed for the receipt of application for registration in the first register of architects, all applications for registration shall be addressed to the registrar of the Council and shall be accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed by the rule.

(2) If upon such application the registrar is of opinion that the applicant is entitled to have his name entered in the register, he shall enter there on the name of the applicant.

Provided that no person, whose name has under the provisions of this Act has been removed from the register, shall be entitled to have his name re-entered in the register except with the approval of the Council.

(3)  Any person whose application for registration is rejected by the Registrar may,within three months of the date of such rejection, appeal to the Council. 

(4)  Upon entry in the register of a name under this section, the Registrar shall issue a certificate of registration in such form as maybe prescribed by rules. 

Interpretation

After the date appointed for the receipt of applications for registration in the first register of architect, all the applications for registration should be addressed to the Registrar of the Council, not the Central Government, accompanied by a fee as prescribed by rules. when the application is accepted by the Registrar, the person can entitle his name under the register. But if one person's name is removed that person can only re-enter his name under the Register only with the approval of the Council. Any person whose application is rejected by the Registrar may appeal to the council within three months. On acceptance of the application for registration the applicant should receive a certificate stating the same in a pattern as prescribed by the rules.

Competition selection criteria and Process

Competitions:

• 1.      Request for Proposal For Architectural Design Competition of Shri Guru Ravidass Memorial Complex at Khuralgarh Sahib Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India.
• 2.      Project 2020 Design Competition- By RIBA in partnership with Taylor Wimpey.( http://www.ribacompetitions.com/taylorwimpey/brief.html )
• 3.      Flexible Housing-Society Contest (  http://rethinkingcompetitions.com/ )

Design competitions are not only the best way to bring out fresh ideas, but it also helps architects or other designers to understand the changing needs of the society and come out with a valid meaningful solution. As an architect or a designer, these competitions can act as a platform to voice their thoughts about the problems faced but often remain unnoticed, and how to cater to them.

The organizations hosting such competitions generally do not disclose their competition document unless the initial fees are paid. This ensures that only interested people participate in these competitions.

Design competitions can be either to attract new ideas and thoughts, or are held when an actual building is needed to be constructed. In the second case, the parties involved are

• Organizer (The body dealing with the procedures of the competition )
• Assessor (Prepares and access the briefs by studying the site, local authority requirements, thus setting the competition conditions and final award.)
• Competitor

The deliverables for the architects/firms includes, the design intent, a cost estimate, specification chart, structural viability, etc. Certificates like COA registration, etc. needs to be submitted along with this. Based on these the registration is confirmed.

The prize money is set according to the competition guidelines set by the governing bodies (COA for India), the winning entry may also receive the appointment letter for completing the task. Winning first prize in a competition is not a guarantee that the project will be constructed. The commissioning body often has the right to veto the winning design. This is done in the time when there is a change in the requirements or in finance of the project.

Tender selection criteria and process

Tender Documents Studied

1.                NBCC- Tender Document Of Architectural & Engineering Consultancy Services for Proposed Group Housing Residential Complex at S.F. No. 1818/1B located at Krishnaswamy Nagar, Pankaja Mills Road, Sowripalayam Village, Ramanathapuram, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

Tender No. NBCC/CGM/RE/PV/2013/43
www.tenderwizard.com/NBCC  and  www.eprocure.gov.in  


2.      MPSEDC- Tender Document for appointment of Architect Consultants for Infrastructure Development Including Interior, Furnishings, Electrical and AC Works etc of RCBC in 36-District Head-Quarters of MP.

Tender No: MPSEDC/ACGM/RCBC/2015/283


3.      TCIL- Bid document for comprehensive architectural consultancy services for setting up of government medical college cum hospital at Tura, Meghalaya.

TENDER NO. TCIL/05/571/GMARCH/2014 DATED 24.2.2014

The tender document varies depending on the organizations and the nature of work, but the main elements constituting the tender documents are as follows.

·         Notice Inviting Tender- A copy of the tender notice published through media, which briefly gives all the basic information required to call for tenders,  describing the nature of works to be conducted, name of the project, estimated costs, completion time, security deposit, cost of the tender document, location of the project and address of the tender receiving officer, etc.

·         Description of work -   This includes the detail of all the works involved, and also may include technical specifications or other details/instructions relating to the work. Deliverable or outcomes of the project is also mentioned.

·         Terms and Condition of the tender: This deals with the terms and requirements that must be met in order to be eligible for the contract. These include the technical qualifications, experience, licensing, legal or financial conditions of the firm.

·         Design Concept: This may or may not be a part of the tender document depending on the organization and the nature of work. This generally includes the design ideology and philosophy of the organization.

·         Evaluation criteria: This outlines how the submission will be assessed and evaluated. This serves as a guide when preparing the tender submission.

·         Conditions of Contract: Draft contract conditions: This states the general or standard terms and conditions of the contract, with the provision of additions or alterations required, after a winning tender is announced. This also includes non-standard terms and conditions - these are to be highlighted within the tender documents.

·         Formats : Generally includes     

A.  PROFORMA OF BANK GUARANTEE (EMD)

B.  PROFORMA OF BANK GUARANTEE ( PERFORMANCE)

C.  AGREEMENT FORM

D.  INTEGRITY PACT

A tender document is required by the contractor to pitch a bid. It is a well defined and detailed document that contains all the basic, legal and binding information. At the initial stage of the tendering process a notice inviting tender is published in an open press, calling all those interested and eligible for the tendering process. The notice provides all the basic information like name of the project, estimated cost, time of completion, security deposit, and cost of the tender document, location of the project and address of the tender receiving officer, along with client details. This is to ensure a fair chance for the ones interested to compete for the contract. Generally tender notices are open press to ensure equal opportunity.

The eligibility clause may vary depending on the organization. Mostly for government projects, which has high capital investments, firms which are more economically stable and experienced are opted, rather than new startups. In most case the evaluations is done in 60:40 manner (Technical: Financial). Technical bid includes the tender amount, the earnest amount and the EOI deals with the experience, turnover, qualification of the employees of the firm, etc. Some credits are also reserved for the design proposal (10).

After evaluation, comes the selection process. Here, either the lowest bidder is selected and called for to reach an agreement, or all eligible firms are short listed, and are asked to present their financial bid on the next stage, short listed candidates from this stage will be called again to present their designs. Though the procedures may vary, yet the whole system of tendering to selection is kept as transparent possible, thus giving fair chances to all.