Professional practice in Architecture Difference between profession and business History of architectural practice Principles of profession to be followed Role of COA and IIA in the field Architect's Act 1972 Why architecture became a profession Need and identity of architecure as a profession

2. Professional practice
The term 'professional practice' refers to the conduct and work of
someone from a particular profession.
Professions are occupations that require a prolonged period of education
and training. They are often overseen by professional bodies who may
accredit educational establishments and qualified professionals.
Qualification may be recognised by the designation 'member of...',
'certified', 'chartered member', 'fellow', and so on.
Professional bodies may
set standards of ethics, performance, competence, insurance, training
and so on that must be met to remain within the profession. These are
typically set out in a code of conduct.

3. Business
On the other hand, does not rely on the expertise of an individual or group of individuals instead, it relies on tangible products and
the developed systems and procedure that are in place to get work done.
Difference between Professional practice & Business
1. Generally, practices require a few staff members to make sure operations run smoothly. On the other hand, a business will
constantly need more personnel to keep up with demand as it grows.
2. With the exception of medical equipment, the initial cost to open a practice is relatively low. Beyond office space, supplies,
computers and support staff, the start-up cost is not as high as it is for, say, opening a manufacturing plant. A business, on the
other hand, can require a large initial investment to design, develop and produce a product.
3. Due to the nature of a practice, it is often more difficult to sell than it is to sell a business. Since it relies on the expertise of one
or several individuals whose skills, training, reputation and earned loyalty are hard to replace, the worth and value can be
intangible. With a business, revenue and profits are not dependent on an individual. This means with marketable products, a
balance sheet that makes sense and established systems and procedures, business owners can sell their companies. When they
do, the businesses will continue to operate in the same manner with complete transparency.
4. Both practice and business owners want to maximize their profit margins. In order for a practice to succeed, it’s important to
keep operating costs low to produce the desired profit margins. On the other hand, businesses can operate with lower margins,
relying on higher customer volume to thrive and remain competitive over time.
5. In a competitive marketplace, both practices and businesses need to adapt to the desires, expectations and changing needs of
their clients (practice) and customers (business). However, in a business, it takes more steps to initiate change in product
development or enhancements, delivery systems and internal operating policies.
6. A practice is based around the delivery of specialized services performed by an expert. Regardless of who that person is, the
foundation of the practice rarely changes. A business, however, may be built with an expert’s ideas, but their ideas are
transformed into a product or products with defined production methods and systems to ensure quality control, repeatable and
predicable delivery, outbound sales and other integrated processes

5. Professions will have specific practices and standards that they value,
but in construction there are some general principles common to
most professionals:
•Act with integrity.
•Adopt an ethical approach.
•Provide a high standard of service.
•Only undertake work for which there is appropriate competence.
•Have appropriate insurance.
•Ensure that terms of appointment are clear.
•Act in a way that promotes trust in the profession.
•Do not bring the profession into disrepute.
•Do not discriminate against parties on any grounds.
•Demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development.
•Offer a dispute resolution service.
General principles

6. It is often assumed that architecture as a profession dates back to the ancient Greeks, the
Egyptians or the Romans, and although the origins of the word date back to these times, it wasn't
until much later that the Architect became a recognized profession in its own right.
• The antecedents of contemporary architecture and architectural education in India
go back about 200 years and the colonization of the country.
• In this sense the modernisation ideals are alien to India since they were introduced
through the agency of colonisation.
• Art schools trained draftsmen to assist British engineers who were employed to
construct buildings for the civil and military administration.
• Several years later the capital had to be planned and constructed to establish the
kingdom for which the British architects where invited.
• This was expensive, so the country men were to be given the training and skills to
do the same to help the architects as well as cut the cost.
• The first school of architecture was started as SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
MUMBAI in 1913 which was later named as Sir J.J COLLEGE OF
ARCHITECTURE.
• The architecture profession was then practiced in the country.
Origins of architecture

7. Architectural organisations
IIA IS A SOCIETY WHERE AS COA IS A STATUARY BODY.
IIA-
IIA consist of like-minded people governed by their own norms and values within a
dominant, larger society. This is sometimes referred to as a subculture, a term used
extensively within criminology.
In so far as it is collaborative, a society can enable its members to benefit in ways that
would not otherwise be possible on an individual basis; both individual and social
(common) benefits can thus be distinguished, or in many cases found to overlap.
COA-
It is a non-constitutional body. This body is created by statute i.e. act of parliament. A
cabinet resolution can be passed to establish this body. It has to rely upon its statute to
derive power. Ex: Planning commission, National commission for OBCs, SEBI etc.

8. The Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) is the national body of Architects in the country. Having started in
the year 1917, the institute today has more than 20000 members.
1. The Institute has a major role to play in promoting the profession of architecture by organising and uniting in
fellowship the Architects of India to promote aesthetic, scientific and practical efficiency of the profession both in
Practice and in Education.
2. It encourages the science and the art of planning and building the standards of architectural education, training and
practice, by making grants to Technical Institutions, or by paying or assisting to pay the fees and expenses of students or
by providing and giving scholarships, prizes or other rewards to such students, or by any or all such methods.
3. It looks into all the factors affecting the practice of architecture & holds conferences or meetings for the discussion of,
and the exchange of goods and matters affecting or relating to architecture.
4. It formulates and notifies the law and practice relating to architecture to members and the public ,and to compile,
collect, collate, revise, print and publish statistics, professional records or periodicals relating to any of the objects of the
Institute;
5. IIA is represented on various national and international committees connected with architecture,
art and the building industry and is also actively associated with
• International Union of Architects (UIA)
• Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) and
• South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation of Architects (SAARCH).
 IIA
o The past students of Sir J.J College of Architecture decided to form an association which was named “THE
ARCHITECTURAL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION”.
o Late Mr. George Wittet --- then Consulting Architect of Government of Bombay, elected as first "President“.
o On 3rd August 1922, the association was converted as “BOMBAY ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION”.
o On 2nd September 1929 -new body was constituted in Bombay /registered as "THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS”
with a membership of 158.

9. ARCHITECT’S ACT, 1972
An Act to provide for the registration of architects and for matters connected
therewith.
It has come into force from 31st May 1972 and extends to the whole India.
It contains 4 Chapters with 45 Sections along with one Schedule.
"architect" means a person whose name is for the time being entered in the
register.
"Council" means the Council of Architecture constituted under Section 3
"Indian Institute of Architects" means the Indian Institute of Architects registered
under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
"recognised qualification" means any qualification in architecture for the time
being included in the Schedule or notified under section 15.
"register" means the register of architects maintained under section 23
"regulation" means a regulation made under this Act by the Council.
“rule" means a rule made under this Act by the Central Government.

10.  COA
TITLE OF ARCHITECT IS PROTECTED UNDER ARCHITECTS ACT 1972 –COA
1. The Council of Architecture (COA) has been constituted by the Government of India under the provisions of the Architects
Act, 1972, enacted by the Parliament of India, which came into force on 1st September, 1972.
2. The Act provides for registration of Architects, standards of education, recognized qualifications and standards of practice
to be complied with by the practicing architects.
3. The Council of Architecture is charged with the responsibility to regulate the education and practice of profession
throughout India besides maintaining the register of architects.
4. For this purpose, the Government of India has framed Rules and Council of Architecture has framed Regulations as
provided for in the Architects Act, with the approval of Government of India.
Five architects elected by the IIA from among its members;
 Two persons nominated by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
 Five persons elected by heads of architectural institutions in India imparting full-time instruction for recognised qualifications;
 Three Chief Architects in the Ministries of the Central Government relating to defense, railways, CPWD nominated by the
Central Government;
 An architect from each State nominated by the Government of that state;
 Two persons nominated by Institution of Engineers (India) from among its members; and
 One person nominated by the Institution of Surveyors of India from among its members ,
 Elected/ nominated member shall hold office for three years from date of his election / nomination or until his successor has
been duly elected/ nominated whichever is later.
 Members of Council shall be eligible for re-election / re-nomination--but not exceeding three consecutive terms.

11. How COA is Different from IIA
The Architects Act was passed in 1972, its paved way for a proper way of educating and registering
Architects competent to handle the design and building of a truly “developing” nation, this is governed
by the COA.
• Ever since COA has remained a body which primarily maintains a registry of Architects and monitors
the minimum standards of architectural education in India. In India, we have the regulatory COA and
the more “club-like” IIA – with programs, “fellowship” cocktail dinners and workshop-conventions.
• The COA, by virtue of the limitations of the Act and its purpose, has not endeared itself to its
Registrants. Registered architects are not “members” of the Council of Architecture, it only registers and
looks over the control of education in countless schools of Architecture. In this way COA is different
from the IIA.
• Yet the actual truth is that the Act and the COA are the only legitimate things that architects have; the
only instrument of power and recognition that can actually protect and improve the lot of the fraternity.
CODES OF CONDUCT FOR INDIAN ARCHITECTS- COA
A code of conduct is a set of rules that outlines the duties and responsibilities of a particular person, groups or
organization. All professions are bound by these codes, including architecture which is a process of designing,
planning and construction of buildings and other structures.
In India, just like other countries, architects do have codes of conduct. Indian architects are required to register
with a government body called the council of architecture so that one can be able to carry out the professional
practice.
It is illegal to conduct any architectural activities without getting registered by this body. When they register with
this body each architect gets a unique registration number. They also have to follow the Indians architects act
1972.