According to the Royal Institute of
the Architects of Ireland website an Architects role is to help the client set
out a brief and budget for the building. They are there to help the client
through the planning process, attain an estimate for the work that is to be
carried out, supervise the budget, engineers and surveyors. And also oversee
the construction contract. The RIAI website also explains that
Architects recognise new ways of construction methods, materials and finishes
and can help their client through the process from the design level to the
completion of the building.
“Their experience and creativity can help
stretch your budget, for example by identifying new ways of utilising a site
and exploring alternative construction methods, materials and finishes.”
“An architect will not just provide
the design and drawings for your project, you will have someone on your side
who knows the construction industry and who can guide you through building
regulations.” (RIAI, 2012)
Although the RIAI says this on the
website, is this really the case in Ireland? There is reason to believe that
this isn’t the case. In the past couple of years in Ireland there has been
cases where buildings had turned out not be up to the standards that they should
have been. We have to ask ourselves how does this happen?
A recent case was the Priory Hall
apartment block in Dublin. The Apartment block was deemed as highly unsafe and
in turn was declared as uninhabitable as residents were forced to evacuate by
Dublin City Council. Causing The High Court to order the evacuation of
an apartment complex because of serious concerns about fire safety. The architect who signed off on the
building said the cavity fire barriers
were in their original project drawing and it has now been confirmed that they were not installed. This causes serious questions to be asked...
Can an architect really oversee an entire project?
Is the
definition of the role of an architect in Ireland the right definition?
It is hard for an architect to keep a
close eye on all building works which happen from the beginning of the building
stage to the end as the architect can’t always be on site inspecting all
building works which are being carried out by all builders. There is a visual
inspection which must be carried out by the architect firm before signing off
on the job, but as suggested by the architect on the Priory Hall case. It is a visual inspection and he isn't going to get a hammer and break a hole in the wall. Suggesting that the role of an
architect set out by the RIAI is not necessarily the right role is clear. It is
apparent that the lack of policy enforcement is a main factor attributing to
the lack of quality buildings in Ireland. This in the author’s opinion is due
to the lack of clarity, with regards to the role of an architect.
Personally I feel that the responsibility should not rely solely on the architect but should
include all members of the design team this including architectural
technologists, structural engineers, landscape architects and civil engineers. As it is not only the architect who plans, designs and
creates drawings for the building but more so the entire design team. If each member was to extensively check certain aspects at different times this would create an overall stronger working
environment.
We all know that Priory Hall was a victim of the 'Celtic Tiger' era like many other horrible, quick built buildings of their time but, how many more buildings in Ireland were not built to the standard that they should have been? Although great at the time, I think we will be paying for this 'Celtic Tiger' era for a long time to come.
