No professional degree required for practicing Architecture?

In India, the Supreme Court recently said, “Unlike Doctors and Lawyers, now a person does not require a professional degree and be registered under the Architects Act to undertake work related to Architecture.”

To what extent is this statement reliable? Reporter Prachi Patel talked to students, graduates, lecturers, and Architects to know how people are reacting.

Vidur Muni, 22, a graduate, India, said: “This is a step in the wrong direction and if there is no requirement for certain certificates, then the results can be disastrous with the very poor work quality.”  

Devanshi Kakkad, 23, alumni of Ganpat University, said: “It’s not reliable. It’s underestimating one’s talent and not valuing the person’s hard work and time.

Udit Dimri, 23, a student, India, said: “The Supreme Court has stated what was already there in the architects’ act since its dawn. I think they should reform the act so that it prohibits the so-called untrained individuals from doing the work that an architect is supposed to do.

By sharing the views on the statement, a well-known senior architect, Ar. Bimal Mistry, said: “There should be proper potential to get into the field of Architecture as medicine and law. But now the non-professionals are also trying to get into this field, which is not good. Architecture is not just about drawing a plan but you need to look at the many other aspects as well

On the contrary, senior designing professor Mr. Aashish Gor said: “If a person who has not gone through formal Architecture studies but has creative designing skills, then he certainly can practice as an architect. Qualified Architects do not need to worry but rather trust their abilities. And most of the great Architects, who don’t have a formal degree in architecture, have done great work all over the world.