ASEAN Architect Council Expands Regional Cooperation and Mobility at 48th Meeting

Siem Reap, Cambodia — 4 June 2024

The ASEAN Architect Council (AAC) advanced its agenda on professional mobility, education, and post-2025 strategic planning during its 48th Meeting held on 4 June 2024 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The meeting was chaired by Ar. Chea Chantheborras of the Board of Architects Cambodia and attended by representatives from all ASEAN Member States, except Myanmar and Viet Nam.

Cambodia Assumes Chairmanship; Secretariat Upgrades Website

The meeting marked the official handover of the AAC Chairmanship from Singapore to Cambodia. Lao PDR confirmed its readiness to assume the chairmanship for 2026–2027, while Myanmar was invited to confirm its readiness for 2028–2029, completing the rotation among all 10 ASEAN Member States by 2029.

The AAC Secretariat (Indonesia) updated the AA database to reflect approvals from the 47th Meeting and implemented changes to standardise listings by removing professional titles. Member States were invited to review the listings and suggest improvements as part of an ongoing website upgrade.

Active ASEAN Architect Numbers Increase to 628

The AAC approved 18 new ASEAN Architect (AA) registrations, including applicants from Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. This brings the total number of active AAs to 628. The meeting also noted updates to Brunei Darussalam’s Monitoring Committee contact points and the formation of the Myanmar Architect Council.

Progress on RFA Guidelines, MRA Amendments, and Competition Preparations

Myanmar was requested to present its RFA Registration Guidelines, previously submitted at the 47th AAC Meeting, at the next session. Lao PDR reported that its domestic decree revisions to align with the reduced experience requirement for AA registration are ongoing.

The AAC also reviewed progress on the Architecture Pilot Project. Member States were invited to provide input on Malaysia’s draft competition guidelines. Brunei presented topographic maps of the pilot site, while AMS were encouraged to submit their domestic competition rules to support the Ad-hoc Competition Committee’s work.

In addition, the Council discussed a proposal from ACPECC to waive AA and RFA fees. While agreeing on non-discrimination between local and foreign architects, the AAC affirmed that fee waivers remain at the discretion of each AMS.

Post-2025 Strategy and Annual Congress Proposal

The AAC discussed CCS-level guidance on self-assessment, with a focus on implementing MRAs and promoting cross-border trade in services. The AAC Roadmap and Implementation Plan were updated accordingly. The Philippines proposed establishing an annual ASEAN Architect Congress as a platform for collaboration and in-person meetings beyond 2025. AMS were invited to submit proposed post-2025 action plans intersessionally for discussion at the next meeting.

AAEC Finalises Academic Specialisation Work

The 35th ASEAN Architect Education Committee (AAEC) Meeting concluded work on the final list of academic specialisations, which will be shared with universities across AMS. This marks a significant step toward harmonising education standards across the region.

Surveys Provide Insights into Practice and Regulation

Cambodia and Malaysia presented updates on the AAC Survey on Architectural Practice. The Philippines shared insights indicating that out of 60,000 registered and licensed architects in the country, around 30,000 are active practitioners eligible to sign and seal building permits. This regulatory framework supports strong domestic employment and ensures architectural involvement in all building projects.

The AAC also agreed on a common template for listing professional specialisations, paving the way for future discussions on establishing ASEAN-level specialisation categories once sufficient data is collected.

Cambodia Prepares for Congress and Architecture Festival

Cambodia shared updates on its first national design competition, 'Breath of the City', and announced plans for the 2024 Cambodia Architecture Festival (CAF), to be held in Phnom Penh in November. The AAC approved the use of its logo for the festival, which will feature networking activities for ASEAN Architects. Additionally, Cambodia showcased Gentry HUB and INNex, two initiatives by young architects aimed at promoting architectural knowledge sharing and event collaboration.