Design activities include carrying out
design work for all types of buildings for any purpose like residential, commercial, shopping malls, education
institutes, hotels, hospitals, offices, Industrials/ factories, other engineering
works, etc.
The Scope of design -Architecture includes
developing plans and elevations for all the superstructure architect designs
for each floor, wall, and ceiling.
Generally, there
are 7 stages to designing building architecture as below
1 Developing Concept designs
2 Developing Schematic design
3
Developing Sanction design duly coordinated for structure, architecture,
façade, landscape, interiors, MEP, etc
4 Developing /Revising detailed technical Design
based on sanctioned approvals
5 Developing Tenders for works such as
structure, architecture, external development works, façade, landscape
6
Estimating Project Costs for structure, architecture, external development
works, façade, landscape
7 Developing working drawings & Good for
construction drawings, As-built drawing.
This may
require
using software like AutoCAD, Revit
Architecture (BIM),3D Studio Max, Photoshop, and other software options
In the activities listed below, those marked ‘*’ reflect those
activities which can have adverse statutory implications
Stage 1 activities that can adversely impact business
·
Not obtaining or
not incorporating inputs (like strategic plans vis a vis vision, landscape,
traffic circulation, master plans, area plans, preliminary plans, elevations,
etc) into Building Civil Architecture design
·
Using unlicensed
software while developing a concept design for Civil Architecture. *
· Not vetting the concept and detailed
design/making compromises while vetting Civil Architecture, in collaboration
with, inhouse or outsourced Code Architect or consultant, by skipping or
compromising on important designs and drawings aspects such as below vis a vis Civil
Architecture Features:
· Tolerances
on specifications of materials and workmanship
· Statutory code-related requirements for Civil
Architecture. *
· National
and international standards for quality
· Raw Materials (Bricks, POP, Paints, joineries,
Inserts, stone works, Tiles, Door frames, doors, windows, etc.) sizes and
specifications
· Quality
requirements and suggestive gauging
· Civil
Architecture safety requirements*
· Compromising
on the safety of Civil Architecture by proposing low cost /low strength raw
materials
· Bill
of quantities for Civil Architecture
· Bribing
mandatory Agencies which approve the Civil Architecture plants and elevations
etc. relevant for issuing FAR and sanction drawings compliance *
Stage 2 activities that can adversely impact business
· Design
intent not aligned to approved Concept design
· Schematic drawings are not comprehensive or
not accurate
· Area statements not detailed
· Cost
estimates are ballpark and based on thumb rules rather than detailed
assumptions.
Stage 3 activities that can adversely impact business
·
Preparing
drawings incorporating inaccurate area statements vis-à-vis intended
construction plans and bribing the sanctioning team to get minimum
non-compliance and speedy approvals *
Stage 4 activities that can adversely impact business
·
Colluding of the main
architect with sanctioning authorities to obtain approval of the submission
drawings that are not adequately coordinated or not aligned to instructions of
sanctioning authorities in return for favors to approving authorities *
Stage 5 activities that can adversely impact business
·
In the tender, including names and
brands of specific materials only for pre-identified /preferred vendors of the
architect in return for commission/kickback to the architect from such
vendors.
· Recommending only a single source for
many BOQ materials and thus leaving very few options with the project materials
team to negotiate prices aggressively in return for commission /kickback to the
Architect from such vendors
· Tender drawings not incorporating
applicable quality for all works.
·
Tender
drawings not incorporating applicable Statutory requirements vis-à-vis
applicable national/international codes w.r.t safety
Stage 6 activities that can adversely impact business
· Computing costs of works for Structure,
Finishes, External development, Façade, and Landscape are inaccurately based on
thumb rules rather than on the first principal basis vis-à-vis TMT bars, Cement,
RMC, Structural steel, Direct construction materials leading to underestimating
or overestimating project costs.
Stage 7 activities that can adversely impact business
·
Develop working
drawings or GFC which are not fully aligned to activities in the above seven
design stages
· Architect
issuing “As-built drawings” which are aligned to earlier sanctioned drawings by
statutory authorities but at variant vis-à-vis actual completed physical
construction (in terms of FAR, building plans and elevations, construction
materials used, etc.) *
· Bribing
the statutory officials to get ok occupation and completion certificates in due
course. *
Handbook
of the author
You
can read more about the 25 activities that can
adversely impact business in Chapter 1 of my handbook ETHICS
in the real estate and hospitality industry, Volume 1- Architectural, Interior
design, and MEP services “