GOPALAN SCHOOLOF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING

WHITEFIELD,BENGALURU

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE-
CODE OF CONDUCT

By: Ar. Adite Dhadwal

Assistant Professor

Gopalan school of Architecture

CONTENTS

Code of professional conduct

Architectural competitions
ARCHITECTS ACT, 1972
▪ The Architects Act of 1972 is a key piece of legislation in India that governs the
profession of architecture.
▪ It was enacted to ensure that only qualified individuals can practice as architects and
to regulate architectural education and professional standards.
Purpose of the Act
▪ To register qualified architects and maintain a national register.
▪ To regulate the education and practice of architecture across India.
▪ To protect the title “Architect”, ensuring it's used only by registered professionals
ARCHITECTS ACT, 1972
Council of Architecture (COA)
▪ The Act established the Council of Architecture, a statutory body responsible for:
▪ Maintaining the register of architects.
▪ Setting minimum standards of architectural education.
▪ Overseeing professional conduct and ethics.
▪ Recognizing qualifications from Indian and foreign institutions.
ARCHITECTS ACT, 1972
Key Provisions
▪ Registration: Only those with recognized qualifications can be registered and legally
use the title “Architect.”
▪ Education Standards: Institutions must meet COA standards to offer architecture
degrees.
▪ Professional Conduct: The COA can take disciplinary action against misconduct.
▪ Penalties: Misusing the title “Architect” without registration is punishable under the
Act.
Enforcement
▪ The Act came into force on September 1, 1972, and applies throughout India.
 ROLE OF COUNCIL OF ARCHITECTURE
▪ The Council of Architecture (COA) plays a central role in shaping and regulating the architecture
profession in India. It was established under the Architects Act of 1972 to ensure that architectural
practice meets high standards of education, ethics, and professionalism.

Core Responsibilities
▪ Registration of Architects: Maintains the official register of qualified architects. Only those
registered can legally use the title “Architect.”
▪ Educational Oversight: Sets and enforces minimum standards for architectural education. It
accredits institutions and monitors their curriculum, faculty, and infrastructure.
▪ Professional Conduct: Establishes a Code of Ethics and investigates cases of professional
misconduct. Disciplinary actions can include warnings or removal from the register.
▪ Public Protection: Ensures that only competent professionals design buildings, safeguarding
public safety and interest.
▪ Policy Advisory: Advises the government on architectural education and practice, including
recognition or de-recognition of qualifications
 ROLE OF COUNCIL OF ARCHITECTURE

Influence on Education
▪ COA regulates over 400+ architecture institutions across India.

▪ It conducts inspections to ensure compliance with the Minimum Standards of Architectural

Education Regulations, 1983.
Governance Structure
▪ Composed of elected and nominated members from professional bodies, educational institutions,
and government departments.
▪ Includes an Executive Committee and a Disciplinary Committee to manage operations and
enforce standards.

▪ The COA isn’t just a gatekeeper—it’s a guardian of quality and integrity in Indian architecture
 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS
The Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) is a prominent professional body that plays a vital role in
the development and promotion of architecture in India.
While the Council of Architecture (COA) regulates the profession legally under the Architects Act
of 1972, the IIA functions as a voluntary organization that fosters professional growth, community,
and advocacy.
Key Roles of the IIA
▪ Promoting Architectural Excellence: Encourages aesthetic, scientific, and practical efficiency in
architectural practice and education.
▪ Professional Networking: Unites architects across India through chapters, events, and
conferences, creating a strong professional fellowship.
▪ Educational Support: Offers scholarships, awards, and guidance to students and institutions to
elevate architectural education.
▪ Representation: Acts as India’s voice in international bodies like the UIA, CAA, and SAARCH,
influencing global architectural discourse.
▪ Advocacy & Policy Influence: Engages with government and industry to shape policies affecting
architecture and the built environment
 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS
Organizational Structure
▪ Governed by a Council that includes a President, Vice Presidents, Treasurer, Secretaries, and
regional chapter heads.
▪ Offers multiple membership tiers: Fellows, Associates, Licentiates, Students, and Honorary
Fellows, each with specific roles and privileges.

Contributions to the Profession

▪ Publishes the Journal of the Indian Institute of Architects (JIIA), a respected platform for
architectural thought and research.
▪ Hosts exhibitions, lectures, and design competitions to foster innovation and public engagement.

▪ Awards prestigious honors like the Baburao Mhatre Gold Medal and Madhav Achwal Gold
Medal to recognize excellence in practice and education.
▪ In essence, the IIA is the cultural and intellectual backbone of Indian architecture,
complementing the regulatory role of the COA.
 ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITIONS: GUIDELINES BY
COA

▪ The Council of Architecture (COA) in India has laid down detailed Architectural Competition
Guidelines to ensure fairness, transparency, and professional integrity in design competitions.
▪ These guidelines protect both the promoter and the participants, and help elevate the quality of
architectural outcomes.

Purpose of the Guidelines

▪ Ensure equal opportunity for all eligible architects.

▪ Promote merit-based selection of designs.

▪ Safeguard intellectual property rights of participants.

▪ Maintain professional ethics and transparency.

 ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITIONS: GUIDELINES BY
COA
Eligibility to Compete
▪ Registered Architects under the Architects Act, 1972.

▪ Firms where all partners are COA-registered.

▪ Students from COA-recognized institutions (with conditions on jury composition).

▪ Promoters, assessors, or their associates cannot participate or assist competitors.

Types of Competitions
▪ Open Competitions: Open to all eligible architects.

▪ Limited Competitions: By invitation to selected architects.

▪ Special Competitions: For complex projects requiring specific expertise.

▪ Two-Stage Competitions: Initial idea stage followed by detailed design stage.

 ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITIONS: GUIDELINES BY
COA

Board of Assessors
▪ Must include a majority of COA-registered architects.

▪ Responsible for evaluating entries and selecting winners.

▪ May be supported by technical advisors for complex projects.

Key Rules
▪ Competitions must be conducted in English.

▪ All entries must be submitted anonymously.

▪ Prizes and honoraria must be clearly stated and fairly distributed.

▪ Copyright remains with the designer; reproduction rights are retained.

▪ All entries, including disqualified ones, must be exhibited publicly for at least one week.
ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITIONS: PROCEDURE

Initiation by promoter

Registration process

Submission

Judging procedure

Award and exhibition

Promoter’s right and copyright

ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITIONS: PROCEDURE

Initiation by Promoter
▪ The Promoter decides to hold a competition and prepares a project brief.
▪ A descriptive leaflet or advertisement is issued in professional and public media,
detailing:
▪ Purpose and nature of the competition (project or idea-based)
▪ Eligibility criteria
▪ Prizes or honoraria
▪ Names of Assessors
▪ Registration process and deadlines
ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITIONS: PROCEDURE

Registration Process
▪ Interested participants must:
▪ Fill out a registration form
▪ Submit it with the registration fee (if applicable)
▪ Await confirmation of eligibility and entry into the Competition Register maintained by the
Promoter
Submission of Designs
▪ Designs must be:
▪ Submitted anonymously using a six-digit code
▪ Packed in a sealed brown envelope with a declaration of identity inside
▪ Delivered by hand or post before the deadline

▪ Participants should retain copies and insure their entries until received by the Promoter
ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITIONS: PROCEDURE

Judging Procedure
▪ A Board of Assessors, with a majority of COA-registered architects, evaluates entries in
secret.
▪ A Secretary records deliberations, which remain confidential.
▪ Decisions are final and binding, and awards are announced within two weeks of
judging
Awards & Exhibition
▪ All entries, including disqualified ones, are exhibited publicly for at least one week.
▪ Winners are notified individually and publicly.
▪ Non-winning entries are returned within one month after the exhibition
Promoter’s Rights & Copyright
▪ The first prize-winning design may be retained by the Promoter.
▪ Copyright remains with the designer; reproduction rights are retained by the author
 USE OF TITLE -ARCHITECT

▪ The use of the title “Architect” in design competitions has seen notable evolution,
shaped by legal frameworks, inclusivity efforts, and changing industry norms. Here's
how things have developed:
Legal and Ethical Boundaries
▪ Most countries now legally protect the title “Architect.”
For example, in India, only those registered with the Council of Architecture (COA) can
use it professionally.
▪ Competitions often require entrants to declare their professional status, ensuring that
only licensed individuals use the title “Architect” in official submissions.

Opening Doors to Emerging Designers

▪ Many competitions have shifted toward idea-based formats, allowing students and
unlicensed professionals to participate.
▪ These entrants typically use titles like “Designer,” “Student Architect,” or “Design
Professional” to avoid misrepresentation while still showcasing their work.
 USE OF TITLE -ARCHITECT

Anonymous and Inclusive Formats

▪ To ensure fairness, competitions increasingly use anonymous submissions,
where names and titles are hidden during judging.
▪ This levels the playing field, allowing entries to be judged on merit rather than
credentials.
Global Influence and Reform
▪ International bodies like the UIA (International Union of Architects) promote
guidelines that balance professional integrity with creative freedom.
▪ Some regions, like Sydney, Australia, have experimented with “impure
competition formats”, where anonymity is relaxed and clients may select known
designers—raising questions about transparency and title usage.
 USE OF TITLE -ARCHITECT

Shift Toward Collaboration

▪ Competitions now often require teams to list all contributors, including architects,
engineers, and consultants.
▪ This promotes shared credit and discourages misuse of the title by individuals
who aren’t formally qualified
REFERENCES:
1. Coa.gov.in
2. Architectureideas.info
3. Greenarchworld.com

THANK YOU