Why you need an architect

Unless your companion or relative is an architect, or unless you're a corporate facilities manager, you probably haven't had many occasions to work with one. A few who have not had an opportunity to work with an architect but have an idea who architects are, often confuse them with engineers. To the contrary an architect is not an engineer and neither is the reverse true and unless one has both qualifications, one is not qualified to do the job of the other.

As with engineers, architects are responsible for preparing construction drawings and specifications, and certifying them for code compliance and safety. In most cases, the architect is the lead for a new design and construction project. An architect is an essential element in the construction industry, trained and thus obliged to design safe and usable structures. In the broadest sense an architect is a person who translates the user’s needs into a physical built solution. Therefore, they need to be familiar with all the engineering trades as well as the general construction trades. Architects must understand the various methods available to the builder to achieve the client’s desired results within explicit cost and time boundaries.

You probably have heard that the licensing exam for architecture is considered the most difficult of any of the licensed professions. Architects must frequently make building design and planning decisions that affect the safety and well being of the general public. Who would you blame if a building was inadequately designed, and it failed and injured or killed people? It is the responsibility of an architect to ensure that the built environment is safe and habitable.

In Uganda, law restricts practicing under the name style or title “architect” to those registered by the Architects’ Registration Board. It is therefore a crime use the title “architect" unless you are licensed. It usually takes seven years to obtain the necessary qualifications and experience for registration. Those wishing to become registered must first study at a recognized university, obtaining a B. Arch., B.A or Bsc degree in architecture. On completion of a minimum of 2 years of post graduate experience, such candidates are then eligible to sit ARB licensing exams.

Throughout the world and for many centuries, the architect was historically known as the master builder. The architect's training and experience in all aspects of the planning, design and the construction process make him or her best suited to lead design and construction efforts. This has been true from the time of the great pyramids to a simple house addition.

In Uganda today, most people, even though they don't know the specific responsibilities, accept the architect as the lead role for large commercial or institutional projects, but not houses. In many countries, residential construction is initiated and supervised by an architect. Due to a shortage of architects in this country in the early years of development, especially before 1995, many developers especially for residential houses employed draftsmen or technicians to “draw plans”. Technicians handled this immense job before them as far as their training could take them and in most cases developers took over the specification and supervision of construction. Over time the gap between what an architect knows about residential construction materials and what the average citizen knows has narrowed.

This has made the understanding of when an architect should be involved more confusing, especially for residential construction. After all, how many of us haven't hammered a nail, selected wall material or roof covering for our house? When it comes to houses, all of us seem to have some experience with the basic layout. But an architect can help you integrate your ideas into creative design solutions, even while utilizing commonly available materials. The use of an architect will save you money and space. Architects are trained to pay attention to the use of space and to the economics of the budget for a particular.

I bring this last point because it is very much the centre of not commissioning an architect – that architects are very expensive. First and foremost architects in Uganda are the cheapest in the region and probably all over the world. Architects in most countries are paid 8-10% of the total construction budget of the project. An average 3 bedroom house would cost about Ush. 120-150m to complete, using the previous percentages that would translate to about Ugx 10-15 million. It is on record that there architects in this country who do not charge even 50% of that. Secondly, to avoid using an architect is like avoiding to going to school, you don’t realize the implications of your decision until a later time in life. I have encountered developers who cannot move furniture into their houses, or who have maintenance problems countless times and many times when you try to find out, you discover that an architect wasn’t involved.

Finding an architect is not that hard. Try the Uganda Society of Architects or the Architects Registration Board who have a list of nearly 200 architects licensed to practice in Uganda. Your area municipal building department receives drawings submitted by licensed architects on a daily basis. They can tell you who has completed work in your area or for a project similar to yours.