In todays metro scenario we are seeing some low points where now things have gone pretty sub standard. And so much so that if things are to be audited today 90% of these will fail. There are reasons for it and one is not being true to the profession.
What it means? How one becomes untrue to the profession?
When an Architect does not perform his duties assigned and defaults from his professional responsibility he or she becomes untrue to profession. Now some defaulting actions highlighted here...
An Architect is hired as part of the project to make the project happen. Stopping or slowing the project due to following reasons makes the Architect defaulter.
1. By way of vested interest and irresponsible review by Reviewing Architect of GC or implementing agency. Pan India projects suffer because of this. Project will progress fast if reviewing Architect tries to push the things towards completion by improvising instead of repeated rejection. Most GC Architects shoves off the responsibility on DDC.
2. By way of poor design, unsupervised design and non coordinated design. In DDC original design when coordination is missing things go hay wire. Mistakes go either unchecked and delay the project or correcting designs comments after comments delays the project.
3. The attitude problem. Multiple Architects on same metro projects develop an attitude problem and stop looking into merits. Instead they work against each other forgetting that things are not moving.
4. Business model by DDC. Costs are cut on essentials quality checks and manpower often resulting in DDC making submissions half cooked and late. DDC keeps on changing design delivery schedules and project suffers.
5. Poor change management. We talked about it earlier and a simple thing is handled so badly that everybody suffers instead of making money.
6. DDC thinks it is ok if drawings, specifications and BOQs does not match. So much have been cut pasted from DMRC contracts that no design innovation can be done only because Architect never read specs or BOQ prepared by others.
7. Worst part is DDC Architect showing images downloaded from internet in presentations to clients. And their drawings are not no where near to what was shown. Detailing is another problem for which no metro DDC has time.
8. Last but very important. The clients in metro want world class works, go with low specification and costs, play with tenders with vested interest and do poor implementation of works even if design was right.
My messages may be boring, long and irrelevant to most. But almost 30 years into profession has given me an asset of speaking on issues without fear or favour. In todays world, being true to the profession is not easy. But for a better future, being true to one's own being is important. We as Architects are better off financially than most of our Indian population. While we work, we need to think where we are taking India. The road is long and slippery and you need steady conscience as true professional.