Key points of the Law on Architecture
Based on this premise, the Law’s preamble notes Europe’s legal precedents that form the basis for the declaration of architecture as an activity of general interest and its legislative implementation. The main points of the Law on Architecture are:
- The definition of architecture as an activity of general interest and the provision of measures for its promotion.
- The establishment of measures to place value on and promote the role of architecture in people’s wellbeing.
- Promotion and highlighting of the innovative role of architecture and its potential for encouraging sustainable development.
- Stipulation of the measures to foster and boost architectural quality.
- Promotion of quality in architecture by means of exemplary public building policies.
- Stipulation that the Government of Catalonia shall define the guide value for professional fees in the field of architecture.
- In architecture tender processes, evaluation of quality criteria shall prevail over price.
- Promotion of diversity in and young persons’ access to public procurement.
- Establishment of the procurement arrangements and value above which the public administrations must contract the architectural process and town planning instruments.
- Boosting of the profile of and appreciation for architecture by means of mechanisms such as the Premi Catalunya for Architecture and Built Heritage and the Council for Architectural and Planning Quality of Catalonia, and the creation of architectural quality consultative bodies for local administrations.
- The carrying out of public tenders by means of the two-round design competition with jury involvement arrangement.
- Promotion of the proper makeup of the juries in public procurement tender processes to guarantee selection of the best bid, as well as transparency and the obligatory disclosure of jury minutes and bids presented.
- Noting in the preamble that continuity between the design and works management is one of the aims of the law.
The Law on Architecture approved
The Law passed today highlights the public interest value of architecture and has the chief goal of re-establishing the social value and mission of architects to improve people’s wellbeing. The Law thus gives concrete form to one of the Association’s priorities for some years, one that has been the subject of a number of actions, such as the Sí a l'Arquitectura! (Yes to Architecture!) campaign and the 2016 Architecture Congress, amongst others.
The Architects’ Association dean, Lluís Comerón, declared himself convinced that ‘the Law will help architecture to create more optimal living conditions and environments, and also improve the working conditions of the professionals involved’.
Catalan Minister for Territory and Sustainability Josep Rull described the new legislation as a ‘consensus-based, pioneering, inclusive, modernising and structural’ law. He also noted how ‘the Law covers all the aspects and all the professions involved in the architectural creation process’.
The key points of the new Law
The new Law contains measures that the COAC regards as essential, such as the formulation of architectural training content in education, the creation of new criteria and technical content for administrative management and procurement and, in the field of public procurement, the pre-eminence in evaluation criteria of architectural quality over economic considerations and the establishment of benchmark guide values for calculating prices in public procurement tender processes.
Four years of hard work
The origins of the Law date back four years, when the Catalan Ministry of Territory and Sustainability decided, with the COAC’s support, to commence the process of its drawing up.
Over this time, it has enjoyed broad-based support from the majority of organisations involved, including all of Catalonia’s schools of architecture, Arquinfad, and Arquitectes per l’Arquitectura, in addition to professional institutes and associations.
Check out the detailed timeline
A top-drawer European law
This new legislation follows on from a number of European Union resolutions and recommendations advising the fostering of architectural quality and highlighting the added value contributed by the sector, from both an economic and cultural standpoint.
In this regard, the Law on Architecture is the very first legislation of its type in Spain and the second in Europe, after the law passed in France in 2016.
FULL TEXT
Read the law on architecture published on DOGC
La Delegación del Alt Empordà participa en el taller internacional de Arquitectura y vino en el Empordà
El Auditorio del Convento de los Capuchinos (Calle del Rec Arnau, 8, Figueres) acoge este viernes 14 de julio, a las 16 horas, la sesión abierta del Workshop Internacional de Arquitectura y Vino en el Empordà que cierra la segunda edición de este curso organizado por las escuelas de arquitectura francesas de Montpellier, Bretagne y Marne la Vallée, y la Escuela Politécnica Superior de la Universidad de Girona.
En el transcurso de esta sesión un jurado conformado por los profesores del workshop, miembros de la DO Empordà, miembros del COAC, y representantes del Ayuntamiento de Figueres evaluarán las propuestas que han realizado los estudiantes, en esta presentación pública.
El objetivo del workshop es crear un espacio de reflexión y de valorización del patrimonio arquitectónico y paisajístico del Empordà, trabajando sobre la temática del vino que ha marcado tanto este territorio. Se trata de interrogarse sobre la convivencia entre el proceso industrial moderno, alineado con estándares internacionales, y el amor al territorio y una manera de hacer ancestrales que ha marcado la cultura y el paisaje ampurdaneses.
La Delegació de l’Alt Empordà participa en el taller internacional d’Arquitectura i vi a l’Empordà
L'Auditori Convent dels Caputxins (Carrer del Rec Arnau, 8, Figueres) acull aquest divendres 14 de juliol, a les 16 hores, la sessió oberta del Workshop Internacional d’Arquitectura i Vi a l’Empordà que tanca la segona edició d’aquest curs organitzat per les escoles d'arquitectura franceses de Montpellier, Bretagne i Marne la Vallée, i l’Escola Politècnica Superior de la Universitat de Girona.
En el decurs d’aquesta sessió un jurat conformat pels professors del workshop, membres de la DO Empordà, membres del COAC, i representants de l’Ajuntament de Figueres avaluaran les propostes que han realitzat els estudiants, en aquesta presentació pública.
L'objectiu del workshop és crear un espai de reflexió i de valorització del patrimoni arquitectònic i paisatgístic de l'Empordà, treballant sobre la temàtica del vi que ha marcat tant aquest territori. Es tracta d'interrogar-se sobre la convivència entre el procés industrial modern, alineat amb estàndards internacionals, i l'amor al territori i una manera de fer ancestrals que ha marcat la cultura i el paisatge empordanesos.