Introduction
The ARCASIA Council consists of the Presidents of National Institutes of Architects in Asia.
The organization itself serves as an extension of each member institutes’ regional program and relations.
Annual meetings are held to deliberate on, give collective direction and representation to matters that affect the architectural profession in the Asian region.
Objectives
- To unite on a democratic basis and to foster friendly, intellectual, artistic, educational and scientific ties among National Institutes of Architects in the Asian Region.
- To foster and maintain professional contacts, mutual cooperation and assistance among Member Institutes.
- To represent architectural institutes of member countries at Inter-Regional level.
- To promote the recognition of the architect’s role in society.
- To promote the development and education of architects to serve society.
- To promote research and technical advancement in the field of the built environment.
- To arrange for the publication of any matter likely to promote knowledge of work, theory, law and practice relating to the building industry and professionals allied thereto.
- To provide a forum for member Institutes, government agencies and allied professional organizations for the discussion of problems of common interest and seek solutions to these problems which would contribute to the advancement of the profession and the development of Architecture relevant to the culture and aspirations of the Asian people.
- To establish direct linkages between ARCASIA and other regional organizations, government agencies of Asian region, agencies of the United Nations Organization, inter-regional associations and transnational corporations for interchanges of technical and scientific matters between countries and regional organizations; and acquiring assistance in promoting the objectives of ARCASIA as representing the Regional Council for Asian architects.
Brief History
ARCASIA orginated initially during the 1967 Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) New Delhi Conference.
An urgent need was felt for the establishment of a regional cemtre that would be concerned with environmental design and unity among the six Asian member Institutes of the CAA.
The six Asian Institutes (the founding members) were
- India
- Sri Lanka
- Pakistan
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Hong Kong
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The proposal was for a Center for Environment and Technical Advancement(CETA) and for establishment of an ARCASIA Formation Council.
First Council
The First Formation Council (1969-1974) in September 1970 resolved that future assembies of the National Institutes of the Asian region of the CAA and ARCASIA be formally called the Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA).
While reorganizing the need for worldwide associations, the organization was formed to enable closer working relationships between the individual Member Institutes within the region to deal with matters that are or more immediate importance to the region.
Many of the current Member Institutes of ARCASIA already belong to the Union Internationale des Architects (UIA) being an international organization and integral with UNESCO
In 1970 the Ikatan Arsitek Indonesia (IAI) participated as observer; in 1972 the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) & the Association of Siamese Architects (ASA) became members; and in 1974 the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) came as observer and joined in 1977 ad full member.
ABAE ARCASIA
In 1979, ten years after the establishment of the First Formation Council in Hong Kong, the constitutions for ARCASIA and the ARCASIA Board of Architectural Education (ABAE) were signed at the inaugural meetinf held in Jakarta with the followinf member Institutes in attendance:
- Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA)
- Ikatan Arciteck Indonesia (IAI)
- Petubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM)
- Association of Siamese Architects (ASA)
- Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA)
- United Architects of the Philippines (UAP)
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The Architects Regional Council Asia became established and the acronym “ARCASIA” wad retained for the new council which is held as a Council of Presidents (or their representatives) of the various national Institutes of Architects in Asia.