International Union Of Architects

Professional Practice
Beeravelli Chetan A/2076/08 B.ARCH SEC-A SPA 2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................................... 2 INTERNATIONAL UNION OF ARCHITECTS (uia) ....................................................................................... 3 About UIA- Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 3 Mission and structure of UIA .............................................................................................................. 4 UIA Commissions ................................................................................................................................ 5 UIA gold medal and prizes .................................................................................................................. 5 Triennial congress ............................................................................................................................... 6

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF ARCHITECTS (UIA)

About UIA- Introduction The International Union of Architects was founded in Lausanne (Switzerland) on 28th June 1948, to unite the architects of the world without regard to nationality, race, religion, or architectural doctrine, and to federate their national organisations. It is a federation of national professional organisations called Member Sections. UIA represents 1,300,000 architects worldwide through professional organisations of architects in 130 countries and territories. UIA is a democratic structure and is structured in such a way that it remains in permanent contact with professionals and their representatives, and manages in a democratic and collegial way the relations of the same at the international level. Four decision-making levels: a) The UIA General Assembly: The Unions supreme legislative body, the UIA General Assembly meets every three years. It is made up of delegations from all the Unions Member Sections and the UIA Council members. b) The UIA Council: It consists of the Bureau members and four representatives from each of the five Regions of the UIA. It meets twice a year. c) The UIA Bureau: It consists of the President, the Immediate Past President, the Secretary General, the Treasurer, and the five Vice-Presidents. Each Vice-President is responsible for the professional activities in his/her Region. It meets twice a year, in between Council meetings. d) The UIA Member Sections: The UIA Member Section in a country is the most representative professional organisation of architects in that country. Each Member Section is independent on a national level and is, vis-a-vis the UIA, responsible for its relationship with governments, the other Member Sections, and the Union itself. The UIA Member Sections are grouped geographically according to five regions: Region I - Western Europe Region II - Eastern Europe and the Middle East Region III - The Americas Region IV - Asia and Oceania Region V Africa In representing the world community of architects and promoting their activities, the UIA works in co-operation with high-ranking organisations around the world. Intergovernmental institutions with which the UIA remains the only organisation officially recognised in the field of architecture: a) UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation - The UIA is the only world organisation of architects that has formal consulting relations with UNESCO - During its world congresses, the UIA awards the only prize for architecture granted byUNESCO, to recognise a brilliant project by a student of architecture b) UN-HABITAT: United Nations Centre for Human Settlements c) UNEP: United Nations Environment Programme d) UNECE: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe e) UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organisation 3

f) WHO: World Health Organisation g) WTO: World Trade Organisation h) IOC: International Olympic Committee Non-governmental organisations with which the UIA develops interdisciplinary relations: a) b) c) d) e) f) ISOCARP: International Society of City Region Planners IFLA: International Federation of Landscape Architects ICOMOS: International Council of Monuments and Sites ISC20, ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on 20th Heritage DoCoMoMo, Documentation and Conservation of buildings, sites, and neighbourhoods of the Modern Movement AU, Emergency Architects Foundation

Regional organisations of architects: a) b) c) d) e) ACE, Architects' Council of Europe FPAA, Pan-American Federation of Associations of Architects ARCASIA, Architects' Regional Council Asia AUA, African Union of Architects UMAR, Union of Mediterannean Architects

Mission and structure of UIA

UIA contributes to three main domains of architecture through its commissions namely: a) Architectural education b) Professional practise c) Architectural education Within the framework of the UIA work programmes, a full range of specialists delve into specific aspects of the architect's intervention in society and the built environment. Their publications and seminars offer the global architectural community pertinent, in-depth studies. 14 global or regional work programmes are structured according to six general themes: a) Sustainable architecture : architecture for sustainable future and Renewble energy resources b) Architecture and Society c) Urbanisation d) Habitat e) Cultural identity f) Facilities Through appointment by the UIA Member Section in their home country, all architects are invited to participate in the UIA work programmes and contribute to the development of their profession. UIA continuing professional development programme is initiated by UIA with the goal of ensuring access to quality continuing education courses for all the world's architects.

UIA also designates members for the ad hoc committees for a pre-determined period to direct UIA activities in a specific sector like future vision and strategies; communication; mobility; responsible architecture. Also there are joint committees which deal with a specific professional sector or field of intervention in collaboration with one or more partner organisations. They are: UNESCO-UIA Validation Council for Architectural Education and UIA-DAPA-GAMSAU/MAP - Architectural heritage.

UIA Commissions
Architectural education : To ensure that young architects are capable of meeting the professional and cultural challenges of the modern world and in response to the increasing complexity of the architect's role in society, the UIA, together with UNESCO, created and promotes the UNESCO-UIA Charter on Architectural Education. Professional practice: The UIA Accord on Recommended International Standards of Professionalism in Architectural Practice sets out what the UIA considers to be the best practices for the architectural profession and the standards to which it should aspire. Further developed through a series of specific guidelines, the Accord constitutes a set of norms currently promoted in relations with government bodies around the world. International Competitions: The International Union of Architects is mandated by UNESCO to oversee the observance of the conditions for launching and carrying out international architecture and town planning competitions, as defined by the UNESCO-UIA regulations for international competitions in architecture and town planning, adopted by UNESCOs General Conference

UIA gold medal and prizes

The UIA Gold Medal and Prizes are awarded every three years during the Congress of the International Union of Architects. These honorific UIA Prizes were created in 1961 to reward professionals whose merit, talent or actions are of international renown. The prestigious Gold Medal was initiated by the UIA Council in 1984, to honour an architect (or group of architects) having distinguished themselves through their work and professional practice by the quality of services rendered to man and society. The recipient receives a medal in solid gold. This unique and international prize, free of any national or private interests whatsoever, is the supreme honour awarded by the UIA and the highest recognition that an architect may receive from his fellow architects. It is awarded to a living architect in recognition of his achievements and contributions made throughout his life and career to the benefit of man and society, and the promotion of the art of architecture. The Gold Medal is ceremoniously awarded every three years during the UIA World Congress. The first medal was awarded to Hassan Fathy (Egypt); the second to Reima Pietila (Finland) in 1987; the third to Charles Correa (India) in 1990, and the fourth to Fumihiko Maki (Japan) in 1993. Each UIA Member Section may nominate a single candidate for the Gold Medal. Nominees must, in principle, have been recipients of a significant architectural award. UIA Prizes, of a thematic nature, are each dedicated to the memory of one of the early Presidents of the Union, whose name they carry.

The Sir Patrick Abercrombie Prize, for town planning and territorial development; The Auguste Perret Prize, for applied technology in architecture; 5

The Jean Tschumi Prize, or architectural criticism and/or architectural education; The Sir Robert Matthew Prize, for the improvement in the quality of human settlements.

All UIA Member Sections may submit candidature files, on the condition that the candidate is a member of a UIA Section. UIA also launched the Vassilis Sgoutas Prize in 2008. Created on the initiative of the UIA Past President, whose name it carries, it is designed to highlight actions or realisations that contribute in an efficient manner to the struggle against the misery of communities living under the poverty line. It is awarded to architects or teams that have contributed to the significant improvement of the living conditions of the most underprivileged human beings, to their habitat and their environment.

Triennial congress
The UIA Congress takes place every three years and brings together thousands of architects and architecture students from countries throughout the world. The Congress centres around a chosen theme which eminent personalities from the international architectural community are invited to develop and the host Member Section is responsible for its preparation. Debates, exhibitions, visits and festivals provide the unique platform for the exchange of cultural contacts between fellow professionals and students. 24 Congresses have taken place since 1948. The next Congress will be held in Durban (South Africa) in 2014. In 2017, the Congress will be held in Seoul (Korea).

Bibliography: http://www.uia-architectes.org/en/qui-sommes-nous#.UW52Yi9g8vY http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Union_of_Architects