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Essential Elements of an Architect’s Office:
1. The Office should be located in a clean and Decent Locality.
2. The Office should have a name board as per Council of Architecture Norms bearing the
name of the Firm, Individual Architect, Office Address, Timings, Contact=Numbers etc.
3. A Reception Desk and an Entrance Hall is a good idea, however the size and space
allocation may differ from office to office. If an Architect does not have the space for such
a function then he must work or meet clients by appointment only. The Entrance area
should have space to display his works, Laurels and in absence his Philosophy.
4. Working Area should have good light and Ventilation.
5. A Private Cabin for the Principal Architect for Discussion. Alternatively an open office lay-
out may be adopted for a more Transparent System. Cabins are a recommendation from
the point of view of Client’s Privacy.
6. Conference Room/Rooms / Discussion Rooms with large seating capacity and projection
facility is almost the need of the hour considering the multi-faceted working of an
Architect’s Office.
7. Due thought should be given to a good Office Management System.
8. Areas of Public Interaction and work should be preferably and properly segregated.
9. Design Studio and Working Areas should be restricted to employees only for sake of
privacy and to avoid disturbances.
10. Neat and Clean and Separate Toilet Facilities is a must.
11. A small Pantry with a Fridge and Microwave to extent courtesy to Guests and Tea/Coffee
Facilities for Staff will add to sensitivity of the Office.
12. Engineering Department if is a part of the office should be separated as this department
involves a large number of outside individuals which could be disturbing to the other staff
members.
13. Good Plotters, Printers, Scanners, Photocopiers deduct the tediousness of getting these
mundane but large volume jobs done from outside.
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14. Here is a Lay-Out of a Medium Practice, A two partnership Firm.
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15. Today’s times necessitates the use of L A N and Wire Free Systems for an internal network
to free the staff from physical presence.
16. Space for Storage of actual physical drawings is as important as Electronic Storage/
Backups / as also space for filing of Account Files, Client Files etc.
17. Room for Model Making is an additional feature.
18. A lunch room for the Staff and An Ante Chamber for the Principal Architect are all
different needs of the day.
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Chapter 8 Organisation of An Architects Office