| AUSTRIA | ||
| Number of inhabitants | 8,080,000 | |
| Number of architects | 3,104 | |
| Index of architects per inhabitant | 0.384‰ | |
|
Admittance
to the profession |
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| Establishing of education standards or recognition of study plans | Yes | ||||
| Regular supervision by an independent body | No | ||||
| Relevant authorities | "Study commission" (body of universities) pursuant to the federal university study law, Universitätsstudiengesetz. There is no regular supervision, but the study plans are submitted for opinion also to independent bodies (e.g. chamber of architects and chartered engineering consultants). | ||||
| Recognised educational centers | FACULTIES OF ARCHITECTURE at public Universities. | ||||
| Duration of studies | 10 Semesters | ||||
| INTERNSHIP |
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| Compulsory | Yes | ||||
| Is it structured and recorded? | Yes | ||||
| Duration | 3 years after study; at least 1 year as an employee, min. 1 year on the site. | ||||
| EXAMINATION |
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| Compulsory examination by an external authority to the education | Yes | ||||
| Examining body | Defined by law, controlled by Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labor (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit) | ||||
| TITLE GRANTED |
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| Academic title | Technical University: DIPLOMINGENIEUR (Engineer of Architecture); Art University: MAGISTER ARCHITECTURAE | Authority that grants the academic title | The University (based on university study law, Universitätsstudiengesetz) | ||
| Job title | ARCHITECT (only licensed persons according to the Architects/Consulting Engineers Act) | Authoriry that grants the job title | Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labor (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit), according to the Architects/Chartered Engineering Consultants Act. | ||
| Additional notes | |||||
| Professional practice |
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| Regulated profession | Yes | ||||
| Inscription in register compulsory | Yes | ||||
| Registering entity | CHAMBERS OF ARCHITECTS AND CHARTERED ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS | ||||
| Law regulating profession | Architects/Chartered Engineering Consultants Act 156/1994 regulates the profession. Architects/Chartered Engineering Consultant Chambers Act 157/1994 regulates the organisation of professional bodies. | ||||
| Additional notes | Architects may have a license active (practising) or resting (non-practising). In the latter case, they are not allowed to practice. | ||||
| ARCHITECT'S COMPETENCES |
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| Description | Design of buildings (all types), structures, installations, feasibility studies, drafting of technical documentation related to the designs, control of construction costs, supervision and co-ordination of the construction/realisation of the designs. Urban planning and development, design of urban structure, regional and national planning, landscape design, supervision and co-ordination of the realisation of planning and landscape projects. Design of interiors, furnishings, fittings and objects. Appraisal services, consulting and technical expertise. Project management, power of representation at authorities, etc. | ||||
| MECHANISM CHECKING LICENSE TO PRACTISE |
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| Description | When the building permit is processed, the local authorities check whether the architect is licensed and legally authorised to practice. Architects prove their authorisation by their official seal or by proving that they have informed the chamber of their cross-border services (e.g. architects coming from other EU countries). | ||||
| ARCHITECT'S LIABILITY |
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| Description | 2 years as of the hand-over as warranty, and up to 30 years for damages. | ||||
| Source | Civil Code (Allgemeines Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch). | ||||
| INSURANCE |
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| Compulsory | Yes | ||||
| Description | Skeleton contracts between the chambers and the insurance institutions. | ||||
| FEES |
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| Does a fee scale exist? | Yes | ||||
| Compulsory | No | ||||
| Recommended | Yes | ||||
| Published by | The Federal Chamber of Architects and Chartered Engineering Consultants | ||||
| Additional notes | There are different fee scales (for architects' services, for project controlling, for concurrent supervision) All the scales consist of a general part and a specific one which is different for various scales. The fee scales for architects regulate different areas: Building construction and interior design - bases for calculation are the costs of the building; Landscape design - basis is the planning area; Urban and regional planning - basis is the planning area and the complexity. Expertise and appraisal - basis is the value of new building or of the area. | ||||
| CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT |
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| Compulsory | Yes | ||||
| Is it audited? | No | ||||
| Organising body/ies | Chambers of Architects and Chartered Engineering Consultants that have special educational institutions, and other bodies. | ||||
| Description | |||||
| CODE OF ETHICS |
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| Does it exist? | Yes | ||||
| Constituting body | Defined by the Federal Chamber of Architects and Chartered Engineering Consultants. Controlled by the regional Chambers and in the second instance by the Federal Chamber itself. | ||||
| OTHER PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS |
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| Are there others who may legally provide similar services to architects? | No | ||||
| Title | Competences | ||||
| Other professionals in the provision of architectural services | |||||
| Title | Competences | ||||
| INGENIEURKONSULENT (Chartered Engineering Consultant) | Partially same rights as architects, but are not allowed to substitute architects. | ||||
| INGENIEUR (Engineer /Technical Offices) | Services in engineering and scientific disciplines (according to the industrial law "Gewerbeordnung"), but without the legal status of architects and consulting enginners (e.g. they are not authorised to redact public documents). They are members of the Chamber of Commerce. | ||||
| BAUMEISTER (Licensed builder) | Authorised to plan and build according to the industrial code/law. They are members of the Chamber of Commerce. | ||||
| ADDITIONAL NOTES |
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| In Austria practising is only permitted according to laws. For the construction sector, these are Architects/Consulting Engineers Act or Industrial Code. | |||||
| PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTURAL BODIES |
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| Name of body | Competences | ||||
| BUNDESKAMMER DER ARCHITEKTEN UND INGENIEURKONSULENTEN (Federal Chamber of Architects and Chartered Engineering Consultants). There are 4 regional Chambers covering all Austrian States | Taking care of interests of its members (fee scales, opinions on laws, liability insurance). Improving of outline conditions for planning (e.g. promoting architectural competition based on quality criteria). Services for members (counselling), Communication (information to publicity and builders). | ||||
| ARCHITEKTURZENTRUM WIEN | Cultural affairs | ||||
| ARCHITEKTURSTIFTUNG (Architecture Foundation) | Consists of many other architectural unions. | ||||
| Foreign architects |
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| Can a foreign architect practice independently? | Yes | ||||
| LAW/S REGULATING PRACTICE |
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| Architects Directive 85/384, EEA-Architects Decree (BGBI. 694/1995), GATS | |||||
| REQUIREMENTS |
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| Origin 1 | (EU Countries) Architectural qualification, internship/professional experience, legal practice in the country of origin, clean disciplinary record, solvency, evidence of nationality. | ||||
| Origin 2 | (other GATS Countries) Architectural qualification equivalent to the Austrian one, internship/professional experience, successful completion of additional examinations posterior to studies, clean disciplinary record, solvency, evidence of nationality | ||||
| Origin 3 | (Countries outside GATS): Neither temporary practice nor establishment. | ||||
| PROCEDURE |
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| Apply at the regional Chamber of Architects and Chartered Engineering Consultants. | |||||
| EXPENSES |
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| Sworn translation of documents. Establishment: registration fee, other public fees. Temporary practice: some chambers demand registration fees. | |||||
| DOCUMENTATION |
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| Origin 1 | (EU Countries) Diploma in architecture according to the Directive, evidence of 3 years of practical experience, proof of no bankrupcy in the last 5 years, an extract of the register of convictions (register of crime record), evidence of nationality, a certificate stating that the person is lawfully pursuing the activities in question in the Member State where he/she is established. In the case of providing services, the architect must inform the Chamber about the service in question. In the case of establishment, a certificate is requested stating that the person is informed on the laws and professional ethics of Austrian architects. | ||||
| Origin 2 | (Other GATS Countries) Approval of architectural education, evidence of 3 years of practical experience, proof of no bankrupcy in the last 5 years, an extract of the register of convictions (register of crime record), evidence of nationality. Temporary practice (cross-border services) without presence of the architect: no limitations on national treatment for pure planning (design) services. All rules as for Austrian citizens, the sumbnission of plans for approval by the competent authorities requires co-operation with an established supplier of planning services. Establishment: all rules as for Austrian citizens, and besides the mentioned documents, a certificate is requested stating that the person is informed on the laws and professional ethics of Austrian architects. | ||||
| Origin 3 | (Countries outside GATS) See above. | ||||
| If foreign architects are authorised to work independently, what type of collaboration with national architects is recommended? | It is recommmended a collaboration which guarantees that the complicated legal situation in Austria is known and taken into consideration. | ||||
| In the event that foreign architects are not authorised to work independently, what is the stipulated formula of collaboration with national architects? | Neither temporary practice (cross-border services) nor establishment. | ||||
ADDITIONAL NOTES |
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| Useful addresses | |
| BUNDESMINISTERIUM FÜR BILDUNG, WISSENSCHAFT UND KULTUR Minoritenplatz 5 1014 Wien Tel: 43-1-531 200 Fax: 43-1-533 7797 e-mail: ministerium@bmbwk.gv.at |
ARCHITEKTURZENTRUM WIEN Museumsplatz 1 1070 Wien Tel: 43-1-522 31 15 Fax: 43-1-522 31 17 e-mail: office@azw.at URL: www.azw.at |
| ARCHITEKTURSTIFFTUNG ÖSTERREICH Krugerstraße 17/2 Wien Tel: 43-1-513 08 95 Fax: 43-1-513 08 95-4 e-mail: aaf@aaf.or.at URL: www.aneta.at |
BUNDESMINISTERIUM FÜR WIRTSCHAFT UND ARBEIT Stubenring 1 1010 Wien Tel: 43-1-711 000 e-mail: service@bmwa.gv.at |
| BUNDESKAMMER DER ARCHITEKTEN UND INGENIEURKONSULENTEN Karlsgasse 9 1040 Wien Tel: 43-1-505 58 07 Fax: 43-1-505 32 11 e-mail: office@arching.at URL: www.arching.at |
BUNDESKAMMER DER ARCHITEKTEN UND INGENIEURKONSULENTEN Karlsgasse 9 1040 Wien Tel: 43-1-505 58 07 Fax: 43-1-505 32 11 e-mail: office@arching.at |
| 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 |