Architecture News

Architect fined £1,000 for contractual impropriety

Richard Buxton — Fri, 24 May 2013 08:59:00 GMT

Steven Johnson of MJF Architects Ltd, Leeds, has been found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and issued with a £1,000 penalty order by the ARB.

The ARB's Professional Conduct Committee heard that in August 2007, Mr Johnson was jointly instructed by two clients to prepare and submit a planning application in relation to a redevelopment project. The planning application was initially submitted but subsequently returned, and it was agreed that the planning application would not be resubmitted. In June 2010, the planning fee was refunded to the architect; however, this sum was not repaid to the complainants, but rather, Mr Johnson sought to offset that sum against his invoices for additional planning fees.

It was alleged that Mr Johnson failed, prior to undertaking professional work, to record in writing provisions of the contract, failed to record in writing variations to the original agreement, failed to carry out professional work in accordance with any cost limits agreed with the complainants and failed to keep the complainants informed of the progress of the work which was significantly affecting its cost. It was also alleged that the architect failed to safeguard the complainants’ money.

Mr Johnson admitted three of the allegations, but denied that he had failed to make the clients aware of the state of progress of the work being undertaken by him or the level of costs incurred.

The Committee found three of the allegations proved by way of Mr Johnson’s admission. The Committee also found that although the architect had since rectified the situation, by failing to hold the returned planning application sum in a client account, and by offsetting this sum against his costs without the clients’ specific written instructions, the Committee found this allegation proved.

In conclusion, the Committee considered that this was a matter that called for a disciplinary sanction, and the finding of unacceptable professional conduct given the extent and gravity of the matters admitted and found proved. A penalty order of £1,000 was imposed.

Floornature launches architecture and photography competition

Richard Buxton — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:15:00 GMT

Floornature, an Italian think-tank, is calling for entries to its architecture and urban photography competitions.

Both competitions are open to architects, engineers, landscape architects, urban planners and designers from all over the world who graduated after 1st January 2000.

There are two categories to the architecture competition:

First Work - completed and built architecture projects, by architects who graduated after 1st January 2000
Research - unbuilt projects for urban redevelopment, ideal buildings, dissertations and theoretical reflection on contemporary living, by architects who graduated after 1st January 2000.

The photography competition is open to all designers, architecture photographers and students enrolled in an Architecture/Design/Engineering Degree.

The main prizes include trips to Helsinki during the Helsinki design week and a three month internship in Mexico City, plus exposure on various websites.

For further information go to the competition website at contest.floornature.com

RIBA launches Plan of Work 2013

Richard Buxton — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:18:00 GMT

The RIBA has launched the Plan of Work 2013, a reference document for all those involved in the briefing, design, construction and post occupancy process. It comprises eight work stages and details the tasks and outputs required at each stage.

In the new Plan of Work, the former A-L work stages have been scrapped and replaced with eight new, numbered stages and three task bars (procurement, programme and planning) which can be customised.

Visit the RIBA Plan of Work 2013 Online tool to download a copy of the RIBA Plan of Work or to customise a Plan of Work for your practice or project.

A range of new practice management titles accompanying the RIBA Plan of Work 2013 are now available to pre-order:

Guide to using the RIBA Plan of Work 2013

RIBA Job Book (9th edition)

A client's guide to engaging an architect (2013 edition): Guidance on hiring an architect for your project.

Assembling a collaborative project team: practical tools including multi-disciplinary schedules of services

Architect fined £3,000 for professional incompetence

Richard Buxton — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:59:00 GMT

Philip Armstrong of Knutsford, Cheshire, has been found guilty of serious professional incompetence and unacceptable professional conduct and issued with a penalty order.

The ARB's Professional Conduct Committee heard that in November 2010, Mr Armstrong was appointed by a client to replace an existing single storey building with a garden room. It was heard that as the project progressed, it became apparent that the view to the garden was obscured by the roof line of the kitchen extension. It was alleged that this problem arose because when Mr Armstrong initially surveyed the site, he failed to identify that the garden walls were not perpendicular to the house.

This would have meant that, had the extension been constructed where indicated by Mr Armstrong in the plans, it would have encroached on to the complainant’s neighbour’s property. To prevent this, the siting of the extension had to be altered, resulting in, amongst other issues, the creation of an inaccessible area between the extension and the neighbour’s wall. The Committee found that Mr Armstrong had failed to carry out his work conscientiously and with skill and care in that he failed to adequately survey the existing site conditions.

The Committee also found that Mr Armstrong failed to apply for planning permission which was required for the project, and that he had failed to deal appropriately with a complaint about his professional work.

The Committee noted that Mr Armstrong had a previously unblemished record and considered that this was an isolated incident. However, the Committee also noted that Mr Armstrong had not expressed any genuine regret for what happened even though he recognised his failings, and that he had had the opportunity to address the complaint raised but had chosen not to.

Taking all the factors into account, the Committee imposed a penalty order in the sum of £2500 in respect of the finding of serious professional incompetence charge, and £500 in respect of the finding of unacceptable professional conduct charge.

RIBA Future Trends Survey results for April 2013

Richard Buxton — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:29:00 GMT

The RIBA Future Trends Workload Index fell back slightly in April 2013 to +16, down from +19 in March 2013.

This is the first fall in the monthly workload indicator since November 2012, but it does remain firmly in positive territory. Year-on-year workloads remain stable with large practices (51+ staff) reporting a 5% annual increase, but there is no real sign of a sustained upturn in total work in progress.

Private sector housing fell back marginally in April 2013 (balance figure +16) from its March 2013 level (balance figure +17), as did the commercial sector forecast (balance figure +3, down from +6 in March). The public sector forecast (balance figure -6) and the community sector forecast (balance figure -9) both saw somewhat larger falls.

RIBA Director of Practice, Adrian Dobson, said: "Whilst there are some positive signs and confidence levels have improved, the outlook seems to remain uncertain beyond a three month timeline for many practices.

"Anecdotal commentary we receive continues to paint a very mixed picture, with some practices reporting an increase in enquiries and commissions, but others commenting that the market remains intensively competitive."

The RIBA Future Trends Staffing Index increased a little in April 2013, rising to +2 and entering positive territory. Overall actual staffing levels are stable, but practices remain cautious about taking on additional permanent staff.

The percentage of architect respondents reporting that they had personally been under-employed in the last month was 29%, up from 26% last month.

Planning Portal sees 25% increase in visitors

Richard Buxton — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:46:00 GMT

The Government's Planning Portal has released visitor traffic and site usage statistics for 2012/2013 which show that the site received 11,128,909 visitors, a 25% increase on the previous year.

In addition, the website recorded:

319,610 planning applications submitted, a 15% increase on 2011/12
2,066,525 approved documents downloaded, an increase of 24%
2,595,200kg of CO2 was saved

According to the Government, the Planning Portal cost a touch over £3m and delivered more than £130m of benefits, equating to £44 of benefit for every £1 spent.

The Government claims that the site has also delivered considerable savings to local authorities: most of the 11 million visits last year were looking for guidance and help. Without the portal it has to be assumed that most of that burden would pass to local authorities.

Competition to find best church architecture of last 60 years

Richard Buxton — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:43:00 GMT

The search is on to find the top 10 best churches, chapels or meeting houses built in the UK since 1953 in a new architecture competition run by the National Churches Trust , the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association and the Twentieth Century Society.

The top 10 best churches, chapels and meeting houses will be selected by a judging panel including representatives from the National Churches Trust, the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association and the Twentieth Century Society. From the top 10, a special ‘National Churches Trust Diamond Jubilee Architecture’ award will be presented to the three places of worship judged to be the best sacred spaces built in the last 60 years.

The awards are open to any new church building or significant extension to an existing building from any Christian denomination which opened for worship after 1st January 1953 and which is still open for worship today. (Cathedrals are excluded from the competition as the National Churches Trust does not fund Cathedral buildings.)

Nominations must be made by 31st July 2013 and can be made online or by emailing the name and address of the church, chapel or meeting house to bestchurches@nationalchurchestrust.org.

Architects present vision for Hammersmith flyunder

Richard Buxton — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:33:00 GMT

West London Link Design, a conglomerate of architects, has presented its ideas for how Transport for London (TfL) could replace the crumbling Hammersmith Flyover with a tunnel - or 'flyunder'.

In its report, West London Link Design says that while a tunnel might be expensive in terms of capital outlay, it avoids the costs of long-term disruption to the highway network that rebuilding the flyover will cause. What’s more, a tunnel creates wider financial and cultural opportunities for West London.

It goes on to say that a full analysis of costs and benefits will show how a tunnel compares favourably with a replacement flyover, and how capital costs can be offset by the release of land for profitable development.

Cllr Nicholas Botterill declared Hammersmith and Fulham Council's support for the tunnel at a meeting at Hammersmith Town Hall. He said: "The Hammersmith Flyover is a hangover from another era that should never be repeated. The age of the ugly concrete viaduct in the sky is over and the age of the tunnel is coming."

For the full West London Link Design report click here - www.westlondonlink.com/WLL Brochure Final.pdf

DECC launches £6 million renewable heat competition

Richard Buxton — Tue, 14 May 2013 09:52:00 GMT

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has launched a competition to help registered providers of social housing across Great Britain to install heat pumps, solar thermal panels and biomass boilers.

Greg Barker, Energy and Climate Change Minister, said: “This will help save money on energy bills and provide low carbon alternatives to traditional heating systems. More than 100 social landlords are already taking advantage of over £13 million under our renewable heat competitions. I would encourage more social landlords to rise to the challenge and get involved.”

Helen Williams, National Housing Federation assistant director, said: “The social housing sector has the potential to make a real difference for residents, so it is great this is being recognised. This will help build the required expertise as we move toward the introduction of RHI domestic.”

The competition will have two bidding windows, the first closing on 28th June 2013, with projects to be completed by March 2014, and the second closing on 27th September 2013, with installations to be finished by June 2014.

The scheme will be run by the Energy Saving Trust and bids will be judged by a panel of experts on a range of criteria including value for money, fuel to be replaced, additional energy efficiency measures to be installed and plans to work with local communities.

The application form for the social landlord competition can be downloaded here

Survey finds lack of client demand is biggest barrier to BIM

Richard Buxton — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:16:00 GMT

A survey carried out by RICS at its National BIM Conference found that limited client demand is standing in the way of industry-wide adoption of BIM.

When asked about their perceived barriers to BIM uptake, 46 percent of respondents highlighted lack of client demand.

The survey also found:

100% of survey respondents, from a broad spectrum of built environment disciplines, reported that they are using or actively considering adopting BIM
49% of those surveyed have not implemented a BIM strategy
A current absence of standards, and insufficient IT and technology systems were also referenced by 17% and 15% of respondents respectively as further barriers restricting uptake
15% identified a lack of industry collaboration as a barrier to their implementation of BIM.

The survey demonstrated an encouraging level of recognition of the range of benefits that BIM can deliver to the industry and to business’ bottom lines; with responses relatively balanced against factors of growth and innovation, cost reduction, sustainability, performance efficiency, competitive advantage and life cycle management.

Alan Muse, director of built environment professional groups at RICS, said: “As an industry, we should be encouraged by the growing traction that BIM is gaining as the route forward for the built environment, but also be prepared to embrace our responsibilities in overcoming identified barriers and issues.”

Adam Architecture calls for entries for travel scholarship

Richard Buxton — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:02:00 GMT

Adam Architecture is calling for entries for this year’s Student Travel Scholarship to support and reward outstanding research in architecture and urban design.

The theme for this year is “Interpretations of Classicism”.

Entries are sought from undergraduate and graduate students, from Part I up to 3 years after Part II, or equivalent qualification. The £1,500 award is to fund their research, overseas travel and accommodation. The closing date for entries is Friday 24th May 2013.

The judges will be looking for a significant piece of original research work and an outstanding contribution to architectural knowledge. The judging panel includes the directors at Adam Architecture, Matt Gaskin Head of the School of Architecture at Oxford Brookes University, Kathryn Findlay at Ushida Findlay Architects and Michael Hammond, Editor in Chief at worldarchitecturenews.com.

To apply send in a completed application form, a portfolio of work with up to 20 images in printed or digital form and a short CV. A hard copy of your application and supporting documents is preferred.

For more information, visit: www.adamarchitecture.com/academic/travel-scholarship.htm

Construction activity contracts for the sixth successive month

Richard Buxton — Tue, 07 May 2013 11:30:00 GMT

The latest Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers Index shows construction activity falling for the sixth successive month.

Lower levels of construction output reflected declines in two of the three broad areas of activity monitored by the survey in April, with residential construction output the exception. Commercial activity dropped for the third month running, while work of civil engineering projects decreased markedly. The rise in housing activity was only marginal, but nonetheless the strongest since April 2012.

Employment numbers were broadly stable in the UK construction sector at the start of the second quarter. Anecdotal evidence from survey respondents suggested that subdued demand patterns had led to cautious job hiring trends, but a degree of optimism about the year ahead outlook had helped stabilise overall staffing levels. More than twice as many survey respondents anticipate a rise in their output over the next twelve months as those that forecast a reduction.

Tim Moore, Senior Economist at Markit, said: "UK construction sector output was closer to stabilisation than at any time since October 2012, according to the latest survey data. A slower decrease in output reflected an element of catch-up after some severe weather delays earlier in the year.

“The overall survey findings are an early indication that construction will act as less of a drag on UK GDP over the second quarter of 2013. April’s data also highlights a cautious degree of positive sentiment about the year-ahead outlook. However, total new work dropped for the eleventh month running during April, which further reduces the likelihood of improving in employment patterns across the sector.”

Newbury architect struck off for lack of integrity

Richard Buxton — Fri, 03 May 2013 11:50:00 GMT

Andrew Plumridge of Newbury, Berkshire, has been found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and erased from the Register of Architects.

The ARB's Professional Contuct Committee heard that in July 2010, Mr Plumridge had been appointed by a client in connection with minor building works to a house in Sunningdale, Ascot. On the basis of the evidence presented, the Committee found that Mr Plumridge had recommended his “preferred” builder without informing his client that they had a close personal relationship. The Committee judged that Mr Plumridge had breached the Architect’s Code of Conduct in failing to disclose this potential conflict of interest to his client.

The Committee also heard that Mr Plumridge had issued valuation certificates without allowing for any retention, and only after virtually the whole of the contract price had been paid by the client direct to the builder. Following termination of the contract, the client obtained an independent valuation of the work. That valuation concluded that Mr W had been overcharged by nearly £7,700. It also identified payments certified by the architect for unfinished work and substandard work as well as for “extras” that were, in fact, included in the contract price and had already been paid for. The Committee therefore judged that Mr Plumridge had certified the value of the works contrary to the best interests of his client.

In addition, the Committee heard that when the client had repeatedly requested notes of a meeting held with the architect and the builder, Mr Plumridge had refused to provide them, until finally responding with a demand for further fees. The client had previously been unaware of these allegedly outstanding fees and had never been invoiced for them. The Committee judged that Mr Plumridge had acted without integrity by refusing to provide a copy of the minutes unless he was paid money.

Furthermore, the Committee heard that following notification by ARB of the complaint against him, Mr Plumridge had written to the hospital that employed his client, alleging that he had divulged confidential information about patients and had possibly stolen hospital property. The client’s employer had investigated the allegations and found no evidence to support them. The Committee therefore judged that Mr Plumridge had acted without integrity by writing a letter to his client’s employer which was inappropriate and contained unfounded allegations.

The Committee also found that the architect had failed adequately to set out in writing his terms of engagement for the project; had failed to provide the Board with evidence of indemnity insurance to cover his liabilities for the time period 2001-06, and had failed to respond to the Board’s enquiries in relation to the complaint.

In finding that Mr Plumridge’s conduct amounted to unacceptable professional conduct, the Committee noted that his failure to respond to the Board’s enquiries, or attend the hearing, meant that it had heard nothing by way of mitigation or explanation for his actions.

The Committee found that Mr Plumridge’s unacceptable professional conduct ranged across a number of standards of the Code of Conduct, arose from a number of different incidents, and had resulted in serious expense, inconvenience, and distress to his client. It was particularly concerned about the timing and content of the architect’s letter to his client’s employer, seeing it as a malicious and discreditable attempt to impugn the complainant’s reputation and intimidate him from pursuing his complaint. Because of this finding of such a severe lack of integrity and professionalism, the Committee concluded that the only appropriate sanction was erasure from the Register of Architects.

RIBA Future Trends Survey results for March 2013

Richard Buxton — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:27:00 GMT

The RIBA Future Trends Workload Index increased in March 2013, rising to +19 from +16 in February 2013; the fourth consecutive monthly increase in a row, and a strong indication that architects in general remain more positive about future business prospects.

RIBA Director of Practice, Adrian Dobson said: "This increased optimism is so far not reflected in real, actual workloads, with our practices reporting that overall activity is stable but not as yet growing in year-on-year terms."

Large practices (51+ staff) continued to be the most optimistic about future workloads, but all size categories of practices returned positive workload forecast figures.

All the nations and regions in the UK except for Northern Ireland returned positive figures, with practices in London (balance figure +36) and the Midlands and East Anglia (balance figure +21) being the most positive at present.

The RIBA Future Trends Staffing Index fell marginally to a figure of zero in March 2013, down from +1 in February 2013. Whilst reported overall actual staffing levels are stable, practices remain very cautious about taking on additional permanent staff. There is continuing evidence from our survey data that practices are more confident about employing additional temporary staff to meet workload requirements.

In March 2013, the percentage of our respondents reporting that they had personally been under-employed in the last month was 26%.

Commenting on Staffing Trends, Dobson said: “The overall outlook appears to remain very mixed, and many respondents continue to report difficulties for clients in obtaining investment funding, intense fee competition and frustrations with delays in the planning system.”

PLAYscapes competition calls for entries

Richard Buxton — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:25:00 GMT

Building Trust International is calling for entries to a new design competition which seeks to find exciting design proposals to transform neglected parts of cities into interactive landscapes, encouraging public engagement, community involvement and sustainable adaptive reuse.

The competition challenges professional and student architects, designers, engineers and artists to provide a design solution which advocates creativity and promotes outside activity, increasing socialisation.

Contestants should site their proposals in an abandoned or forgotten urban site and develop PLAYscapes that create opportunity for interaction and play for citizens of all ages. Building Trust International will work alongside competition partners, local government and community groups to seek funding and planning for the winning design.

Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Intelligent use of space
Ease of construction and ability to replicate on other sites in other cities
The design’s originality and aesthetics
Sustainable approach
Clarity and comprehensibility of the design
Cost & affordability
Impact and community involvement

Registration deadline is the 29th July 2013.

For more information visit the competition website here