9 Conversations to Develop Rapport With Your Architect
For the best results, your architect should be your closest ally during the construction phase of your project
Kerryn Ramsey
28 August 2015
Houzz Australia Contributor. Freelance lifestyle journalist and serial renovator, reporting for print and digital articles on architecture, design, travel and business.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Freelance lifestyle journalist and serial renovator,... More
Having a good relationship with your architect is the best way to achieve the outcomes you desire during a renovation or new build. Not only will your architect translate your taste, preferences and ideas into bricks and mortar, they will also ensure that everything is done correctly and on time. There’s simply no need to make an enemy of your architect!
1. Meet up, share your tastes and get to know an architect’s work
The best way to find an ideal architect is to look at their body of work. Websites, magazines and TV shows can all help but you can’t beat actually visiting a house they have designed. If it speaks to you, then that’s the right architect for you. Make an appointment and tell them what you hope to achieve while sharing your taste in design and any specific touches you had in mind. Make sure your style tastes are aligned. Remember, this will be a long-term relationship.
“It’s important that trust is established in the client-architect relationship,” says architect Scott Weston. “By the time the project is at the construction stage, that should be well and truly established.”
The best way to find an ideal architect is to look at their body of work. Websites, magazines and TV shows can all help but you can’t beat actually visiting a house they have designed. If it speaks to you, then that’s the right architect for you. Make an appointment and tell them what you hope to achieve while sharing your taste in design and any specific touches you had in mind. Make sure your style tastes are aligned. Remember, this will be a long-term relationship.
“It’s important that trust is established in the client-architect relationship,” says architect Scott Weston. “By the time the project is at the construction stage, that should be well and truly established.”
2. Talk over your budget and understand what’s possible
Often, what we want is very different to what we can afford. An architect can design your dream home but ultimately, what can be built is restrained by the budget. Building costs, especially with renovations, are always more than people expect. It’s a necessity to keep aside a contingency amount consisting of 10 per cent of the project budget to cover any unforeseen problems.
Robert Haywood of My Architect, who designed this house, says: “Know what budget you have available and any constraints that may exist. Create a wish list in terms of ‘absolutely must achieve’, ‘would like to achieve’, and ‘would be nice to achieve’. Then you can understand and balance the budget while knowing what any extra money would get you.”
Reasons you could blow your renovation budget
Often, what we want is very different to what we can afford. An architect can design your dream home but ultimately, what can be built is restrained by the budget. Building costs, especially with renovations, are always more than people expect. It’s a necessity to keep aside a contingency amount consisting of 10 per cent of the project budget to cover any unforeseen problems.
Robert Haywood of My Architect, who designed this house, says: “Know what budget you have available and any constraints that may exist. Create a wish list in terms of ‘absolutely must achieve’, ‘would like to achieve’, and ‘would be nice to achieve’. Then you can understand and balance the budget while knowing what any extra money would get you.”
Reasons you could blow your renovation budget
3. Sum up your personality and clearly explain how it informs your design choices
If you have strong tastes, the architect will need to work around this, as you can see in this image – in a home designed by Weston. Here, a client with particular views on colour worked with the architect at the final fit-out stage.
“A client should allow the architect to be the representative during the construction phase and utilise their skill as the main line of communication between architect and builder,” says Weston. “We are impartial and have their interests at the forefront to ensure everything is built as per the contract package.”
If you have strong tastes, the architect will need to work around this, as you can see in this image – in a home designed by Weston. Here, a client with particular views on colour worked with the architect at the final fit-out stage.
“A client should allow the architect to be the representative during the construction phase and utilise their skill as the main line of communication between architect and builder,” says Weston. “We are impartial and have their interests at the forefront to ensure everything is built as per the contract package.”
4. Discuss the importance of sustainability
If you’re really sensitive about sustainable issues, point this out to the architect well before the start of the project. This can have an impact on design and will affect the materials used in construction. Elements like solar panels, water tanks, great water systems and insulation are much easier and cheaper to fit during construction than retrofitting them after the build.
Eco-enhancing additions
If you’re really sensitive about sustainable issues, point this out to the architect well before the start of the project. This can have an impact on design and will affect the materials used in construction. Elements like solar panels, water tanks, great water systems and insulation are much easier and cheaper to fit during construction than retrofitting them after the build.
Eco-enhancing additions
5. Reveal your passions to your architect
Point out your interests and collections to the architect as this can have an impact on the house design. If you have a vast library, bookcases need to be incorporated. Maybe you want to display art, vintage toys, snow domes or sporting paraphernalia. All these items can have shelving or display units worked into the design for a seamless look. Likewise, inform your architect if your current home is too cold, too dark or too noisy. Give them the knowledge to tailor your new living space to suit your specific needs.
Point out your interests and collections to the architect as this can have an impact on the house design. If you have a vast library, bookcases need to be incorporated. Maybe you want to display art, vintage toys, snow domes or sporting paraphernalia. All these items can have shelving or display units worked into the design for a seamless look. Likewise, inform your architect if your current home is too cold, too dark or too noisy. Give them the knowledge to tailor your new living space to suit your specific needs.
6. Ask about and trust in a good team
Architects and builders work hand in hand, with architects often project managing the build. They are versed at putting a team of trusted sub-contractors together that will get the job done.
“Don’t ask an architect about what size steel beam should span between point A and point B,” says Haywood. “Even though they will have a fair idea, they will consult a structural engineer about these aspects at the appropriate times.”
Rather than looking at material judgements, try to gauge whether or not the architect’s sensibility and values are similar to yours. Check out architects’ and builders’ previous work, and follow up client references. That way you can ensure the quality of the work and the team involved.
Architects and builders work hand in hand, with architects often project managing the build. They are versed at putting a team of trusted sub-contractors together that will get the job done.
“Don’t ask an architect about what size steel beam should span between point A and point B,” says Haywood. “Even though they will have a fair idea, they will consult a structural engineer about these aspects at the appropriate times.”
Rather than looking at material judgements, try to gauge whether or not the architect’s sensibility and values are similar to yours. Check out architects’ and builders’ previous work, and follow up client references. That way you can ensure the quality of the work and the team involved.
7. Be informed and have patience
Your architect, building designer or you yourself can lodge the development application with the council before building commences. Patience is a virtue since councils are notoriously slow, and if complaints are lodged, you may have to attend council meetings. Once the paperwork is cleared, the building can commence.
“A client should relax and enjoy the journey,” says Weston. “If you are working with a good architect, they will have established a great team of people to build the project. They will keep you fully informed during the construction phase and notify you of any unforeseen developments. After all, that’s what you are paying them to do!”
Your architect, building designer or you yourself can lodge the development application with the council before building commences. Patience is a virtue since councils are notoriously slow, and if complaints are lodged, you may have to attend council meetings. Once the paperwork is cleared, the building can commence.
“A client should relax and enjoy the journey,” says Weston. “If you are working with a good architect, they will have established a great team of people to build the project. They will keep you fully informed during the construction phase and notify you of any unforeseen developments. After all, that’s what you are paying them to do!”
8. Communicate your colour preferences but take advice
Colour can be the trickiest part of interior design. You should explain your taste preferences to your architect – for example, you might hate yellow, but love greens and blues. Your colour palette can be refined throughout the process, depending on the light and space of the rooms after construction. After selecting flooring, kitchen panels, bathroom tiles, etc., the final stage is choosing the interior and exterior paint scheme. This is a chance to inject your own personality into the space. The interior in this image, for example, uses a wide range of colours that complement each other beautifully.
Get a spot-on colour scheme
Colour can be the trickiest part of interior design. You should explain your taste preferences to your architect – for example, you might hate yellow, but love greens and blues. Your colour palette can be refined throughout the process, depending on the light and space of the rooms after construction. After selecting flooring, kitchen panels, bathroom tiles, etc., the final stage is choosing the interior and exterior paint scheme. This is a chance to inject your own personality into the space. The interior in this image, for example, uses a wide range of colours that complement each other beautifully.
Get a spot-on colour scheme
9. Don’t forget a final word on landscaping
A common area that’s overlooked in house design is landscaping. It’s important to talk to your architect about the landscaping early in the process. They will look after it or have good contacts. A common mistake when renovating or building is to not include any money for landscaping. This leaves the exterior of the house looking sadly unfinished and everyone traipsing dirt into the new cream carpet.
TELL US
Is there an important conversation you would have with your architect that could be added to this list? Share it in the Comments section.
MORE
How to Find the Right Architect for You
From the Pros: How to Work With an Architect
What Makes an Ideal Client? Architects Tell All
A common area that’s overlooked in house design is landscaping. It’s important to talk to your architect about the landscaping early in the process. They will look after it or have good contacts. A common mistake when renovating or building is to not include any money for landscaping. This leaves the exterior of the house looking sadly unfinished and everyone traipsing dirt into the new cream carpet.
TELL US
Is there an important conversation you would have with your architect that could be added to this list? Share it in the Comments section.
MORE
How to Find the Right Architect for You
From the Pros: How to Work With an Architect
What Makes an Ideal Client? Architects Tell All
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Thanks for including us Kerryn. Much appreciated.
Just a slight correction. It's Robert Harwood, not Haywood. Cheers!