What are the tasks of the architect? When should an architect be involved? What are the design phases? When do you need a building permit? The architect will answer.
If you were to build a new building or want to transform or rebuild an existing building, you must use the help of an architect. The architect must have chamber membership and design authorization. The architect's authorization can be found in the directory of the Hungarian Chamber of Architects you can query.
Construction of a new building
If you want to build a new building, i.e. you are planning an investment in a green field, you should consult with an architect before choosing a plot, since not all plots can be built, and there are many changing parameters even within construction plots. which limits what you can build on the lot.
The architect examines your needs, the size of the lot, its geographical features, and the regulatory environment. Based on his knowledge of these, he proposes an installation concept. If you agree on it, he prepares a sketch plan, which more precisely includes the rooms of the building to be designed, its dimensions, the materials to be used, structures, the terrain alignment.
The draft plan should be consulted with the chief architect of the settlement, because a statement from him will be required in the future, according to which the building to be designed fits into the settlement image. So the task of the architect is to ensure that the building takes into account the character of the environment, the street and the part of the settlement.
Conversion of an existing building
When rebuilding an existing building, the situation is more complicated, as it has to be examined architecturally and statically, so the first task is to clarify whether the existing building is suitable for the client's purposes, whether it is stable , can it be converted economically. A well-thought-out reconstruction can save a lot of money (demolition, construction), but in some cases, adaptation to existing structures only complicates the construction task. In such cases, it is also necessary to involve a structural designer, because he can accurately assess the condition of the structure.
Authorize
If the sketch plan is accepted by both the customer and the chief architect, a licensing planor, in the case of residential buildings, a simple notification plan must be prepared .
On the one hand, these design documents contain more detailed information (e.g. layering, precise construction materials, coverings, etc.), on the other hand, they are addressed to the authorities, who issue a building permit or acknowledge the notification based on this, therefore, they officially consent to the planned construction activity. In order to prepare the design documentation, additional professional designers must be involved: structural designer (static), building mechanical engineer and building electrical designer, but for larger, more complex buildings, additional colleagues may be needed (e.g. fire protection designer, road and utility designer etc.) The architect decides on the necessity of the specialists to be involved, and he involves them in the project, unless the client has such an acquaintance or partner.
Execution plan
In some cases, it is mandatory to have an execution plan prepared, but it is recommended for all construction investments.
The construction plan is detailed technical documentation prepared based on the authorization plan, which contains the technical parameters, specifications, quantities, and detailed drawings of all the structures, elements, and solutions to be installed. Part of the construction plan is the unpriced (or even priced) budget announcement, which can be priced by the competing contractors, so that their price offers for the same technical content can be compared.
When is it mandatory to prepare an execution plan?
If the building requires a permit, i.e. a permit plan has been prepared for it
If the supporting structure of the building is a monolithic reinforced concrete structure
If the support distance of the building's supporting structure is 5.4 meters or more
For more details, see 191/2009. (IX. 15.) in paragraph 22 of Government Decree.
Construction activities that can be carried out without a permit
In some cases, construction activities can be carried out without a permit, so these works do not necessarily require a designer with an architect's license or degree, of course a construction plan is also required in this case.
When is permission not required?
Transformation, renovation, modernization of a free-standing building
Subsequent thermal insulation of an existing building, replacement of doors and windows, coloring of the facade surface, changing its surface finish
Building a new chimney
Building a canopy
Construction of a retaining wall up to 1.5m high
Building a pool
Fence, garden structure, sidewalk
Installing a solar panel, solar collector
For more details, see 312/2012. (XI. 8.) Government Decree in Annex 1.
Art management
The task of the architect does not end when the design is completed, as he can be asked to supervise the design during construction, during which he checks whether the architectural concept and the planned structures and solutions are realized according to plan. The client can use a (mandatory in some cases) technical inspector who checks the same, but independently of the contractor and the designer, who specifically represents the interest of the client during construction. The architect can carry out design supervision for the building he designed himself, but only technical inspection with the necessary special authorization.