Architecture and Competition

The preparation of the RIAI response to the Competition Authority's Consultation Document on the Architectural Profession, while dealing with the issues raised, was also an opportunity for the profession to reflect critically on its structures, codes of conduct and internal regulatory system in the light of a changed economic and legislative environment.

The Consultation Document has concluded that the architectural profession
has relatively limited restrictions on entry and a light regulatory structure. It was of the view that some restrictions exist, most notably in the area of architectural competitions, publication of fee information and restrictions on advertising. The RIAI has made proposals to the Authority on these issues and looks forward to their resolution through constructive dialogue.

The RIAI welcomes the recognition by the Competition Authority that the
architectural profession has few restrictions on entry and a light regulatory
structure. From its beginnings in the early 19th century the architectural
profession has been primarily concerned with the promotion of quality in
architecture and ensuring that educational standards are sufficiently high to
promote this objective.

ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITIONS
The issue of architectural competition represents a core professional value for the RIAI. The Competition Authority appears to see the limitation of entry to
architectural competitions to architects with formal qualifications as a major
competition issue.

Architectural competitions have a long history. In the 15th century Italy there
were competitions in sculpture and architecture which featured Brunelleschi and Ghiberti as the primary contestants for the Cathedral dome in Florence.

By the 18th century famous competitions are almost too numerous to mention: Place de la Concorde in Paris, the Mansion House in London, the Royal Exchange in Dublin and the Capitol Building in Washington. By the 19th century the architectural competition was seen, not as a unique solution to a unique problem, but as a very ordinary process, a regular and highly influential system.

By the mid 19th century the architectural competition system and its ideals
spread throughout Europe and America. César Daly, editor of the French Revue Générale echoed a familiar theme when he wrote in 1861 that competition was vital to architectural progress: “We require the competition as indispensable for ascertaining periodically and definitely the direction of architectural ideas”.

The architectural competition system has been refined and improved on a
continual basis. Internationally most of the major buildings of the 20th century
– the Chicago Tribune building, the League of Nations Building, the UN Building, the Sydney Opera House, Boston City Hall resulted from competition. In Ireland, the UCD Belfield campus, the Department of Education Schools Programme, and the Temple Bar project similarly resulted from major competitions.

Uniquely among the professions, architects are prepared to meet the
considerable cost in time and overheads involved in preparing project concepts in competition with their peers. The architectural competition system now managed by the RIAI has evolved internationally since the beginning of the profession and is an EU and UIA/UNESCO standard. Such competitions result in the production of a significant output of work from the profession at minimal cost to the public.

The evolution of the competition system has resulted from the sole objective of creating an equitable and transparent framework, which ensures fairness and certainty to both architects and clients.

The Competition Authority proposal to remove EU and UIA/UNESCO standards for architectural competition will have a serious negative impact on the number of competitions in Ireland and on the number of architects prepared to enter such competitions.

The solution to the Competition Authority's perceived problems with architectural competition entry regulations is the introduction of registration for architects as proposed under the Building Control Bill.

REGULATION OF THE PROFESSION
The Authority also concluded that a fundamental issue for architectural services is the proposed restriction on the title of architect. It is of the view that “the case has not been adequately made for such a restriction.”

Regulation of the architectural profession in most developed states is primarily aimed at securing quality in the built environment and protecting the consumer. Architects services affect not only the client who commissions a
project but also the community within which the project is built. This impact on
the community is felt in the present and the future.

The consumer of architectural services is not only the client who commissions an architect's services; it is also the user, society and future generations. It is for this reason that, when regulating the profession, government must ensure that it safeguards the interests of society.

Any consumer, and indeed any client, expects that the architect will act in
their interest by using their best endeavours to provide good advice, and by
being an educated and experienced professional who conducts his or her
services in a trustworthy and ethical manner.

The simplest way to ensure that architects are this kind of service provider is to have a registration system. Registration of title exists in most EU countries, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, where there are regulatory regimes which promote competition law. The fundamental principle underpinning the registration of architects in these countries is that government sets standards and qualifications to protect the consumer and ensures through competition and antitrust law the operation of a free market in the provision of services.

The RIAI in the submission to the Competition Authority has emphasised the
risk to consumers, in particular in relation to life and property, resulting from the old unregulated system. The RIAI has no difficulty with the view expressed by the Competition Authority that the Admissions Board and the Professional Conduct Board should have a majority of non-architectural representatives.

We believe there is no conflict between administration by the RIAI and independent decision-making boards controlling admission and dealing with disciplinary matters. The RIAI accepts the concept that any registration system should be administered by an independent, impartial body, acting independently, with appropriate statutory safeguards. The RIAI is capable and willing to fulfil this function.

AN EVOLVING PROFESSION
The ethos of the RIAI has always been to promote quality in architecture and the built environment, ensure educational standards are maintained at a high level, protect the interest of the client, consumer and society.

From its inception at a time when the concept of ‘laissez faire’ capitalism was
on the ascendant, through the period of extreme political ideologies ranging
from fascism to communism of the early 20th century, to the social market of
the European Union, the profession has shown a remarkable ability to evolve
while adhering to core values.

The profession welcomes EU directives and initiatives which promote greater competition, removal of restrictions and freedom of movement. In this spirit the RIAI welcomes the opportunity created by the Competition Authority study and looks forward to establishing principles for the regulation of the Irish Profession which will prove to be a sustainable and enduring legacy for the 21st century.