UAP POST - 4th Issue 2016-2017 UAP Post - 4 | Page 22

FEATURES
By Arch. Celso C. Nieves,
FUAP, EUAP
(This article is based on my experience
as a professional architect for four dec-
ades; and also from other written re-
sources. Although there are many varia-
tions, this is only basic and simply for
the understanding of the senior students
and young architects alike. This article
is only short, and more comprehensively
described if lectured).
The prime mover of a sound building
is the architect. He designs the build-
ing to be functional, strong in its form,
serviceable and artistically beautiful.
From the mind as an idea
This building is first conceptualized
and analyzed from an intangible or spiritual
respective expertise. The engineers must syn-
source call idea. This idea starts from the
chronize their technical designs using the
architectural plan as their basis. They must
mind of nobody else but the architect.
not deviate from these patterns, lest it may
To begin with, the owner or client gives the
create confusion and in-harmony during con-
architect a big blank space or lot. The architect
struction period. The architects and engineers
divides it into small spaces call rooms. Each
must profess to what they learn in college.
room has its own functions yet independent
from its other. It is synchronized and orga-
Webster dictionary defines profession as: a
nized according to its purpose or what it is
type of job that requires special education,
intended for. The wholeness of the building is
training, or skill; http://www.merriam-
harmonized for the convenience, satisfaction,
webster.com/dictionary/profession;
profes-
health, safety and usefulness of the occupants.
sional: done or given by a person who works
The architect applies his knowledge of the
in
a
particular
profession;
http://
theory of architecture in unity, coordination,
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/
proportion, color, balance, scale and rhythm.
professional. Architectural design is the skill
This is architectural design unified.
of the architects, without exception; and the
other professionals have their own too. No
The architect convenes with the owner
professionals could claim they can practice
showing the arrangements and advantages of
the work of the architects nor architects to
his design drawn in papers. The owner may
their professions.
comment, alter, or revise some according to
his taste but should be under the guidance of
From the time an architectural student
the
architect.
steps inside a de-
When the owner
signing room, he
accepts the design,
studies architectural
the architect makes
design alone, 3
the final drawing
hours a day, 5 days
of the floor plans,
a week, for the
elevations, sections
whole school year
and
perspective.
until he steps down
The perspective is
from that room after
a
3-dimensional
5 years. Half of his
drawing showing
student life is archi-
the image of the
tecturally designing
finished product of
of buildings of dif-
the building. The
ferent kinds. The
owner now can
other half is spent
look at the image
on other subjects
and has already the
like Math, Structur-
idea of his house
al Design, Profes-
or building. This
sional
Practice,
architectural plan is the start of the creation of
Theory, and others. Therefore, the architect is
the building .This is the only one the owner
already well-versed in the practice of his pro-
wants to comprehend and wants to see. He is
fession. How would the other engineers come
not interested in anything else. After all the
to the scenario? After finishing the architec-
drawings, the architect makes the specifica-
tural plan, the architect submits to civil engi-
tions and estimates. He draw all the details in
neer, the conceptualized structural floor plans
the plan. It is at this point that the the engi-
showing the positioning of the structural
neers come in. They are the civil or structural
members like the placements of the columns,
engineer, the electrical, sanitary and mechani-
beams and slabs, etc., including their suggest-
cal engineers. Using the architectural as the
ed sizes. The civil engineer designs the struc-
basis, pattern or foundation, they apply their
tural members using this plan as his basis. It is
THE ARCHITECT
“
Architecture as defined in
RA 9266 is a profession that
designs and construct build-
ings in its totality including the
environment. Therefore, the
best person who could super-
vise and/or manage the con-
struction of the building is the
designing architect.
”
22
The UAP Post • Vol. 42 Issue 04 • April—June 2017
ON THE MOVE
to the matter as a finish product.
up to him to indicate the number and sizes of
the steel bars, structural steel, concreting and
the method of construction, The architect
submits to the electrical engineer the location
of the lighting outlets, convenience outlets,
switches, electrical panel board, etc. The elec-
trical engineer wires the connections. He indi-
cates the sizes and physical features of the
wires, placement of the juncti