The term 'architect' has been in existence for many
centuries, however the architect as its own recognized profession is a
relatively modern concept. The term and what it represents has evolved through
history to its current form in which architects are seen as highly qualified
and educated professionals.
Origins of architecture:
It is often assumed that architecture as a profession date 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.
Vitruvius Pollio (born c. 80–70 BC, died after c. 15 BC), is often considered as the first recognizable 'architect', known as a great Roman writer, engineer and builder. However, Vitruvius wasn't strictly an architect and did not conform to our perception of architects today.
After Vitruvius, the term architect fades into history, overshadowed by religious or political figures.
It was the discovery by Florentine scholar Poggi Broccolini of Vitruvius of the lost great book, De Architecture ('On architecture', published as 'Ten Books on Architecture') during the early Renaissance period that influenced and inspired the architectural movement and was a significant contributor to developing the architect as a profession in its own right. The book, in part, was an attempt, to summaries the professional knowledge of the day, and to describe the graphic conventions of classical design.
Architects' governing bodies:
Without established governing bodies, guilds, qualifications or legal safeguards, almost anyone could call themselves an architect, and architects had very few legal protections. The Royal Building Administration in France (formed during the reign of Charles V (1364-80)) was intended to maintain good standards within the builders and masons’ guilds, but although architects had to work by these standards, they did not relate specifically or solely to architects.
In the UK, The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) was established in 1834. Architects subsequently campaigned for protection of the title 'architect' and the creation of an architects' registration body to regulate the profession and protect the title. In 1931, the Architects (Registration) Act created the Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom (ARCUK).
In 1993, the Warne Report, prepared by senior civil servant John Warne, recommended that both ARCUK and protection of the title should be abolished, or failing this, that ARCUK's functions should be transferred to the RIBA. However, under pressure from architects themselves, a compromise position was reached.
In 1996, Part III of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act reconstituted ARCUK as the Architects Registration Board (ARB) and in 1997, the previous 1931 and 1938 acts were consolidated in the Architects Act of 1997 and the slimmed down regulatory body, the Architects Registration Board (ARB) created. Despite this, the relationship between the ARB and the RIBA remains a confusing one.
The establishment of architects' governing bodies and
institutes in other countries is outlined below:
1. Ireland: 1839 - Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland
2. Holland: 1842 - Royal Institute of Dutch Architects (BNA)
3. USA: 1857 - American Institute of Architects (AIA)
4. Poland: 1877 – reformed in 1899 – Union of Polish
Architects (SARP)
5. Denmark: 1879 - The Architects' Association of Denmark
6. Japan: 1887 – The Japan Institute of Architects (Zouka
Gakkai)
7. Romania: 1891 - Union of Architects of Romania (UAR)
8. South Africa: 1899 & later 1927 National institutes
merged in 1996 - The South African Institute of Architects SAIA
9. Philippines: 1902 - United Architects of the Philippines
(UAP)
10. Germany: 1903 - Association of German Architects BDA
11. New Zealand: 1905 – The New Zealand Institute of
architects. 1963 - Reformed under the Architects Act 1963 which split its
previous functions in two. The New Zealand Institute of Architects became the
professional organization for Architects, and the regulatory functions
transferred to the Architects Education and Registration Board (AERB), now the
New Zealand Registered Architects Board
12. Canada: 1907 - The Royal Architectural Institute of
Canada
13. Uruguay: Formed 1914, legal status granted in 1921 - The
Society of Architects of Uruguay (SAU)
14. India: 1917 - The Indian Institute of Architects (the
regulating body for architecture in India is the Council of Architecture,
constituted by the Government of India under the provisions of the Architects
Act, 1972)
15. Egypt: 1917 - Society of Egyptian Architects (SEA)
16. Malaysia: 1920 - Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM)
17. Brazil: 1921 - Institute of Architects of Brazil (IAB)
18. Australia: 1930 - The Australian Institute of Architects
19. Spain: 1931 – Superior Council of Colleges of Architects
of Spain (CASCAE)
20. Lebanon: 1934 - Order of Architects and Engineers (OEA)
21. France: 1940 – Validated in 1945 – Ile-de-France
Association of Architects Currently regulated under 1948 - International Union
of Architects and regionally governed under 1977- Ordre Des Architectes
22. China: 1953 – Architectural Society of China
23. Hong Kong: 1956 - The Hong Kong Institute of Architects
24. Sri Lanka: 1957 - Sri Lanka Institute of Architects
25. Fiji: 1957 - Fiji Association of Architects
26. Nigeria: 1960 - The Nigerian Institute of Architects
(NIA)
27. Singapore: 1961 - Singapore Institute of Architects
28. Republic of Korea: 1965 - Korea Institute of Registered
Architects (KIRA)
29. Argentina: 1969 – reformed in 1988 - Argentina
Federation of Organizations of Architects (FADEA)
30. Bangladesh: 1972 - Institute of Architects Bangladesh
31. Pakistan: 1975 - The Institute of Architects, Pakistan
(IAP)
32. Belgium: 1977 - Conseil national de l'ordre des
architects
33. Trinidad and Tobago: Established 1988, given legal
governance in 1992 - Institute of Architects of Trinidad and Tobago (TTIA)
34. Luxemburg: 1989 - Order of Architects and Engineers
(OAI)
35. Czech Republic: 1992 - Czech Chamber of Architects
36. Russia: 1992 - Union of Architects of Russia (UAR)
With current EU regulations and various international
agreements, there are now also many other 'umbrella' organizations that
interlink architects' bodies.
