The Chamber of Architects will appear in Armenia

ArmInfo. In Armenia, the Union of Architects will be transformed into the Chamber of  Architects. Corresponding amendments to the law "On Architectural Activities" and a package of accompanying laws were made by the Armenian Parliament at the meeting on September 13.

According to Narek Sargsyan, Chairman of the State Committee for  Urban Development, the package presented in the first reading was  adopted by the National Assembly of the previous convocation, but did  not manage to pass all three readings. Now the document in the  updated form is again presented in the first reading. The document  stipulates that as a result of the reorganization, the Chamber of  Architects will receive a number of additional functions.  

Thus, the Chamber will be called upon to protect the professional  interests of specialists. Members of the Chamber must have the  appropriate length of service, having passed the necessary  examinations. In addition, the architects will have to periodically  take refresher courses in such specialties as the history of world  architecture, the history of Armenian architecture, the history of  modern architecture, engineering structures, architectural typology,  architectural principles, etc. The bill provides for the maintenance  of the Register of Architects by the Chamber, ensuring their  protection, applying measures of responsibility for various types of  offenses, including violation of ethical standards. 

The bill provides for the use of two types of architects - those who  hold a diploma and those who hold the title of architect. In the  second case, it is expected that the architect will be granted a  license by the Chamber. Architects will take exams, and get licenses  for the appropriate classes - from 1 to 4. Prior to the adoption of  the current law, the architects did not bear any responsibility. The  Chamber will have mechanisms for reparation to third parties. The  Chamber will also engage in the protection of the interests of  architects from the dictates of developers. She will be responsible  for the activities of the architect, and make decisions on the  provision or denial of his license. Activities of the Chamber will be  carried out on a voluntary basis. The executive body of the Chamber  will be the Council.  In the future, as Sarkisian noted, the Chamber  will also deal with issues related to insurance of architectural  activities. As noted by the speaker, the need to adopt the document  is also linked to national security and environmental protection.