PROFESSIONAL

PRACTISE
ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICES
The young architect today after obtaining the basic degree in
architecture and on the eve of commencement of his career has many
options. Though it is possible to start one’s own office immediately, it is
always preferable to work in another office for a few years before
branching out on one’s own. The various opportunities include :

Single Proprietorship firm

 It is the easiest and simplest mode of architectural consultancy firm
which is widely popular. The architect as the principal will be solely
responsible for all the decisions involved in running the office
certificates.
 He can employ assistants in his office but he has to give direction to
others in all decisions.
 As a proprietor, one can enjoy freedom in design and management,
all profits, and fame if the work is good. One can also take fast
decisions, rectify mistakes, and execute them. However, one shall
also have to bear all losses.
TYPES OF PRACTICES
Partnership firm
Here, generally there will be two partners. But there can be more
number of partners also. An agreement is to be prepared between two
or among more partners to establish and run a firm under a designated
name and style and symbol. The agreement also states the duties and
responsibilities of partnership, sharing of profits and losses, liabilities
and options along with procedure for one or more partners to leave
partnership
Limited company
In this type ,the company will have a board of directors. A bigger
version of partnership type but with a more defined structure and a
large and diversified project profile or range. This type of organization
is needed when the office grows from a medium scale to a large scale
outfit, As a limited company it can have many directors both technical
and non-technical to take up wide range of projects and services which
are not possible by smaller firms.
TYPES OF PRACTICES
Large scale consulting company
A variation of this is the large scale consulting corporations which take
up turnkey projects providing all types of services needed for a project.
They can raise capital from public apart from initial capital. They
operate globally and are capable of taking up large scale projects due
to their access to the best available technology and human resources
(specialists), e.g. townships, high-rise and high-tech buildings,
recreation complexes. They can undertake projects not possible by
smaller organizations.
Very large offices
They have corporate status in organization. They focus on separate
specializations and offer services in these specialized areas, like city
planning, urban. design, landscape, interior design, project
management, structural design, H.V.A.C. Consultancy, project
feasibility reports, retail and merchandise service, accessories design
as an extension of interior design, graphic design, product design,
exhibition design, visual design, apart from regular architectural
design.
TYPES OF PRACTICES
Freelancing
This is not a type of organization, but very relevant and appealing to
Architects/ designers. Here the Architect operates as a consultant to
other Architects. He does not have a single office/boss/employer. He
can work for several offices simultaneously from his own premises
(home).
Architect as a Builder/Developer
 It is not strictly a mode of architectural practice, and is not classified
so by the profession.
 The professional bodies monitoring and representing the
profession, like Council of Architecture and Indian Institute of
Architects do not recognise or allow of encourage such a practice
and prohibit it.
OFFICE ORGANIZATION
An office big or small is divided in three categories and works under a
group of associates or a single owner .A diagram below depicts
information:
DIRECTOR

Office Correspondence
Structural design, Inputs,
Book Keeping, Accounts,
Development of design Land survey, Quantity survey,
Observation of Govt.
concept, Municipal drawings, Specifications, Estimation,
Preparation of contract papers, Tax, rules, Stationery
Working drawings, Details, purchase, Maintenance of
Presentation drawings, etc. Bill checking and checking of
item rates etc. office
equipment. General Upkeep
Posts : of
Posts :
Senior Architect/ office premises (House
Structural Designer, keeping).
Project Architect
Quantity Surveyor,
Assistant Architect
(Architect/ Civil Posts :
Junior Architect
Engineer), Manager /Secretary,
Draftsman/
Assistant Engineer/ Account’s Clerk,
Trainee Architect .
Surveyor, Clerk/Typist,
Draftsman / Surveyor Receptionist, Peons.
OFFICE MANAGEMENT
Office is a place where records are prepared, handled and preserved for
future reference. It is an administrative centre of business where relevant
records are prepared, preserved and made available for the purpose of
efficient management of the organization. Administrative function relates
to communication, safety, security, coordination, planning, cost reduction
and public relations, apart from achieving project goal. It is necessary for
the office to:
 Improve upon existing information system
 Reduce amount of paper work. Use of computers in all possible areas
 Encourage creative thinking and employee participation
 Improve and maintain public relations
 Attract, acquire and retain talent
 Endevour for cost-efficient office service
 Decentralise as many functions as possible
 Achieve greater productivity through incentives and incorporating
employee’s ideas in all areas of productivity, e.g. cost, meeting
deadlines, etc.
 TAXES
Service tax Income tax
An architect gives professional This is the Central Government Tax on
service to his client .This service the income of an individual and of a
is taxed by the Government. company as well.
Therefore, an architect has to GROSS INCOME - ALLOWABLE EXPENSES =
NET INCOME.
charge the client on the amount
The net income is considered for
of fees certain percent, as
taxation., up to certain proportion is
service tax. The amount so
allowable expense.
collected is to be paid to the
Attending, professional meetings,
Government quarterly, The
workshops, conventions , subscribe for
responsibility to charge the
professional magazines and
service tax to the client and pay
newspapers. develop your own
it to the Government ,if received
reference library in the office.This is
from the client is vested with the
allowable expense as entertainment.
architect.
tea or coffee you may serve to a visitor
The rate of tax,as usual, is
and staff in your office.
subject to change(10% currently)
It is changeable acc. to annual budget
passed by government.
 TAXES
GST
Under GST, 18% GST would be applicable on all architectural and
engineering services rendered in India. Hence, architects and engineers
would have to obtain GST registration and file GST returns.
COMPETITIONS
▷Architectural Competitions have a long history, and have produced
many extremely successful buildings. They attract great public interest,
and have led to the discovery of new talent and new ideas, that could
only be found by throwing an architectural project wide open to
competition.

PURPOSE :
▷To provide a choice to a Client to select the best viable project of high
standard with a variety of approaches.
▷To provide a choice to a client to select a particular idea and concept
which fits into his specific requirements.
▷To explore hidden talent among younger Architects. For some of them
this may the first step to a successful career.
▷To safeguard the interests of both of client and the Architect.
▷To get the entries judged by professionally qualified and reputed
architects for its suitability with respect to client’s requirements.
 TYPES
1. PROJECT AND IDEA COMPETITION :
Competitions may be either "Projects" or "Ideas" competitions or in
certain circumstances a combination of both. The aim of a project
competition is to find a better solution for a real building project and to
appoint its author to run the commission. competitions of Ideas are set
as an exercise to clear certain aspects of architectural and town planning
problems. Students can also participate in this type.

2. CLASSIFICATION OF COMPETITIONS:
a) Open competition
▷Competitions in which all Architects are invited to participate through an
announcement by advertisements in suitable media and through
circulars which may be issued by the promoters.
 TYPES
b) Limited competition
Competitions in which limited amount of Architects (approx. 5 to 8)
selected by the promoter on the advice of the Senior Architect Assessor
or Board of Assessors, are invited to participate. Each participant who
submits his designs shall receive an honorarium.
c) Special competitions
A competition may also combine town planning as well as design
problem, and may involve the use of industrial components or
participation of developers. In such competitions participation may be
▷required to be limited to professionals or group of professionals with
certain definite expertise.

COMPETITION ORGANISATION
a) Single stage competition
In single stage competition the competition entries shall be fairly
complete drawings i.e. plans, section, elevations, etc. to a suitable scale
and sufficient to explain the scheme as set out in the competition
conditions.
 TYPES
b) Two stage competitions
In two stage competition, the first stage is for soliciting ideas and
therefore the competition entries at this stage would be limited to
planning on broad basis and drawings to a suitable scale sufficient to
indicate the intentions of the competitor.
▷The second stage of the competition may be limited to only a part of the
subject dealt with in the first stage. The period between the Assessors
award for the first stage and submission of designs for the second stage
shall not exceed six months.
c) Regional special category competitions
This type of competition is intended for small projects of charitable
organisations in which four to six local firms will compete for the
appointment as the Architect. No premiums are given and the winner
shall be appointed to carry out the project.
 REG. PROCEDURE BY COA
COA recommends three parts procedure, which are as follows :
Part I
Advertisement for the competition shall give the following information.
Name of client , Purpose and nature of the competition
Eligibility criteria , Procedure for registration, last date for registration
and the date by which competition condition along with registration
form should be made available by the client
Part II
An intending competitor makes an application for registration form,
submits the same duly filled in along with registration fee to the client
Part III
Competition conditions will be sent to the competitor if he is eligible to
compete and his name is entered in the competition register.
 89

GUIDELINES BY COA

•Part I: Client’s name, purpose and nature of competition, eligibility,

registration procedure.

•Part II: Submission of application with fee by the competitor to

organiser—brief sent to competitior if eligible.

Part III: Competition brief—All details regarding the project like size, site
requirements, etc., as specified by the advisory team (headed by the
seniormost architect as per COA guidelines). Assessor’s remuneration,
winner’s prize money, number of prizes, mode and method of
presentation, place and nature of submission (i.e. in person or by post),
regarding copyright, area of jurisdiction, awarding of project to winner or
not. in case of litigation, mode of announcing the award, etc., to be
clearly specified.
GUIDELINES BY COA
1. Client decides to go in for a competition for a particular project and
makes his intention known to Council of Architecture (COA).
2. The President, COA suggests a panel of registered Architects
experienced in such type of projects for appointment as assessors.
3. Client constitutes Board of Assessors on the advice of COA before
the competition is announced. The number of Assessors shall be the
smallest odd number not exceeding seven. The size of Board shall
depend on the size of project. The client nominees listed will be not
more than two Assessors. The number of Architect Assessors
registered with COA shall be in majority of at least one.
4. Where appropriate and necessary, the client in consultation with
Senior Architect Assessor (SAA), Board of Assessors may appoint
one or more Technical Advisors.
5. For complicated projects and for projects with high technical element,
Technical Advisor may be appointed to help preparation of project
brief. Subsequently, Technical Advisor will advise Assessors on
technical aspects of the competition entries.
GUIDELINES BY COA
6. A professional adviser will be appointed in case of two stage
competition. Anonymity of designs will be ensured by the client or his
professional advisor.
7. The client prepares competition brief in consultation with Senior
Architect Assessor (SAA). Type of competition is decided based on
the advice of SAA.
8. The competition brief is approved by Board of assessors before it is
issued to competitors. Copy of competition brief is sent to COA.
9. Wide publicity is given through media.
10. Intending competitors apply for registration form. Registration form is
issued to eligible competitors. On receipts of registration form and
prescribed fee, their names are entered into competition register.
Competitors are informed accordingly on the advice of Senior
Architect Assessor.
11. Clarification if asked will be given to all competitors.
12. Designs along with declaration submitted by competitors is received
by the client. Anonymity of designs is maintained by professional
Advisor.
GUIDELINES BY COA

13. Security of designs is done by Board of Assessors.

14. Award: May at their discretion, adopt promoter’s choice. They may
suggest not more than three designs of equal merit.
15. Client submits a copy of signed report of jury to COA.
16. Client discusses design and related issues with the author(s).
17. Selection of author of winning designs as Architect for the project is
made by the client.
18. All designs are exhibited at least for one week.
19. Prize money and number of prizes is related to size of project, work
involved and expenses for the competition.
20. All designs except the winning design returned to competitors.
Insurance is taken for the safety of designs in transit. Competitors
retain copy right of their design.
21. Winning Design is returned to the author on his appointment as
Architect for the project or within 6 months whichever is earlier.
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
1. Competition conditions are approved by board of assessors before
they are made available to the competitors.
2. The Board of Assessors may invite Technical Advisers as experts in
specialised fields to assist in the assessment of competition entries.
3. In two stage competitions, the same members of the Board shall
judge both stages of the competition.
4. Any drawings, photographs, models or other documents not required
by the competition condition shall be excluded by the Assessors
before examining the competitors' entries.
5. The Assessors shall disqualify any design which does not conform to
any of the conditions, instructions or requirements of the competition
6. The decision of the Board of Assessors regarding selection and
placement of competition design shall be final and binding on the
promoter and all competitors and shall be reached by a majority.
The Board of Assessors will make its award known to the promoter in
a formal statement signed by atleast a simple majority of its
members. The statement will indicate the number of designs
examined and the order of the prizes awarded.
ADVISERS
(I) TECHNICAL ADVISER
Where appropriate and necessary the promoter shall in consultation with
the Senior Architect Assessor/Board of Assessors appoint one or more
technical advisers to assist in the preparation of the brief for the
competition project and to advise the Board of Assessors, only when
called upon to do so, on the competition design entries.

(II) PROFESSIONAL ADVISER

For a two stage competition a Professional Adviser who shall be
an Architect registered with the Council of Architecture may be
appointed. He will not be connected with the Board of Assessors
or attend any of its meetings.
It will be the responsibility of the Professional Adviser to maintain the
anonymity of each competitor and those selected for the second stage of
the competition.