onq, we're currently looking for a reputable architect and have used
www.riai.ie to search but the numbers coming back on this site are quite small. Is the search facility on that site poor as I can't even find your own practice up there so am just wondering if they hold a comprehensive list of just a selection?
Hi Ceist Beag,
You won't find our practice there yet as I'm not yet Registered or a Member of the RIAI.
Registration as an Architect and Membership of the RIAI are not necessarily the same thing.
MRIAIs are automatically Registered, but those who apply to be Registered are not in the RIAI.
I understand that anyone who applies to be registered and is successful may also apply to join the RIAI
Over the next few years, it is expected that persons who wish to practice will Register and also join the RIAI
I qualified twenty years ago from Bolton Street DIT just after the Architects Directive 85/384/EEC came into being.
[broken link removed]
This entitled four classes of persons from Ireland
- to provide architectural services throughout the EU
- to have their qualifications recognised in all other EU countries and
- to practice as and call themselves "Architect".
CHAPTER II
DIPLOMAS, CERTIFICATES AND OTHER EVIDENCE OF FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS
ENABLING THE HOLDER TO TAKE UP ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF ARCHITECTURE
UNDER THE PROFESSIONAL TITLE OF ARCHITECT
From P. 11,
(f) in Ireland
- the degree of Bachelor of Architecture awarded by the National University of Ireland (B Arch. (NUI)) to architecture graduates of University College, Dublin;
- the diploma of degree standard in architecture awarded by the College of Technology, Bolton Street, Dublin (Dipl. Arch.);
- the Certificate of Associateship of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (ARIAI);
- the Certificate of Membership of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (MRIAI);
After this came into law Opinions of Compliance issued by practising architects who held these qualifications or certificates referred to the Directive below their signature. At one stage I was also an Associate of the RIAI.
The Building Control Act 2007 requires all persons practising as architects to be registered. I support this aim. It will mean disruption for a time for some - like me - who are formally qualified from a five year course and who have worked under Members of the RIAI for more than 7 years. It may possibly mean more hardship for others who have practised as architects successfully without formal qualifications for years.
That is because only existing Members of the RIAI are entitled to be automatically registered without a separate vetting process - their Part III's are accepted as proving that the relevant standards of knowledge of professional practice have been met for Registration purposes.
That does not mean that the door is closed to unqualified successes or Architectural Technicians.
A separate Technical Assessment Board has already been set up to process their applications.
The Building Control Act 2007 became law in May 2008. The registration board got its chairman last summer. The board started accepting applications in November 2009. I am currently researching documentation from projects I did with another office twenty years ago to allow me to apply for registration under Option C. All going well, I intend to apply next month. All may not go well, however because most offices shred files after 6 years [unsealed] or 12 years [under seal]. The RIAI have exacting standards both for competence and presentation. We'll see how it goes.
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In relation to your other query, I offer the following advice.
Look for work you like. Find out who did it. Talk to some of his/her clients. Talk to the architect. Talk about Fees.
The RIAI website is less than useful at the moment - teething problems I have no doubt.
Or perhaps not enough people like you ringing them up and telling them your experience - its not going to improve if you don't.
The last time I went there I couldn't get it to work at all.
DBK100's post suggests that its to be divided up geographically.
I think the criterion of proximity is not the best way to approach selection.
Over the course of the past twenty years I have done work in Belfast, Cork, Kerry, Donegal, Limerick, Galway, Meath, Kildare, Wicklow, South Dublin, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Dublin City, - in short, all over the country.
Most architects have transport, although there are a few Green variants who may not have a car.
They can still fly or get the train and indeed the fittest may choose to
cycle to you.
The important thing is to go for someone whose work you like, whom you get on with and whose fees are acceptable.
FWIW
ONQ.
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I was hoping to be able to visit websites via the RIAI site and view projects completed there but I don't think many of the architects I've found have spent too much time on their websites going by what I've found. I might try and use the Contact Us facility on the RIAI website as they do suggest this as a means of getting recommendations from them.