International Construction Law Review
BOOK REVIEW
SARAH LUPTON
Deciding about Design Quality: Value Judgements and Decision Making in the Selection of Architects by Public Clients under European Tendering Regulations. By Leentje Volker. Leiden: Sidestone Press, 2010. Paperback. ISBN 978–90–8890–053–2. 323 pp. €39.95.
Many design consultants invest a significant amount of time and resources in bidding for projects, particularly in periods of recession when there is not enough work to go round. However, the experience of entering such a bidding process is often confusing and frustrating, even where governed by regulations whose purpose is to ensure that competition is fair and transparent. Architects frequently feel the brief was not clear, or that the winner was selected on a basis that was far from transparent, and clients feel constrained by the regulatory framework and may end up selecting architects that are not the best match for their needs, or even cancelling projects once the selection is made. There is also a general concern amongst clients and designers that the lack of flexibility in the processes may stifle innovation and diversity.
This book is based on research into the selection of architects, conducted as part of a Ph D, and based on empirical case studies of four live projects. It contains much useful material and a series of recommendations that would be relevant to those involved in the tendering for and selection of architects and other design professionals, in particular those advising clients on how to design and run the tender procedure. The key research questions addressed are: how do public commissioning bodies decide on architect selection in the context of EU procurement law; which situational characteristics influence the process of decision-making of public commissioning bodies in this context; and, what are the implications for the design of selection procedures?
The author graduated with a Masters (with distinction) in Human Technology Interaction from Eindhoven University of Technology. She then went on to work as a researcher and project manager at the Centre for People and Building in Delft, and subsequently (while retaining strong links with the CfPB) undertook her Ph D at the Faculty of Architecture, Delft University of Technology. This background gives her a clear understanding of the architectural profession, thorough knowledge of design and human behavioural theory, and the skills to undertake empirical research.
The first chapter introduces the book, setting out the research aims. The author places the research in context, by explaining how a growing body of case law on tendering procedures, and recent articles in the construction press, are evidence that there is much amiss with the current set-up. Chapters 2 and 3 review the current body of theory on assessing quality and
The International Construction Law Review [2011
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