ABSTRACT
In the process of the production of space, architects are representatives of institutional knowledge. They have power and control over production of space either directly by taking part in this process via their personal practices or indirectly by affecting it through their professional organizations. The role of professional ethics in architecture should be limiting and leading this power through describing architect’s responsibilities and also should be preventing unethical attitudes in all kinds of spatial practices by using this power and knowledge. However the professional codes prepared by architects’ organizations generally frame personal responsibilities of architects, tend to protect the professional interests and ignore collective responsibilities of architects. This article is an attempt to criticize professional ethics in general and codes of architectural ethics particularly within the framework of responsibilities of architecture towards humanity. For this purpose, the draft document on ethical conduct prepared by Ankara Chamber of Architects, Code of Professional Conduct of Royal Institute of British Architects – RIBA and Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct of American Institute of Architects – AIA will be investigated as case studies.