The Role of the 'Irish Architect'

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.