The recent ruling by High Court of Madhya Pradesh, where it said that Engineers to have same powers as Architects has created a huge furore among architectural fraternity in India. The picture of the judgement, from Hindustan Times, Bhopal is below:
Various architects individually and architecture organisations reportedly have written to The Council of Architecture to file a review petition and take immediate measures to protect the rights of architects.
Vinod Gupta, of Opus Indigo Studio reflects on the evolution and challenges of the Indian architectural profession, emphasizing the need for architects to reclaim responsibilities beyond design to revitalize the industry’s trajectory.
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A typical Aanganwadi designed by Studio Infinity, for rural Madhya Pradesh, combines healthcare, education, and community spaces, featuring climate-responsive elements and local art while serving as a replicable prototype for tribal villages.
Suneet Paul writes about Azerbaijan, once a war-torn nation, emerging as a captivating blend of ancient and modern, as he focusses on Baku (Azerbaijan’s capital) that blends ancient and modern architecture, from the UNESCO-listed Old City with its Maidan Tower to contemporary landmarks like the Flame Towers and Heydar Aliyev Centre.
Envisaged as a profound macrocosm, Dinner Bell, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, by W5 Architects, is a journey of discovery for the semi-urban gastronomic seeker. The space transports visitors into a captivating world of solace, subsequently as they enter from the hustling streets of this Indian tier 3 town.
Tiny House, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, by Harshit Singh Kothar and Tanvi Jain illustrates how thoughtful design can create economic and ecological housing, paving the way for vibrant communities in urban and peri-urban areas.
Stay inspired. Curious.
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16 Responses
With due respect to the honorable judges. Engineers – of which branch are competent. Engineering has a wide spectrum from IT to Civil. Even in these sub contents, there are a variety – Structures to sanitary to roads. Well. Now that the Information Technology sector daily invites application for architecture competent personnel. .AS I have repeatedly stated, this noble profession of Architecture is more dead than alive.
I belong to the few nomads, who like it or not will pursue with conviction and commitment the depth and objecties of architecture, at least in spirit if not in reality till my last breath. may its soul rest in peace before it becomes to pieces.
The Council of Architecture should file a review petition and take immediate measures to protect the rights of architects.Various state development authorities are similarly granting licences to engineers which is not in confirmation with the COA act.
If it’s unconstitutional to discriminate that means that all govt posts for engineers should be open to architects too….
It’s good time to think of this. What makes engineers to enter in to the premises of architectural field? Is it more lucrative? Is it more interesting? Does it lead a good social recognisation? What may be the case, parhaps honorable High court has seen the common part (as in intersection of two sets) in both the professions not the whole of the both. Each field needs special education to render the best of the best services. Architecture does not mean just to draw few lines to prepare a building plan ( as most of the common people understand). It is a blended branch of science, engineering and arts. Yes! The Council of Architecture or the appropriet authority should open up a series of exam and test along with practice under a senior achitect to award a special promotional degree to any engineers who show interest on this unique field to become architect. This will enable the gap between these professional to be minimum and the fight can be stopped. As COA is strict on its rule of five years class room education to get qualification to get the registration, this is not fine for some deeply dedicative individuals to exercise their wit in this field ( Human Resources should not be obstructed). In otherhand qualified architects from many private institutes are also very very poor understanding about the subject as well as very poor on deliverying the things. In this case COA should have some competancy exam to issue the licence so that the country can really be benefitted. I hope the architectural faternity will accept this suggestion and opinion very sportively and with great spirit.
Nurses/Physio-therapists too treat patients. It doesn’t mean they can start practicing the field of surgery without calling themselves doctors.
The learned judge before passing such a decision should have referred it to a wider bench and should have invited subject matter experts. Dont know if this was done. Doesn’t look like it.
Has anyone doing anything? COA? IIA? Architect Guru’s?
So Architects are Doctors and Engineers are nurses. LOL. Grow up man. Everybody knows that Engineers are better qualified than architects.
By the way architect is like beauty parlour who take care about the beauty of structures whereas civil engineer are doctors who knows internal behaviour of structure.
The decision taken by Hon.Court is excellent and quite welcome as many most of subjects are common for both the courses and Institution of Engineers made an attempt to make a Hybrid program -Architects have to pass additional 4 subjects and similarly Civil engineers have to pass 4 additional subjects related to Architecture along with 7 hours Architectural designing and Drawing Paper.It is an Excellent idea of making Architectural engineers,which is recognized by National building code (Architectural engineering course).Why Council of Architecture is silent on this subject?.As all know that ,Institution of engineers is the Oldest and most Respected Council and is a Partner in School of Planning and Architecture,even then the Council of Architecture is not kind enough to consider the equivalence of Hybrid program in recognizing the Architectural engineering program.
It is in-‘fact a good thought to bring in a national debate on the subject of Architectural Engineering. The pioneers of the field of Architecture and Civil Structural Engineering should pool in the advantages of both fields to create a hybrid.
Once a common platform is established naturally all in-fights will stop. An engineer will be able to practice as an Architect and if need be an Architect also can perform as an Engineer.
After all at the end of the day it is for the society at large the services are rendered to.
Let the nation, community and the people benefit from all the innovation and progress that’s brought forth from the field of Architectural Engineering.
Did any engineers have guts to draft on a single table without sleeping 48 hrs…v architects did that thing…
Can architect make a bill of quantities , date analysis
Can he do the structural design ???
Does a architect is able to do calculation for stability of structure without sleeping we did that thing and do you want to say that you are an draftsman LOL
A slap it is…for those that are too used to it…slimies
I think both Engineers and Architects should study each other’s subjects in depth. It is childish to show other professionals as less important than their own. I know civil engineering. It is a vast field and building construction is a very small part of it. Whereas design and construction of various bridges, dams, cooling towers, Chimneys, atomic power plants involves both the RCC designs and steel structure design. Those fighting Architects (for only those who don’t respect other professions) , if you are ready to work on all these aspects I will definitely salute you. But it should be RCC and steel structure designing and not only planning and Drafting on paper. I apologise those who have felt bad about my remarks
Engineers are more qualified and competent then architect technically …..good decision… It helps to break monopoly of architects
It is a welcome decision! Specifically Civil Engineers should be specified. Most Architects pay very little to structural engineers compared to the risk they bear in carrying forward the concept of an Architect. Civil Engineers should be legally allowed to practice as Architects.