What is the bdia?
The “bdia bund deutscher innenarchitektinnen und innenarchitekten” (“association of German Interior Architects”) is the professional association of the Interior Architects in Germany. For over 70 years, bdia has been promoting and consolidating the profession and the practice of Interior Architects. As the representative of its members, it advocates their interests in public and vis-à-vis business and politics. It cooperates at European and international level. The bdia supports the training of younger generations and is committed to their education and further development. It creates a platform for information, communication and exchange of experience and offers its members a variety of services.
Who is a member in the bdia?
The membership is voluntary. Currently, about 2,000 professionals and students are associated. Members are freelance or employed Interior Architects. Membership is also possible for Interior Architecture/Design students as well as certified engineers of the course of interior architecture/design studies who are not registered as Interior Architects in the Chamber of Architects. Interested companies operating in the business of interior design, lighting, construction, furniture, textiles, flooring, etc. may become members in the sponsorship group of the bdia (“bdia Förderkreis”).
What is the work of the Interior Architects?
Modern necessities of life and an increasing demand for quality set high standards to today’s culture of construction and space. Interior Architects deal with these requirements and turn them into creative design of living spaces. Balanced, thought-through interior architecture increases the value of a building decisively. It is their main effort to design and plan interiors, and under certain circumstances provide pertinent technical and economic changes to buildings, while supervising their realization. Interior Architects are also responsible for the compliance with public-legal terms and arrange for the necessary construction authorization.
Interior architecture encompasses the interior construction, furnishing and equipping of new buildings as well as the spatial expansion, conversion, interior construction, furnishing and equipping of existing buildings: conversions including changes of use, modernization, renovation, gutting and revitalization. Their professional qualifications and sensitivity for planning and designing in new and existing buildings, their training and experience enable them to plan and accompany extensive and complex fit-out measures in the direct environment of people according to their needs and requirements. The borders of neighboring disciplines like architecture and design overlap.
As a prerequisite for this, Interior Architects possess the authorization to submit building documents regulated in the state building laws. The honorarium of the performances takes place according to the Fee Order for Architects and Engineers, HOAI.
Interior Architects are graduate engineers, graduate designers, bachelor’s and master’s degree holders with a degree from a university or an higher education institution, with at least two years of professional experience and have completed the advanced training required by the Federal State Chambers for registration. The “professional title of interior architect” is protected by law in Germany; it may only be used by those who are members of the Chamber of Architects and are registered in the list of Architects of their Federal State.