Public forum

Architecture
Talks  

September 29, 2025 | 5:30 PM

09/25

Architectural Services Standards Regulation

Damir Mance
/ Faculty of Architecture, Zagreb /

Mario Kralj
/ NEKOLIKO /

Vladimir Karmelić
/ 3LHD /

The introduction of the Regulation on the Standard of Architectural Services in the Field of Construction (NN 48/2025) marks a key turning point in Croatian architectural practice. For the first time, a systematic framework for professional work has been defined, covering all phases of an architect’s work: from programming and conceptual design, through main and detailed design, to project and technical supervision, as well as documenting compliance with sustainability and energy criteria.

This standardization introduces clearly articulated obligations and a methodology for evaluating work, directly affecting negotiations with investors, fee transparency, and the quality of delivered architectural services. At the same time, it raises a crucial question: can a normative framework advance the profession without constraining authorship freedom and creative experimentation?

The discussion at Urania will bring together three distinguished experts:

  • Damir Mance, architect and senior lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture in Zagreb, who will address the issue through the relationship between academic methodology and professional practice.
  • Mario Kralj, architect and co-founder of studio NEKOLIKO, who brings the experience of agile, small offices and the challenges standardization poses for flexible teams.
  • Vladimir Karmelić, director of studio 3LHD, who will speak from the perspective of large multidisciplinary projects and complex processes aligned with international standards.

The conversation will open along several key thematic axes:

  • Structuring architectural services – from the initial concept to the final supervision phase, with defined standards for the scope and content of documentation.
  • The economy of design – how the standard contributes to fee transparency and strengthens the negotiating position of architects with investors and in public competitions.
  • Quality and responsibility – how formalizing processes can ensure a higher level of expertise and reduce the scope for improvisation in design and construction.
  • Authorship freedom and the normative framework – the challenge of balancing creative exploration with prescribed phases and procedures.

Standardization is not merely an administrative tool but the foundation for redefining the professional identity of the architect. It sets boundaries but also creates opportunities for more equitable market relations, clearer communication with clients, and an increase in the quality of the built environment.

Urania – Space of Creation will once again become a place for critical dialogue between the profession, academia, and practice, with the aim of ensuring that standards become tools of empowerment rather than restrictions for the architectural profession.

Seats are limited, so please reserve your spot here. Admission is free!

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