Re: The War Between Architects, Engineers, and Interior Designers

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Forwarded. . .H. . .
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  - - The original note follows - -

From: "Noral D. Stewart" <noral@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Newsgroups: alt.architecture
Subject: Re: The War Between Architects, Engineers, and Interior Designers
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 1996 09:20:17 -0500

svaccer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>
> To All Architects, Engineers, and Interior Designers:
>
> As you may all know, a lot is going on in legislation concerning the
> rights of each profession.  I am curious as to other's views on this
> matter of what each of us is allowed to do and not do.
>
> First off, I do firmly believe that all three of these professions
> should work together on a project.  No need for anger towards each
> other.  As of now, I am an Interior Design student.  I've been hearing
> so much lately that Architects don't care very much for my profession.
> It is our duty to design living spaces for people to exist in
> according to what they need and ask for.  Current law tells Interior
> Designers that we cannot do certain jobs that an architect is allowed
> to do.  The same goes for Engineers.  They are not allowed to enter
> any practice that an architect might do as well even though they are
> well endowed with the skills to do so.  Failure to comply with these
> reguluations is a serious matter and that person is subject to legal
> "problems."
>
> However, in the recent decline in work for Architects, they seek work
> doing Interior spaces.  They have no knowledge of Interior living.
> Interior Designers do.  We learn the dynamics of color theory,
> furniture placement, materials and textiles, etc. The sad part is that
> it is NOT illegal for them to do this Interior Design work which is a
> travesty.  If we cannot invade on their profession, why should they be
> allowed to invade on ours?  Yet, if an Interior Designer or Engineer
> go out of bounds for one slight second, they are hounded upon by the
> powerful architects.
>
> This all has to change.  We should be allwed to sign our own name to
> our technical drawings and not sit in the background.  Architects
> should not invade in our profession.  Let US take care of the
> interiors.  We know all about them.
>
> I would really like to hear different opinions on this matter. E-mail
> me if possible, but please post opinions as well for others to read.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Steve Vaccaro ASID
>
> Who knows, maybe someday all that will be needed will be interior
> Designers and Engineers...


You seem to feel interior designers are better qualified than an
architect to design an interior space.  I advise architects and
engineers, and sometimes interior designers on matters related to
sound in interior spaces.  You seem to feel you are well trained to
design interior spaces.  How much training have you had on the way
room shaping and sizing, wall construction, surface finishes, and HVAC
system design influence the way a space sounds?  Surely you realize
that rooms differ greatly in their sound, and that the use of the room
dictates the acoustical qualities needed.

Most of my work on buildings involves new designs.   However, I am too
often called in to fix a problem where the acoustics of the room were
not properly considered in design.  Owners are sometimes disappointed to
learn that the major cost of resolving their problem is the loss of
expensive design elements that cannot be salvaged, but must be replaced
with comparable elements to accomodate proper acoustical treatment.
There would have been little additional cost to have done the job right
in the first place.

My advice to you is not to ask anyone to legally guarantee you a job.
Instead develop your skill to the point that architects, owners, and
everyone will want you to be involved in projects.