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.
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.

In truth it is both these things

ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice

Handout # 1

BUT
To be a successful and efficient
architect
Artistic skills

&
Technological skills
ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice

working knowledge
of laws, regulations,
customs, costs,
business, circulation
patterns, access, and
special needs.
Handout # 1

Enter the Architect

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.
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

Design
Team

Contracting
Team

Statutory
Authorities

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

CLIENT

Quantity
Surveyor

The Architect

Interior
Designer

Architectural
Technologist
Resident
Engineer

Structural
Engineer

Landscape
Architect
Clerk of
Works
Building Services
Engineer(s)

Other
Consultants
CONTRACTOR

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

Design Team

Contractor

Site
Engineer

Contracts
(Project)
Manager

Surveyor
Scheduler
Estimator

Site
(Construction)
Manager
Storekeeper
Checker
Timekeeper
Wages Clerk

General
Foreman

Subcontractors
and
Suppliers

Trade
Foreman

Trade
Foreman

Trade
Foreman

Site
Operatives

Site
Operatives

Site
Operatives

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).

ARCG 521 Architectural Professional Practice

Handout # 1