Laws And Regulations Governing The Practice Of Architecture

Provides a framework for understanding of the legal, contractual and procedural implication of architectural practice. The book acts as a useful aide-memoire for students and practitioners based on the premise that smooth legal administration will provide the conditions under which client relations can be constructive and good design can be achieved.

From the earliest periods of architecture and building, architects’ actions have been conditioned by rules, regulations, standards, and governance practices. These range from socio-cultural and religious codes seeking to influence the formal structure of settlement patterns, to prescriptive building regulations specifying detailed elements of design in relation to the safety of building structures. In Architectural Design and Regulation the authors argue that the rule and regulatory basis of architecture is part of a broader field of socio-institutional and political interventions in the design and development process that serve to delimit, and define, the scope of the activities of architects. The book explores how the practices of architects are embedded in complex systems of rules and regulations. The authors develop the understanding that the rules and regulations of building form and performance ought not to be counterpoised as external to creative processes and practices, but as integral to the creation of well-designed places. The contribution of Architectural Design and Regulation is to show that far from the rule and regulatory basis of architecture undermining the capacities of architects to design, they are the basis for new and challenging activities that open up possibilities for reinventing the actions of architects.

An essential reference for practitioners, emphasizing how legal concepts affect the process of bringing architectural vision to reality. Law for Architects: What You Need to Know guides design professionals through the daunting landscape where design and construction meet the legal system. It provides an introduction—written in clear, reader-friendly language—to issues that arise at every stage in the practice of architecture. For architects starting or building their own practice: Why do I need a written agreement with my clients? Why do I need insurance? How do I organize my firm? For seasoned architects considering retirement: How do I transfer ownership in my company? How can I benefit from the good will I helped to build? For students who want to learn more about the practicalities of starting out: Why is it important to have a license? Isn’t it enough to have a degree in architecture? What are my rights as an employee? It also addresses the perennial questions that concern architects: How do I protect myself from being sued? How do I protect my intellectual property rights in my work? and much more. Law for Architects identifies the legal issues that lurk in every corner of your design practice and helps you figure out what questions you need to ask.