Architects are trained primarily to design new buildings. Chartered Building Surveyors like myself (being members of The Royal Institution of Chartred Surveyors, specialising in building construction) are involved primarily with existing buildings. With professional qualification requirements at least as rigorous as those of an architect Chartered Building Surveyors are eminently equipped to advise on alterations to existing buildings, to produce plans and specifications for work of that kind, and to deal with local authority approvals. They do so not only in the UK but in most parts of the world. Except France, where the law imposes a restrictive practice of âarchitects onlyâ where the floor area exceeds 170 sq metres. In other words, a âclosed shopâ, or âjobs for the (French) boysâ ! It doesnât worry me personally because I am kept busy with pre-purchase surveys, and advising on future alterations, extensions, maintenance etc., but representations by the RICS and others over recent years to the French government to lift this restriction have run into a brick wall. So what was all that I hear about Ă©galitĂ© and libertĂ© ?