Building in Catalonia is growing, but the sector has yet to recover
1. We are not witnessing sustained growth: the evolution of authorizations actually points to a slowdown. While between July 2014 and July 2015 there was an increase of 32% in the surface area authorized, between July 2015 and July 2016 this growth had dropped by almost half, to 15%.
2. The increase in authorized building land relates mainly to a few very large-scale projects (over 10,000 m2), representing 26% of the total.
3. The surface area authorized during the first six months of this year continues to be extremely low throughout Catalonia, and very much below the construction and building renovation levels in the rest of Europe.This therefore continues to be an unsustainable situation for the sector, which needs policies and incentives to reactivate it from an economic point of view and in order to complete its modernization process.
ANALYSIS BY REGION
The province of Barcelona stands out for its continued growth (though not including the city of Barcelona). A total of 855,854 m2 were authorized this year, 36.57% more than in the second half of 2015. However, of this total we need to bear in mind that 24.3% is for large-scale projects (over 10,000 m2). The city of Barcelona showed an increase of 20.26%, the bulk of which was for projects of between 3,000 m2 and 10,000 m2. With regard to the other provinces, there was slight growth in Girona (5.97%) and Lleida (1.26%), while Tarragona and Terres de l’Ebre showed drops of 37.8% and 32.02% respectively.
ANALYSIS BY TYPE OF BUILDING
In absolute terms, new build is continuing to show the most significant rise (22.56%), with around 1,083,329 m2 of land authorized. The surface area authorized for renovation dropped by 1.34% compared to the previous six-month period, with around 491,373 m2.ANALYSIS BY USE
The current data show an increase in both housing and non-residential use, although figures are still very low. With regard to non-residential use, there were increases in health, education and office buildings which in previous periods had slowed down.With regard to the number of homes authorized, there were a total of 4,044 in the first half of the year which represents an increase of 12% compared to the previous six-month period.
CONCLUSIONS
- The total volume of authorized surface area is still very much below the figure that would equate to the usual minimum.
- The sector is not yet experiencing a sufficiently strong structural recovery. Smaller projects of less than 3,000 m2 have only risen by 5.6%, while large-scale ones of over 10,000 m2 grew by 21.56%. Once again, the reactivation of the sector is failing to have an impact on either the majority of architects or other professionals and firms working in the sector.
- The increase in activity reflected in the amount of authorized surface area is primarily due to major projects in the province of Barcelona. In other provinces this figure has either fallen or remained stable.
- Once again, these figures underline something that the COAC has been demanding for some time: the need to implement measures of structural change to drive and steer the sector’s recovery and, as a knock-on factor, the economy.
Consequently, the Association reiterates the need for a comprehensive Strategic Plan containing MEASURES TO PROMOTE URBAN RENOVATION.
Sílvia Musquera nueva vocal de Cultura de la Demarcación de Girona
Silvia Musquera Felip es arquitecta por la Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Barcelona (ETSAB) y doctora por la misma universidad con la tesis "Las imágenes de un nuevo paisaje creado para el turismo. La fotografía como testimonio del papel de la arquitectura en la transformación del paisaje de la Costa Brava en los años sesenta".
Su trayectoria profesional se inicia en 1998 cuando funda, junto con Pep Canaleta Heras, 3carme33 - estudio de arte y arquitectura desde donde ejerce la práctica profesional y la docencia e la investigación.
Actualmente es profesora asociada del Departamento de Proyectos Arquitectónicos de la Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura del Vallés (ETSAV) y del máster MBARQ en la ETSAB. También es profesora asociada del Departamento de Arquitectura e Ingeniería de la Construcción de la Escuela Técnica Superior de la Universidad de Girona y coordina el Master Habilitant, MARQ.
Su investigación se ha centrado en la relación entre la arquitectura, la fotografía y el paisaje de la Costa Brava. Ha escrito varios artículos, ha comisariado exposiciones sobre el Club Med de Cap de Creus y ha participado en Congresos internacionales relacionados con la arquitectura y el turismo.
Desde el 2013 es miembro del equipo de investigación FAME, Fotografía y Arquitectura Moderna en España 1925 hasta 1965, desde donde participa en diversas exposiciones y publicaciones.
Sílvia Musquera nova vocal de Cultura de la Demarcació de Girona
Sílvia Musquera Felip és arquitecte per l’Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura de Barcelona (ETSAB) i doctora per la mateixa universitat amb la tesi “Les imatges d’un nou paisatge crear per al turisme. La fotografia com a testimoni del paper de l’arquitectura en la transformació del paisatge de la Costa Brava als anys seixanta”.
La seva trajectòria professional s’inicia al 1998 quan funda, juntament amb Pep Canaleta Heras, 3carme33 - estudi d'art i arquitectura des del que exerceix combinant la pràctica professional amb la docència i la investigació.
Actualment és professora associada del Departament de Projectes Arquitectònics de l’Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura del Vallès (ETSAV) i del màster MBARQ a l’ETSAB. També és professora associada del Departament d’Arquitectura i Enginyeria de la Construcció de la Escola Tècnica Superior de la Universitat de Girona i coordina el Màster Habilitant, MARQ.
La seva investigació s’ha centrat en la relació entre l’arquitectura, la fotografia i el paisatge de la Costa Brava. Ha escrit diversos articles, comissariat exposicions sobre el Club Med del Cap de Creus i ha participat en Congressos internacionals relacionats amb l’arquitectura i el turisme.
Des del 2013 és membre de l’equip d’investigació FAME, Fotografía y Arquitectura Moderna en España 1925-1965, des d’on participa en diverses exposicions i publicacions.
Results of the study "Architects. Situation, opportunities and prospects"
In response to this context, the COAC carried out this survey so that the results can provide a useful and rigorous instrument for analysing the current situation and assist architects in making decisions about the future and improve their competitiveness and market position. At the same time, the study is a tool for the Association to enable them to formulate a long-term strategy and achieve an improvement in the professional situation of architects and how they are perceived by society.
The figures
The majority of architects who took part in the survey and who have a confidence level of 95% are men (62%). In terms of age distribution, there is a predomination of architects in the age group of 31 to 40 years old. Of all those surveyed, 1,261 were Association members (78%) and 354 (22%) were not.
66% of those surveyed had studied at ETSAB and 22% at ETSAV. Recent graduates were in the majority, with 62% having graduated from the year 2000 onwards. Almost half had continued with higher education, especially master's degree and postgraduate courses (44%), and a lesser percentage (3%) with a doctorate. 26% studied part of their course abroad and 16% had done work placements.
57% of the architects were self-employed over the last year, well above salaried employees, who accounted for 24%. Furthermore, 15% fell into both categories and 5% did not have a contract. Amongst the salaried employees, we note a certain amount of job stability (50% have permanent contracts).
Last year, the vast majority of architects worked in the private sector (74% only private plus 14% in both private and public) and, more specifically, in a practice (77% of those who work in just the private or in both sectors). Only 12% of those surveyed said they worked in the public sector, the majority of them in town and city councils.
With regard to income, architects fall into an annual salary range of €20,001 to €30,000. 46% are paid less than €20,001 and a fifth of them less than €10,001. Only 30% earn an annual salary of more than €30,000. There are large salary differences according to gender and age. There are more men than women in the higher salary brackets.
It can also be seen that those who have a higher level of education also earn more. 40% of those who have completed a doctorate were paid more than €40,000 a year. This percentage drops to 20% for those who have a master's or postgraduate degree and to 16% for Architecture graduates.
Making a comparison over time, it can be seen that architects' salaries have declined over the last decade. 70% confirm that their income has declined compared with the situation 10 years ago (before the property bubble burst), and half say there has been a big reduction. Only 21% indicate their income has risen. With regard to gender, the progress of women's income was slightly less negative than that of men.
15% of those surveyed have lived and worked abroad for some time over the last two years. If we look at the age range of the youngest architects (younger than 30), they number 34%. When asked if they have thought about going or returning to work abroad, 40% answered yes. Meanwhile, the 34% who currently do not have international customers plan to look for projects abroad. Regarding the countries considered for working abroad, the league table is led by the United Kingdom (19%), Germany (11%), Switzerland (10%) and the USA (10%). Conversely, when speaking about countries in which to look for projects, it is France that is mentioned most (24%).
The current profile of an architect
Right now, architects are a rejuvenated group: over 50% are below 50 years old and 34% are under 40. Most architects are men (62%), although the new generations are beginning to feature more women. Where the female contingent is more numerous is at the training stage. 'And that means that women will have a greater say in the future', explained the dean. Whether men or women, 70% of architects work for themselves. They are self-employed and perform their activity in a private practice with one or two others. Only a few work in administration or for companies: industry, university, promoters, constructors and consultants account for fewer than 10% of active architects. For Comerón, this situation determines the main subsectors in which 'the main opportunities for professional advancement can be found'.
Future prospects
New construction is no longer their main job. To compensate for this decline, rehabilitating buildings has become the activity with most volume. This is followed by new construction, project management, then legal and bureaucratic matters and interior design. Over the coming five years, rehabilitation is forecast to continue in first place ahead of activities related to energy efficiency and BIM (the new comprehensive planning model that is set to become the standard). It is expected that new construction will lose much of its importance. This transformation is reflected in the continuous training received by architects. According to the survey, architects have spent recent years broadening their education in order to specifically redirect their careers towards these areas. Comerón stressed that, 'We are in a full state of transition, a new era that not only affects us but the whole of society, forcing us to change our professional role'. In this process, globalisation is very much present in the profession. Many architects have left to work abroad. 'For many, this process has been dramatic, but is has also helped us to internationalise', said Comerón. There are between 10% and 12% of architects working abroad and a similar percentage of foreigners working here; figures, according to the Dean, 'to be expected in an ever more globalised world'.
VIEW THE SURVEY RESULTS HERE