European Diversity: A Building Site Experience

Dutch and French construction law show fundamentally different approaches. This internship report aims to illustrate the impact which legislation has on building site interactions. Part of the research was a 5 week internship for Garcés-de Seta-Bonet, the Catalan architect office awarded with the renovation and partial reconstruction of the Palais de Justice, Strasbourg, France. The report starts with an analysis of the the historic development, present differences and responses to modern challenges. A general introduction to standards of French public projects and a glossary of major technical terms precedes the case study. The latter one discusses specific power distribution, relations of among parties and their respective interests. For instance, a range of standardized processes (e.g. validation of plans, payment) involving different actors is illustrated with documents such as technical drawings. The closing part focusses on contrasting architectural practices by interviewing French, Dutch and Spanish architects. Finally, conclusions about the architect's professions and prospects are drawn on a European level