Croatian
architects are addressing this demand to the Croatian Parliament, the
Government, local authorities and general public, so that they may bring aims
set up by the politics of architecture to realisation by actively implementing
policies on building and environment.
Ten Proposals on National Politics of Architecture
1. Public Participation
It is the right and obligation of every individual to strive for the quality of
the built environment. State and local administration must ensure the
implementation of the stated rights and obligations. The educational system
must increase the collective awareness of the quality and importance of built
environment.
2. Importance of Architecture
Architecture is a field of national interest, part of recognisable
characteristics and national culture. It is necessary that architecture,
city-planning and landscape architecture are considered a decisive element in
the forming of healthy and well-preserved environment.
3. Heritage
Protection, care and improvement of architectural heritage, cultural
landscapes created for centuries, should give an impetus to the awareness of
general public and authorities about regional and local identity, as well as
the quality of the built and natural environment. It is necessary to base the
contact of historical and contemporary architectural expression on quality and
equal terms.
4. Sustainable Development
A strategy of building development should ensure durability and quality of
design and construction, taking into consideration financial, economic and
environmental acceptability.
5. Public Investments, Public Procurement
The system of public procurement with public investors must, selecting
architect, ensure choice based on quality criteria in design, technical and
economic sense. Public buildings must be examples of high-quality architecture.
6. Architectural Competitions
By encouraging architectural competitions as democratic and transparent
system, diversity of ideas, creativity and innovation are achieved. The
century-long tradition of competitions in Croatian architecture, as well as in
other parts of Europe, proves competitions to be the optimal kind of selection,
resulting in good design.
7. Legal Framework
The legal framework regulating building must be simple and efficient and it
should enable the public participation in making decisions with influence to
the quality of architecture and built environment. Architects demand a
systematic reform of entire legislation that regulates space and environment.
8. Education of Architects
Education and continual professional development of architects must be
multidisciplinary and directed towards competent taking of professional
responsibility. Five years of university education and two years of practical
training are minimal requirements for obtaining a license to practice
architecture.
9. Responsibility and Status of Architects
Architects are responsible towards society and environment. To fulfill
their responsibilities, the establishment of independent Chamber of Architects,
like in other European countries, is a necessity.
10. Building Culture
Building culture is a permanent process of public dialogue on creating
built environment; it refers to everything built, and not only to architecture.
It is necessary to initiate processes on all social levels in order to improve
the quality of the built environment, which has to achieve a balanced
relationship between the public and the private sphere. Founding the Institute
for Architecture is an important element of the culture of building.