Responsibility for building culture
Usefulness, endurance and beauty. These classical principles of the art of building are foremost the responsibility not only of architects but also that of investors and politicians, who bear an obligation to good architecture, interior decoration, landscape architecture and urban planning.

Preserved examples of architecture dating back some six thousand years belong, amongst others, to the most important pieces of evidence of human heritage. Since the early beginnings of architecture in Mesopotamia and Egypt, ranging through architectural designs in ancient Greece and Rome, in Asia and the Americas, to the buildings of the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque.
Social and political developments, religion, scientific and technical progress, available construction materials, changes in taste, modification of foreign culture influences and various other numerous impacts, have defined building styles of each age.

Most of the important buildings come close to keeping in line with three basic principles of the art of architecture - even though construction itself differed - these being the ones named by the Roman architect Vitruvius some 2000 years ago in his work "De architectura": usefulness, endurance and beauty. It is quite simple to confirm that the ideal concept of usefulness and beauty has changed over the years by comparing buildings, but that does not in any way belittle the everlasting significance of these basic principles. Architecture, together with a technical and stylistic dimension, has a social note as well.

Architecture is a part of the immediate surroundings of man; it is all-present and thus impacts both mood and judgment of the individual in general. That is why the demand for quality living and a well-shaped construction of surroundings are eternal and justified. Man must find himself the focus of architecture; it always mirrors social and living conditions. One should add to these socially set conditions a care for the environment, as well, sparing utilisation of land, and preservation of existing architectural values. The responsibility for good architecture, a harmonious landscaping and urban/city planning rests with all those involved in construction but, first and foremost, with politicians, investors and designers. Politicians bear a responsibility, because, under law, development programmes and initial construction designs generate building activity. Investors, both private and public ones, do so as well, because, at the end of the day, they decide within the scope of their building rights, who, what and how will design and construct. It is only the architect who, besides technical and organisational skills, offers design capabilities and is, at the same time, a confidante of the investor, the public and warranty for environmental preservation.

In the Statutes of European parliaments, not without cause, it is said of architects: "Architecture is of public interest and the quality of a constructed environment is of the greatest importance for the well being of the people. It is the architect's assignment to look to this quality being maintained."


The Architect - confidante and adviser to the investor
Architects, as investors' representatives, vouch the investor's influence in every stage of design and construction. They keep investors from making wrong decisions and protect them from exploitation. The architect's independence is bias for objective quality control.

The unambiguous separation of design from execution, including the architects/designer's independence from the construction company executing the job, is the ultimate principle in of an architect's work. This statement is based on the convincement that the highest possible level of quality can only be warranted by independent designing and construction supervision. In any case, such a division of tasks has proven itself successful in many other fields of human activity that have lead all the way to a democratic organisation of the state. A free architect is not just a chartered and paid designer. He is at the same time an adviser and the investor's confidante, at whose disposal he places all his knowledge acquired through education and experience. It is he who instils the investor's wishes into the design, finds original solutions for the construction assignment, prepares the nomination of the constructor and tends to the building all the way through to its completion. He is the one who warrants the investor's influence in all stages of the design's execution, protects the investor's interests in every respect, safeguards him from making incorrect decisions and keeps him from being exploited.

Only the architect is authorised to expound all possible construction solutions liable to be taken into consideration. This also applies to interior decoration, landscaping and urban planning. An entrepreneur, who, at the same time, offers a project design and its execution, will advertise flat rate prices as well as "a one man design and construction" approach. This statement "a one man design and construction" approach seems both practical and economical, but is, as a rule, basically incorrect. Flat rate prices do not automatically vouch the best solution. The thorough adherence to construction costs can most easily and in detail be ascertained by an architect, if some of the cost queries are gone over prior to construction commencement, and, some of the construction work is on offer under a flat rate. Only in this manner will bidding on the construction market be utilised to the best benefit of the investor. When the investor accepts a "one man" design and execution project, he not only loses a part of his own right to influence, but also needs to forfeit, due to conflict of interest, objective advice. In this way, as opposed to an independent architect, the construction entrepreneur (who also designs) keeps his profit margin in mind, and stylistic and quality criteria are place second to it. Assigning design and construction to one and the same entrepreneur always turns out costly for the investor.

Contrary to this, the independent architect takes into account functional, stylistic and social aspects also, besides the unquestionably important point of remuneration. Only in a mutually confident air of cooperation with the architect - designer and consultant, independent of a construction company - is the investor able to realise all his wishes in an optimal manner. An objective control of quality can only be warranted by an architect. And last but not least, building without an independent architect is by no means the best cost solution. A construction company entrepreneur both designs or orders designs, but the cost is then calculated into the flat rate price, and the independent architect only publicly proclaims his fee. The main constructor who draws up the design plans will not therefore build at a lower price, because he will, from the very start, incorporate the additional risk into his flat rate price.

Certified education and clear warranty rules offer the investor security
An extensive and intensive education warrant an architect's high expertise. In further education, exchange of experience, follow up of expert literature and participation in architectural competition, architects are, at all times, well informed on the state of technology and their art.

The title «authorised/certified architect», «certified interior decoration architect», «certified landscape architect», «authorised urban planning architect» are all protected by law (The Croatian Chamber of Architects and Construction Engineers Act, National Gazette of the Republic of Croatia, 47/98). These are titles that may only be used by those whose names are logged in the appropriate listings at the Chamber. Required suppositions for logging onto the listings are: evidence of university course completion and a three year practical experience. Design and construction procedures require a wide range of technical know-how, touching upon other and varying scientific fields.

Only an adequate wide scope of education allows for the needed qualification. That is why the architect is always obliged to further his education, so as to be well informed on the state of the arts in both the fields of technology and science, at all times. This is achieved through seminars and other forms of further in-service training, exchange of experience, a constant follow up of expertise literature and participation in architectural competitions. In construction some procedures may allow damage to occur under specific conditions. The architect warrants for any design and supervision mistakes made. He is obliged to be insured for just such cases. Clear legal rules, as well as obligatory insurance of the architect, mean additional security for the investor. The investor, therefore, need not worry that the architect shall evade his obligations in case of insolvency, which is no rare case with construction entrepreneurs.

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