What Do Architects Want in 2025?

The Kayseri Branch of the Chamber of Architects, reflecting on the past year, shared the key issues they have been fighting for under the title "What Do Architects Want?" In a statement, Branch President Murtaza Er said:

"As the Kayseri Branch of the Chamber of Architects, we would like to share with you the key issues that we have highlighted throughout the year, discussed with our members, and provided recommendations for legal and regulatory changes. Architects demand reason and dedication for more livable environments and sustainable cities. Architects want the profession to receive the importance it deserves in our country. Moreover, protecting and enhancing their professional rights is one of the most fundamental expectations of architects.

In short, architects only ask for what they deserve. We would like to remind everyone of the 11 most important issues we have raised throughout the year, as we continue our work with determination to ensure that the architectural profession attains the status it deserves at the beginning of a new century. We will continue our efforts locally and nationally to achieve this goal."

What Do Architects Want in 2025?

1. "They do not want to pay for issues that are outside their responsibility in inspections."
   In the building inspection process, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change should evaluate the issues encountered in buildings according to the relevant profession. After the February 6 earthquakes, the legal processes showed that the primary responsible parties for inspection mechanisms did not face penalties, while architects were subjected to unclear sanctions. This situation underscores the need to clearly define the responsibilities of each profession within the building construction process to avoid unnecessary suffering and ensure fair inspections.

2. "They want the design to be seen as a whole."
   Architecture must consider both the interior and exterior in harmony. The building's facade should be aesthetically pleasing and contextually aligned with the surroundings, while interior spaces should be functional and user-friendly, approached with a holistic design perspective.

3. "They want adequate employment of architects in public institutions."
   In 2010, 473 architects were hired by central appointments in the public sector, while this number dropped to only 47 in 2020. At the same time, the number of architecture graduates increased from 3,551 in 2010 to 8,132 in 2020. This significant rise in graduates has caused an increase in appointment points, and fewer architects are appointed each year, which harms the architectural quality in public projects.

4. "They want the 'minimum fee' to be regulated by laws and application regulations."
   Architects demand the implementation of a minimum fee schedule to ensure fair and appropriate payment for their services. This will lead to increased tax revenues for the government and provide fair compensation for architects.

5. "They want to avoid being lost in political debates."
   Architecture directly affects the quality of life and shapes future cities. However, in recent years, architects' professional demands and solutions have been overlooked and obscured by political discussions. Architecture should be treated independently of political struggles, with architects' views considered in decision-making processes related to cities and buildings.

6. "They want the professional law to be addressed."
   The lack of a comprehensive and up-to-date Professional Law causes significant challenges for architects in terms of protecting their rights and clarifying their responsibilities. Architects have long sought a law that would define the standards, ethical rules, and authority boundaries of the profession.

7. "They want architecture to be seen as part of our culture."
   Architecture is not just the design of buildings but also a reflection of a society's history, identity, and aesthetic values. Like other cultural developments, architecture must be preserved, and a national awareness of architectural culture should be cultivated.

8. "They do not want their professional rights to be compromised by rent-seeking lobbies."
   Architects increasingly face losses in their professional rights. Construction processes should prioritize aesthetics and functionality rather than merely focusing on profit. However, the sector is increasingly influenced by groups that prioritize financial gain over quality, which undermines the architectural profession and the future of our cities.

9. "They want permanent solutions, not suggestions of patience."
   Architects demand immediate and permanent solutions to long-standing problems. Temporary fixes only deepen the issues and hinder the future of the profession. Concrete and sustainable solutions are needed to secure the profession's future.

10. "They want full-time and insured site supervision."
    The regulations surrounding site supervision should be updated to ensure full-time technical personnel can properly monitor construction sites. The supervisor's insurance should be mandatory, which will ensure both legal security for the supervisors and contribute to healthier, more controlled construction processes.

11. "They want the architectural education policy to be reconsidered."
    The Chamber of Architects has been actively working to improve Turkey's architectural education policy. This policy needs to be reconsidered by the Higher Education Council (YÖK) to ensure better quality education. It is not just about student numbers and staff ratios but also addressing spatial problems, international standards, accreditation, and entry requirements to improve architectural education both nationally and internationally.

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