Hesse Chamber of Architects and Urban Planners
The Hessen Chamber of Architects and Urban Planners ( AKH ) is a state chamber of architects with around 11,000 members (as of July 9, 2015). It was founded in 1969 and, as a self-governing body for all Hessian architects, interior designers, landscape architects and town planners, is anchored in the Hessian Architects and Town Planners Act as a public corporation.
tasks
The legislature - the state of Hesse - has assigned a number of tasks to the AKH, which it has to fulfill while safeguarding the general interest. These tasks are laid down in the Hessian Architects and Urban Planners Act:
It advocates the professional interests of the profession at all levels (municipalities, districts, state, federal government, Europe). It also advises the members on all questions relating to the exercise of their profession and supports them in fulfilling their professional duties. Another task is to monitor the statutory professional obligations. In addition, it maintains the professional directories (list of architects, town planners, list of professional associations) and, in the interests of active consumer protection, ensures that qualified persons only carry the professional title of architect, landscape architect, interior designer or town planner through training, practical training with regulated content and controlled compulsory training. The chamber ensures the professional training of its members. In addition, granted the major building submission authorization . It supports parliament, the state government, authorities and courts with expert opinions and reports and works in all important committees that deal with the modern development of building standards and regulations. It is also committed to building culture in Hesse by promoting urban development and implementation competitions and monitoring their professional implementation in accordance with currently applicable rules . Another task is the settlement of disputes between members and third parties. It appoints and swears in experts.
Members
Membership obliges the members to comply with statutory professional duties - such as maintaining their independence as the client's administrator, only advertising objectively, observing copyright law, regularly training themselves and promoting the further training of their employees. In addition, self-employed architects must take out professional liability insurance in order to be able to pay for property and financial damage in the event of damage.
The house of the architects in Wiesbaden
The AKH office - the house of architects - is located at Bierstadter Straße 2 in Wiesbaden . The building was originally built as a hotel at the end of the 19th century and later also used as a civil servants' rest home before it was part of the Hessian State Chancellery from 1946 to 2004. The AKH acquired the historic building from the state of Hesse in 2005. After a moderate renovation and renovation, the building has been home to the AKH office since May 2007.