| BELGIUM | ||
| Number of inhabitants | 10,359,000 | |
| Number of architects | 11,500 | |
| Index of architects per inhabitant | 1.110‰ | |
|
Admittance
to the profession |
|||||
| Establishing of education standards or recognition of study plans | Yes | ||||
| Regular supervision by an independent body | No | ||||
| Relevant authorities | MINISTRY OF EDUCATION of each Region | ||||
| Recognised educational centers | INSTITUTS SUPÉRIEURS D'ARCHITECTURE (Superior Institutes of Architecture) LA CAMBRE (Brussels) and INTERCOMMUNALE (Brussels /Victor Horta/, Liège /Lambert Lombard/ and Mons), DEPARTMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE of HOGESCHOLEN (Highschools) of Antwerp and Limburg, SAINT-LUC /SINT-LUCAS SCHOOLS OF ARCHITECTURE of Gent/Brussels (flemmish), Liège/Tournai and Brussels (vallon); DEPARTMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE of the UNIVERSITIES of Leuven, Gent, Brussels, Liège and Louvain-la-Neuve, and of the POLYTECHNICAL FACULTY OF MONS. | ||||
| Duration of studies | 5 years. | ||||
| INTERNSHIP |
|||||
| Compulsory | Yes | ||||
| Is it structured and recorded? | Yes | ||||
| Duration | 2 years. | ||||
| EXAMINATION |
|||||
| Compulsory examination by an external authority to the education | No | ||||
| Examining body | |||||
| TITLE GRANTED |
|||||
| Academic title | ARCHITECT or INGENIEUR-ARCHITECT (Architect-Engineer) | Authority that grants the academic title | Ministry of Education | ||
| Job title | ARCHITECT | Authoriry that grants the job title | Orde van Architecten /Ordre des Architectes (Order of Architects) | ||
| Additional notes | |||||
| Professional practice |
|||||
| Regulated profession | Yes | ||||
| Inscription in register compulsory | Yes | ||||
| Registering entity | ORDE VAN ARCHITECTEN /ORDRE DES ARCHITECTES (Order of Architects) | ||||
| Law regulating profession | Act of 20/2/1939 on the protection of the title and the profession of architect, modified by the Royal Decrees of 6/7/1990 and of 29/3/1995. | ||||
| Additional notes | The profession of architect is totally independent of the constructor's. An architect can not be contracted by an constructor. | ||||
| ARCHITECT'S COMPETENCES |
|||||
| Description | With the exception of some work of very minor importance (which varies from Region to Region) the law of 1939 requires the involvment of an architect in any construction work needing a building permit, in redacting a project and monitoring the implementation of the works. Design of buildings (structures and installations in a certain measure), feasibility studies, drafting of tehcnical documentation, cost control, supervision and co-ordination of the construction, consulting and technical expertise. Architect who specialise in urban planning may perform Urban planning & development, design of urban structure, regional and national planning, landscape design, as well as the co-ordination of the realisation of this kind of projects. | ||||
| MECHANISM CHECKING LICENSE TO PRACTISE |
|||||
| Description | The observance of the above mentioned legal provisions is monitored in particular by the administration and by the Order of Architects through the "project author certificate", which is part of the building permit application file. Before applying for a building permit, the architect must submit this certificate to the Order of Architects to obtain the Order's approval stamp. | ||||
| ARCHITECT'S LIABILITY |
|||||
| Description | 10 years as of a hand-over. The professional responsibility is personal and public. | ||||
| Source | Articles 1792 and 2270 of the Civil Code. | ||||
| INSURANCE |
|||||
| Compulsory | Yes | ||||
| Description | Royal Decree 18 of April '85. Art. 15 of the Code of Ethics. | ||||
| FEES |
|||||
| Does a fee scale exist? | Yes | ||||
| Compulsory | No | ||||
| Recommended | Yes | ||||
| Published by | Orde van Architecten /Ordre des Architectes (Order of Arquitects) | ||||
| Additional notes | |||||
| CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT |
|||||
| Compulsory | No | ||||
| Is it audited? | No | ||||
| Organising body/ies | |||||
| Description | |||||
| CODE OF ETHICS |
|||||
| Does it exist? | Yes | ||||
| Constituting body | Orde van Architecten /Ordre des Architectes (Order of Arquitects) | ||||
| OTHER PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS |
|||||
| Are there others who may legally provide similar services to architects? | No | ||||
| Title | Competences | ||||
| Other professionals in the provision of architectural services | |||||
| Title | Competences | ||||
| ADDITIONAL NOTES |
|||||
| PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTURAL BODIES |
|||||
| Name of body | Competences | ||||
| ORDE VAN ARCHITEKTEN /ORDRE DES ARCHITECTES (Order of Architects) of each province. The 10 provincial Councils are federated in NATIONALE RAAD /CONSEIL NATIONAL (National Council) | Establishes the rules on professional conduct, sees to it that these are observed and respected, assures the honour, discretion and dignity of its members in their exercise of the profession, refers to the judicial authorities any infraction of the laws and regulations protecting the title and the profession, carries out a register of architects. | ||||
| KONINKLIJKE FEDERATIE DER ARCHITECTENVERENIGINGEN VAN BELGIË / FEDERATION ROYALE DES SOCIÉTÉS D'ARCHITECTES DE BELGIQUE (Royal Federation of the Societies of Architects of Belgium) | Promotion of architecture and town-planning, defence of professional social and cultural interests of its members on national and international level. | ||||
| Foreign architects |
|||||
| Can a foreign architect practice independently? | Yes | ||||
| LAW/S REGULATING PRACTICE |
|||||
| Royal Decrees 6/7/90 and 2973/95, modifications of the Act of 20/2/1939. | |||||
| REQUIREMENTS |
|||||
| Origin 1 | (EU citizens) Diploma in architecture as contemplated in the EU Directive 85/384/CE and a demostrable two-years practical experience. | ||||
| Origin 2 | (others) Royal decree needed for the equivalency of the foreign diploma and the right to practice | ||||
| Origin 3 | |||||
| PROCEDURE |
|||||
| Presentation of the application at the provincial Council of the Order of Architects. In case of providing services, application at the National Council. | |||||
| EXPENSES |
|||||
| Sworn translation of documents, membership (if permanent) or inscription in register (if provider of services). | |||||
| DOCUMENTATION |
|||||
| Origin 1 | (EU citizens) Certificate of nationality, certified copy of the diploma, certificate of having an insurance, certificate that you are not bankrupt, certificate of good customs. In the case of providing services, a certificate of legal exercise in the country of origin must be presented, as well as a certificate that accreditates that the diploma is listed in the Directive 85/384/CE. | ||||
| Origin 2 | |||||
| Origin 3 | |||||
| If foreign architects are authorised to work independently, what type of collaboration with national architects is recommended? | |||||
| In the event that foreign architects are not authorised to work independently, what is the stipulated formula of collaboration with national architects? | |||||
ADDITIONAL NOTES |
|||||
| Useful addresses | |
| ORDE VAN ARCHITECTEN, NATIONALE RAAD Livornostraat 160, Bus 2 1000 Brussel Tel: 32-2-647 04 94 Fax: 32-2-646 38 18 e-mail: nationale.raad@ordevanarchitekten.be URL: http://www.ordevanarchitecten.be |
FÉDERATION ROYALE DES SOCIÉTÉS D'ARCHITECTES DE BELGIQUE Rue Ernest Allard, 21 1000 Bruxelles Tel: 32-2-512 34 52 Fax: 32-2-502 82 04 e-mail: info@fab-arch.be URL: http://www.fab-arch.be/ |
| This research
has been carried out by the COAC for the UIA on behalf of its Spanish
Section. The information and data presented here are purely for informative purposes. In no case does the Col·legi d’Arquitectes de Catalunya take responsibility for the veracity of the contents. © Col·legi
d'Arquitectes de Catalunya, 2000 |