Professional Practice and Management

notes –

1.Types of firms and their nature of practice

- There are mainly 3 types of firms in Architecture Practice
1. Proprietary Concern
2. Partnership Firm
3. Private LTD Company
Proprietary Concern - Individual Ownership
- Investment of capital is done by individual
- Decision making authority
- Single owner is responsible to handle both profit and loss
Partnership Firm – Ownership is shared by two or more partners
- Investment of capital will be taken care by partners
- Partnership activity is governed by (INDIAN PARTNERSHIP ACT 1932)
- Sharing of profit can be equal or unequal basis as per the agreement
- Architects act 1972 says that in an architectural firm all partners should be registered
architects
Private LTD Company – Size of Partnership firm increases and annual income of firm goes
up
For tax benefits they will convert the firms into private limited company

- Company has to registered with Registrar of Companies as per Companies Act 1956
- If non architects were of the member of the company will be registered as business
firm not a professional firm
- They can offer variety of services in single roof

Source- class notes

2.Understanding of Architect's Act 1972

- 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.
- The registration with Council of Architecture entitles a person to practice the
profession of architecture, provided he holds a Certificate of Registration with up-to-
date renewals.
- The registration also entitles a person to use the title and style of Architect. The
title and style of architect can also be used by a firm of architects, of which all partners
are registered with COA.
The main purpose of the architect’s act, 1972 as given in the preamble is to provide
for the registration of architects and for matters connected therewith. It has already
come into force and extends to the whole India. It contains 45 sections along with one
schedule
The act can briefly be studied under the following heads:
1 - Use of title” Architect”
2 - Council of Architecture
3 - Qualification for Registration

Source---The architects act, 1972 (slideshare.net)

3. Importance of COA and its functions

The Council of Architecture (COA) is responsible for regulating the education and
practice of profession throughout India besides maintaining the register of Architects.
Any person willing to pursue 'Architecture' as a profession will have to register with the
Council of Architecture (COA). And for this, one must possess e requisite qualification
as appended to the Architects Act, after having undergone the education in
accordance with the Council of Architecture (Minimum Standards of Architectural
Education) Regulations, 1983.

Functions and Powers of Council

a) Appoint registrar and such other officers and employees as are necessary to carry
out its functions.
b) To maintain proper account of finance.
c) To maintain a registrar of architects registered under the Act, on payment of
prescribed fees by the architect and to renew the registration from time-to-time.
d) Remove the name of the architect from the register either on his own application or
when he is dead or on account of other moral turpitudes.
e) To enquire into matters relating to misconduct.
f) To furnish reports, copies of minutes and the other information to Central Govt.
g) Issue of registration certificate and also duplicates if necessary.

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.

The Council provide registration for Architects. Qualification to get registration

➢ When the architect exceeds his authority, he will be liable for damages.
 ➢ For defects in the drawings, specification or qualities, the architect owes no
responsibility to the contractor.
➢ Powers –
• To acquire, hold and dispose of the property both movable and
immovable.
• To enter into a contract.
• To sue or be sued.
• Powers to appoint inspectors to inspect any college or institution where
architectural education is given or to attend any examination conducted
by such bodies for the purpose of recommending to the Central
Government, recognition of architectural qualifications granted by such
bodies.

4. Office organization, functions of the principal architect, &

office administration
An Architect office should have a healthy working space as well as good administration
management. Proper workstation enhances the good working experience and more
productivity. Office management is the technique of planning, organizing, coordinating
and controlling office activities with a view to achieve business objectives and is
concerned with efficient and effective performance of the office work.

It is the duty of principal architect to provide a scheduled system to the office and
have quiet flexible working criteria. He should manage flexibility and strictness for the
smooth practice and comfortable environment for employees. Just not only principal
architect but also all office members are responsible for healthy environment. There
should be proper hierarchy to distribute work among them to get more productivity.

5.Role of an Architect as a professional

When an architect offers professional advice/architectural services, implicitly
undertakes that he is
possessed of the knowledge and skill for the purpose. Thus, an architect shall bring
to his task a
reasonable degree of knowledge and skill and must exercise a reasonable degree
of care.
 An architect, being a professional, shall possess the required knowledge and
skill i.e. proficiency and competence for discharging his professional duties and
functions. These are governed under the provisions of the Architects Act, 1972 and
the Architects (Professional Conduct) Regulations, 1989, framed thereunder.

"Negligence" of an architect means failure to take reasonable degree of care in

the course of his engagement for rendering professional services.

Architects are not just involved in the building design phase. Their role is important in
every stage of a project, and this article summarizes their responsibilities. Architects
can also help improve energy efficiency, by designing buildings that maximize natural
lighting and ventilation, while reducing the heating and cooling needs.

Architects are responsible for creating detailed drawings and testing the project
feasibility. Cost estimation at different stages of the project allows better control over
the budget. Architects and engineers must be careful not to underestimate the cost of
materials and construction time, since this helps provide effective cost estimations.

The following are some of the main skills that a professional architect must have:
1. Customer service and retention
2. Design
3. Research
4. Technology knowledge