Licensure Examination for Architects (LEA) 2011 Syllabus for the Subject of ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND SITE PLANNING (ADSP)

Licensure Examination for Architects (LEA)
2011 Syllabus for the Subject of
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
AND SITE PLANNING (ADSP)
_______________________________________________________________________________

I. Rationale and Objectives

1. Objective determination of the stock knowledge of the examinee in the six (6) key areas of the LEA Day 2 subject of ADSP i.e. a) compliances with laws, rules, regulations, guidelines and standards governing architectural plan and design preparation in the Philippines; b) site planning, urban design and site development planning; c) space planning and architectural programming; d) architectural design (including the architectural plan and design process); structural conceptualization; and f) architectural interiors (AI).

2. Determination of examinee capability to visualize simplified architectural design problem statements and to identify pre-determined solutions through the prior application of his/her stock knowledge in the six (6) key areas of ADSP through use of the appropriate architectural or graphical language i.e. via non-graded sketches or drawings. As the pre-set solutions already encompass considerations of the quantitative and qualitative aspects of space, circulation and interrelationships of indoor and outdoor spaces, building setting within the natural and built environments, structural and form envelopes, building amenities, facilities, services and utilities, and building design and construction methodologies, the examinee is largely expected to be able to ascertain the required solution through his/her stock knowledge and capability to make the requisite interactive use of the same.

3. Objective determination of the stock knowledge of the examinee as regards the correct process for the preparation of architectural plans and designs i.e. a) research and pre-design stage which encompass architectural programming and space planning activities; b) architectural plan preparation stage which encompass schematic design activities; and c) architectural design preparation stage which encompass design development and contract documentation activities.

II. Terminal Competencies of Examinees

1. In regard to Compliances

a) Understands and knows how and when to apply valid and subsisting State policies/ statutes/ laws that are in full effect i.e. building and building safety laws, rules and regulations, standards, guidelines and procedures for use in evolving the required architectural plan and design for a given space problem;
b) Specifically understands that there is a legal basis for an architectural plan and design solution set;
c) Specifically understands and knows how and when to properly apply the provisions of Rules VII and VIII (the architectural rules) of the 2004 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 1096, otherwise known as the 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP); download versions allowed for use at the LEA are readily available at the Latest Publications section of the PRBoA website at www.architectureboard.ph;
d) Specifically able to compute for the permitted 2- and 3-dimensional spatial provisions and configurations for buildings within the lawful limits prescribed under the 2004 Revised IRR of P.D. No. 1096;
e) Specifically able to match zoning classifications with the appropriate building uses/ occupancies as prescribed under the 2004 Revised IRR of P.D. No. 1096 and under local government unit (LGU) zoning ordinances/ maps and zoning IRRs (as may be applicable);
f) Specifically understands and knows how and when to properly apply the architectural provisions of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9514, otherwise known as the 2008 Fire Code of the Philippines (FCP) and its 2009 IRR;
g) Specifically understands and knows how and when to properly apply the architectural provisions of Batas Pambansa (B.P.) No. 344, otherwise known as the 1983 Accessibility Law or An Act to Enhance the Mobility of Disabled Persons by Requiring Certain Buildings, Institutions, Establishments and Public Utilities to Install Facilities and Other Devices and its IRR;
h) Specifically understands and knows how and when to properly apply the architectural provisions of P.D. No. 957, otherwise known as the Subdivision and Condominium Buyers’ Protective Decree and its 2001 IRR;  
i) Specifically understands and knows how and when to properly apply the provisions of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9266, otherwise known as the Architecture Act of 2004 and its 2004 IRR, in the evolution of the architectural plan and design solution set;
j) Specifically understands the limitations imposed by Philippine law as to which State-regulated natural person can lawfully prepare architectural documents i.e. that architectural documents such as site development plans, exterior/ interior perspectives, floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, roof plans, sections, elevations, architectural drawings and details, architectural specifications and estimates are all part of the lawful scope of professional services that must be undertaken only by Registered and Licensed Architects (RLAs) as prescribed under Philippine law i.e. specifically under the multiple provisions of R.A. No. 9266 and under Secs. 302.3 and 4 of the 2004 Revised IRR of P.D. No. 1096, all of which are not covered by any Court Order preventing the full implementation and enforcement of the said provisions of law;
k) Specifically understands that a law that is in full effect i.e. previously enacted by the Congress of the Philippines and duly approved by the President of the Philippines and with no standing Court Order (or pending Court case) against the implementation of any of its provisions (such as R.A. No. 9266), is legally superior to all executive issuances that are decidedly below its level e.g. IRRs, standards, guidelines or even Administrative Orders or Memorandum Circulars issued by the Secretary of any Department such as the Secretary of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), who is the National Building Official or even orders issued by local government unit (LGU) executives or officials such as the LGU Acting Building Official (ABO) that tend to directly contravene the law or to promote the violation of the law that is in full effect (such as R.A. No. 9266);
l) Understands that all national and local government officials are mandated by law and by their oath of office to fully implement and enforce R.A. No. 9266 and that the said officials shall become administratively and criminally liable if they refuse to abide by the law;
m) Understands LGU land use plans and zoning ordinances (ZOs) and zoning classifications;
n) Specifically understands and knows when and how to apply provisions covering on-street/ off-street parking, character of building occupancy, arcades and the like;
o) Understands the typology of site planning laws and building laws and their respective authenticities for their proper implementation and enforcement;
p) Generally understands the Philippine regulatory framework i.e. relationships between the Philippine Constitution, the valid and subsisting laws (all in full effect or substantially full effect) and their respective implementing rules, regulations, guidelines, standards and procedures;
q) Understands which national and local government agencies regulate physical planning and the planning/ design for buildings;
r) Generally understands the standing of R.A. No. 9266 and of P.D. No. 1096 and of their respective IRRs, with respect to their implementation and enforceability at the present time; and
s) Fully understands that registered and licensed architects (RLAs) can administratively, criminally and civilly sue any national and/or local building official who violates any provision of R.A. No. 9266 or any natural or juridical entity excluded by law from preparing, signing and dry sealing architectural documents or enjoying the use of architectural documents not prepared by RLAs.      

2. In regard to Site Planning

a) Understands and knows how and when to properly apply the pertinent principles and techniques of orienting a building in the Philippine setting i.e. with respect to sun, wind, rain, view, noise, privacy requirement and the like;
b) Understands and knows how and when to properly locate/ site a building with respect to the road right-of-way (RROW), legal easement and the like;
c) Understands and knows how and when to properly locate/ site a building with respect to the topography of a site, the natural drainage characteristics of a site (and how to best address the same with site planning solutions) and like considerations;
d) Understands and knows how and when to properly locate/ site a building with respect to natural and man-made hazards that may be found or proximate to the site and like considerations;
e) Understands and knows how and when to properly apply the pertinent principles and techniques of tropical design to match the hot-humid tropical environment in the Philippines;
f) Ability to fully discern site dimensions and configurations from a reading of the problem statements and to sketch or draw the same for reference in evolving the required architectural plan and design solution sets;
g) Understands basic site planning principles as these apply to the evolution of the required architectural  solutions, with emphasis on the development and manipulation of the site through considerations of the interplay among orientation and other site characteristics such as topography, access, ground cover, site sensitivities, etc.;
h) Understands general concepts of sustainable site development planning e.g. maximization of natural site features, minimized foot-printing and the like;
i) Understands basic urban design principles;
j) Understands the regulatory and documentary requirements as well as the other collaborating State-regulated professionals for site planning preparation;
k) Understands the classifications, general properties and characteristics of plants and trees;
l) Knows the parts of the RROW and of legal easements;
m) Knows firewall and retaining wall requirements and applications; and
n) Understands the typology and contents of site development plans (SDPs).

3. In regard to Space Planning

a) Understands that space planning is the part of the lawful scope of professional services that must be undertaken only by Architects/ RLAs as prescribed under Philippine law;
b) Understands and knows how to prepare simple architectural programs i.e. focusing on spatial quantity and quality;
c) Understands and knows how to prepare space plans and their derivatives e.g. blocking plans, stacking plans and the like (by adhering to the proper space planning processes commencing with space planning surveys/ interviews/ reportage);
d) Understands anthropometrics and space planning standards for Asian end-users;
e) Understands the hierarchies of spaces and of end-users and their requisite matching;
f) Understands the typology, characteristics and common combinations of furniture and equipment items; knows the minimum spatial requirements (dimensions and footprints) of basic indoor/ outdoor furniture and equipment types/ pieces and their standard clearance requirements for use or operation; the foregoing includes vertical, diagonal and vertical conveyances as well as vehicle types for determination of parking and/or storage provisions;
g) Understands storage practices; and
h) Capability of distinguishing among and computing for the allowable maximum building footprint (AMBF), floor plates, total gross floor area (TGFA) and gross floor area (GFA) for buildings.

4. In regard to Architectural Design

a) Understands that architectural design in general and the specific act of preparing architectural documents must be undertaken only by Architects/ RLAs as prescribed under Philippine law;
b) Appreciates/ interprets the design problem and identifies the required solutions (graded) through sketches and drawings (non-graded), as needed;
c) Understands architectural plan and design approaches, methodologies and criteria;
d) Understands that while form and function must be in harmony, the considerations of building/ spatial function (generally represented by the architectural plan) must not be superseded by considerations of the form (generally represented by the evolved architectural design) i.e. form must always follow function;
e) Ability to distinguish the differences among the building amenities, facilities, services and utilities (AFSU), their respective examples and their interrelationships;
f) Ability to distinguish the development components and the parts of a building;
g) Understands the basic considerations relative to building construction, use/ occupancy, operation and maintenance;
h) Knows architectural styles, composition, imagery and material combination/ manipulation and building archetypes;
i) Understands the properties, characteristics and psychology of color;
j) Understands the cross-effects of architectural material finishes/ textures, color, life/ durability/ weathering/wear patterns, acquisition/ installation/ operation/ maintenance/ insurance costs, safety, sustainability (source/availability, production/transport/handling/installation/usage/maintenance/ replacement/disposal/recycling methodologies), capability for substitution, modularity, mandated warranties and the like;
k) Ability to specifically identify the safety characteristics of common architectural finishing materials and processes i.e. relating to considerations of fire safety/ flammability, toxicity, emissions, disposal and the like;
l) Ability to generally discern the differences among the common architectural finishing materials and installation processes and to specifically identify environment-friendly architectural finishing materials and processes i.e. relating to considerations of sustainable design and Green Architecture e.g. material sourcing, production, transportation and handling, installation, use, maintenance, disposal, concepts of carbon footprints and highest embodied energy and the like;
m) Knows what architectural finishing materials are banned from use;
n) Understands the typology and proper use of fenestrations i.e. door and window types and matching hardware and the like in relation to the evolution of the architectural plan and design set;
o) Understands the typology and proper use of equipment for building occupancy/ use, operation and maintenance i.e. electrical, electronic, mechanical, plumbing, sanitary and the like in relation to the evolution of the architectural plan and design set;
p) Understands the typology and characteristics of architectural lighting and knows how to use exterior and general lighting to address general and specific architectural and allied requirements;
q) Capability of preparing simple architectural specifications;
r) Capability of preparing simple architectural quantity surveys and estimates;
s) Understands the architectural research phase requirements, required documentation and deliverables/ outputs;
t) Understands the typology of architectural projections;
u) Understands the principles of orthographic, isometric and perspective drawings as well as the common graphic and drafting conventions; and
v) Understands the typology and contents of architectural documents.

5. In regard to Structural Conceptualization

a) Ability to identify the appropriate structural solutions for the various building types and for the various building parts;
b) Ability to specifically distinguish the structural components of a building;
c) Ability to generally identify the required interfaces between the structural, architectural and utility components of a building;
d) Knows how and when to protect basements;
e) Knows roof and wall types and their respective support requirements;
f) Capability of generally identifying the appropriate structural bay and element sizes for the different building applications and capability of approximating the sizes of structural bays and elements;
g) Capability of identifying structural components that are required within or along the perimeter of the building grounds i.e. structural cum civil works;
h) Ability to distinguish among soil types and foundation types;
i) Knows the types of building projections;
j) Understands the typology and contents of structural documents;
k) Understands structural design economy; and
l) Capability of preparing simple structural quantity surveys and estimates.

6. In regard to Architectural Interiors (AI)

a) Understands that architectural interiors (AI) is the part of the lawful scope of professional services that must be undertaken only by Architects/ RLAs as prescribed under Philippine law;
b) Generally understands the typology of AI elements, their minimum/ maximum sizes and their respective detailing;
c) Understands and knows how to use architectural lighting to address AI requirements;
d) Ability to discern the distinct differences among the common AI finishing materials and processes;
e) Ability to identify sustainable AI finishing materials and processes i.e. relating to considerations of environment-friendly design and Green Architecture e.g. material sourcing, production, transportation and handling, installation, use, maintenance, disposal and the like;
f) Ability to identify the safety characteristics of common AI finishing materials and processes i.e. relating to considerations of fire safety/ flammability, toxicity, emissions, disposal and the like;
g) Knows the minimum spatial requirements (dimensions and footprints) of basic indoor furniture types/ pieces;
h) Understands the typology and proper use of AI fenestrations i.e. indoor door and window types and matching hardware;
i) Understands the typology and proper AI application of millwork e.g. trims, baseboards, rails, casings and the like;
j) Understands the typology and proper AI use and applications/ combinations of hardware items;
k) Understands AI material economy;
l) Capability of preparing simple AI specifications;
m) Capability of preparing simple AI quantity surveys and estimates; and
n) Understands the typology and contents of AI documents.

III. ADSP Problems (Scope)

The 2011 LEA ADSP problems may involve any or all of the following common types of buildings/ struc¬tures, their grounds and their natural or built settings/ environment;

1. Residential Buildings
a. Low-rise residential buildings at low-density residential (R-1) subdivisions/ zone lots;
b. Medium-rise residential buildings at medium-density residential (R-2) subdivisions/ zone lots;
c. High-rise residential buildings at high-density residential (R-3) or commercial (C) zone lots; and
d. Low-rise transient residential buildings e.g. dormitory, pension house, hotel and the like.

2. Commercial Buildings on Commercial Zone Lots (C-1, C-2 and C-3)
a. Medium-rise office building and the like; and
b. Low-rise department store building, community store building and the like.

3. Institutional/ Public Buildings on Institutional Zone (I) Lots
a. Low-rise educational and/or cultural building (school, library, multi-purpose assembly hall and the like); and
b. Low-rise government building (national or local government office or civic center and the like).

4. Industrial Buildings on Industrial Zone (I) Lots
a. Medium industrial/ manufacturing building; and
b. Light industrial/ manufacturing building.

The PRBoA, subject to the approval of the PRC, may revise or exclude any of the subjects and their syllabi, and add new ones as the need arises to conform to technological changes brought about by continuing trends in the local and international practice of the architectural profession.

For the January 2011 LEA, there may be as many as seven (7) short ADSP problems with a maximum total number of questions at two hundred (200) i.e. forty (40) situational problem sets of five (5) questions per set. For the first six (6) short ADSP problems, there shall be six (6) situational problem sets, while the seventh (7th) ADSP problem shall only have four (4) situational problem sets.

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