Residential Architects and the Royal Institute of British Architects

Architects in the UK can join the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). When an architect joins RIBA, they can describe themselves as a Chartered Architect. RIBA membership has a range of benefits for architects. The RIBA represents architects at a national and also an international level. It also drives standards across the architectural industry. This article has information about RIBA as well as the benefits of choosing a RIBA accredited architect for your home improvement project.

What is the RIBA?

The RIBA is a professional body for the architecture industry. They regulate the industry by setting standards that their members must follow. Individual architects can be registered with RIBA. Architectural firms can also be registered as Chartered Practices.

There are strict requirements for membership at either level. Individuals must prove that they have the required qualifications, whereas architectural companies must demonstrate that they have appropriate policies in place for equality and diversity, health and safety and quality management. These policies must follow overall best practices for the industry.

What are the benefits of using an RIBA certified architect?

There are a range of benefits of using an architect registered with the RIBA. Some of these are:

  • Proof that the architect has the right qualifications and professional experience.
  • All architects registered with the RIBA must have appropriate insurance policies.
  • Chartered Architects are at the forefront of the architecture industry.
  • Chartered Practices must have appropriate policy for quality management. This means that the company produces high-quality plans and has frequent reviews of their work to ensure the quality remains high.
  • The RIBA champions architecture across the country. This means that RIBA-certified architects have expertise in a variety of areas such as environmental standards.
  • The RIBA specifies that Chartered Architects must do a set amount of professional development per year, which means you’ll get an architect who’s committed to keeping up with developments in the field.

For all of these reasons, it’s a good idea to choose a RIBA certified architect. For more information about the RIBA, visit their website. The RIBA  also offer a searchable list of all RIBA Chartered Practices which is available here.