Russell V. Keune, FAIA, resident fellow, AIA International Relations, began his tenure last month as co-director of the International Union of Architects Professional Practice Commission at its meeting in Tokyo. Keune shares the position with Prof. Xu Anzhi, of the Architectural Society of China. Keune replaces James A. Scheeler, FAIA, who served as a commission co-director in 1994, a position he founded and held until Keune’s appointment in November 2002.

Scheeler received an AIA Special Presidential Proclamation recognizing his service as the first AIA co-director of the UIA Professional Practice Commission during the commission meeting and received a standing ovation. His attention as AIA resident fellow in now shifting to the history of the AIA’s role in developing the profession of architecture, a study he is undertaking in preparation for the AIA sesquicentennial in 2007.

Keune, in attendance with David Harris, FAIA, and Scheeler, opened the 12th meeting of the commission with a toast to the 44 attendees from 17 countries and the meeting host, the Japan Institute of Architects (JIA). Another reception highlight was JIA’s presentation of honorary JIA membership to former UIA President Vassilis Sgoutas of Greece. Following is Keune’s report to the AIA Board on the meeting proceedings.

Professional Practice Commission meeting
The commission met April 4-5 in the conference facilities of the Mitsubishi Estate Company Ltd., a meeting sponsor, on the eighth floor of the new Marunouchi Building overlooking the historic Tokyo Station.

The substance of the meeting focused on the presentation, discussion, and debate of seven guideline documents:
• Role of Professional Bodies by drafting panel chair Claude Bucher, France (third reading)
• Form of Practice by drafting panel chair Shinjiro Wachi, Japan (third reading)
• Scope of Practice by drafting panel chair Shinjiro Wachi, Japan (third reading)
• Alternative Means of Procurement and Delivery Systems by drafting panel co-chair Michael Peck, Australia (second reading)
• Computer Practice by drafting panel member Michael Peck (Australia) substituting for drafting panel chair Tillman Prinz, Architects Council of Europe (second reading)
• Guideline on Codes, Standards, Production Information, Specifications, and Other Construction Documents by drafting panel chair David Harris, FAIA, United States (first reading)
• Mutual Recognition Agreements by drafting panel chair Jordi Farrando, Spain (first reading).

The committee also heard:
• Recommendation on Communicating the UIA Accord to National Governments by drafting panel chair Esa Mohammed, Malaysia (first reading)
• Revisions to the Guideline on Accord Policy on Practice in a Host Nation by drafting panel chair James Scheeler, FAIA, United States.

Other agenda items included:
• A progress report on the commission’s Web site maintained within the AIA’s Web site
• A progress report on the UIA-Col-egi d’Arquitectes de Catalunyas (COAC) standard format for reporting the practice standards of each UIA member section and the release of the first published book documenting this international survey by Jordi Farrando (Spain)
• The acceptance of the invitation by the Indian Institute of Architects to hold the 2004 meeting in New Delhi, India
• Summary reports on architectural licensure reciprocity negotiations within the Asia-Pacific Economic Council and between the U.S. and the Architects Council of Europe
• A resolution expressing the commission’s concern and reservations over the potential reductions in the period of education in Germany to secure a professional degree in architecture.

In addition, the meeting sponsors, Mitsubishi Estate Company Ltd. and Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei Inc., presented new developments in central Tokyo using an enormous scale model equipped with a miniature mobile camera traveling in three dimensions and projected onto a three-screen video monitor. After the meetings, the JIA conducted a guided five-hour bus tour of central Tokyo that featured three major new development areas.

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