From the Pros: How to Work With an Architect
They hold the key to the design of your home but do you know the secrets for getting the most out of your relationship with your architect?
The building of a new home, or the renovation of an existing one, will very likely be one of the biggest investments anyone will make in their lifetime. With such large investments at stake, it is imperative to have the right people involved in the project to ensure that the process is efficient, controlled and produces the best possible outcome.
Architects are well-trained and highly competent designers who are registered by their respective states; a process which usually includes five years of university study followed by at least 3000 hours of supervised architectural practice. Architects are also required to sit registration exams, attend regular professional development courses and to carry professional indemnity insurance to protect their clients from complications that may arise in the design process.
Houzz is the best place to find architects in your local area, browse inspiring portfolios and read reviews. Here are some tips for working with them.
Architects are well-trained and highly competent designers who are registered by their respective states; a process which usually includes five years of university study followed by at least 3000 hours of supervised architectural practice. Architects are also required to sit registration exams, attend regular professional development courses and to carry professional indemnity insurance to protect their clients from complications that may arise in the design process.
Houzz is the best place to find architects in your local area, browse inspiring portfolios and read reviews. Here are some tips for working with them.
Photos & Advice
Allow enough time
The design of a house is complicated and is frequently slowed by the planning and building approval process. Getting an architect involved on the project early allows you time to refine the design to ensure you get exactly what you want.
The design process usually involves a number of consultations between the architect and the client. Providing enough time for thorough consideration of requests by the client and of the proposals made by the architect will ensure you arrive at a design that is well considered. While each project is different, it is likely that the design process for a well-considered home may take between nine and 12 months before construction can begin.
There is value in hiring an architect to review a property before you even purchase it. An architect will be able to advise on opportunities or problems that may affect a property, including planning restrictions, site orientation and service connections. For the sake of a couple of hours of an architect’s time, their advice may end up saving many thousands of dollars trying to rectify an ill-informed purchase.
The design of a house is complicated and is frequently slowed by the planning and building approval process. Getting an architect involved on the project early allows you time to refine the design to ensure you get exactly what you want.
The design process usually involves a number of consultations between the architect and the client. Providing enough time for thorough consideration of requests by the client and of the proposals made by the architect will ensure you arrive at a design that is well considered. While each project is different, it is likely that the design process for a well-considered home may take between nine and 12 months before construction can begin.
There is value in hiring an architect to review a property before you even purchase it. An architect will be able to advise on opportunities or problems that may affect a property, including planning restrictions, site orientation and service connections. For the sake of a couple of hours of an architect’s time, their advice may end up saving many thousands of dollars trying to rectify an ill-informed purchase.
Realise that architecture is costly
By its very nature, bespoke building is costly. Like comparing a one-off painting with a print, architecture is unlikely to compete with ‘off-the-plan’ designs offered by large home builders in terms of dollars per square metre.
The problem with ‘off-the-plan’ design is that it ignores the fact that every site is different, and that the requirements of the occupants will never be the same. Architects can design a home that is perfectly suited to you, that doesn’t require you to build spaces you are never going to use, that won’t require expensive earthworks to flatten the site, and that uses less energy by incorporating passive solar principles.
To ensure you get the best value out of the design process, it is worth identifying your necessities and your wishes in a clearly set-out brief so the architect can ensure you get the best outcome for your budget.
When hiring an architect, a client should anticipate they may get less house for their money, but what they do get is of a much higher quality, can be tailored to exactly what they need and will present superior overall value.
By its very nature, bespoke building is costly. Like comparing a one-off painting with a print, architecture is unlikely to compete with ‘off-the-plan’ designs offered by large home builders in terms of dollars per square metre.
The problem with ‘off-the-plan’ design is that it ignores the fact that every site is different, and that the requirements of the occupants will never be the same. Architects can design a home that is perfectly suited to you, that doesn’t require you to build spaces you are never going to use, that won’t require expensive earthworks to flatten the site, and that uses less energy by incorporating passive solar principles.
To ensure you get the best value out of the design process, it is worth identifying your necessities and your wishes in a clearly set-out brief so the architect can ensure you get the best outcome for your budget.
When hiring an architect, a client should anticipate they may get less house for their money, but what they do get is of a much higher quality, can be tailored to exactly what they need and will present superior overall value.
Maintain a friendly relationship
To design a home that is perfectly tailored to an owner, architects need a thorough understanding of their clients. Like a doctor trying to make a diagnosis based on cryptic descriptions from their patient, an architect also needs to listen closely to understand what their client is describing.
The information that is important to a design may not be immediately clear to the client or to the architect, but may bare itself through conversations that can be totally unrelated to the project. Things like your favourite holiday locations, what time you like to wake in the morning, what your hobbies are or your favourite season, may all be a useful foundation from which an architect can build a design.
Because there is no hard and fast way to get to know you, it can be greatly beneficial to have a social relationship with your architect. Make some time to go out for coffee or for lunch to discuss things other than architecture. A strong personal relationship will inevitably lead to a great outcome.
Explore this home
To design a home that is perfectly tailored to an owner, architects need a thorough understanding of their clients. Like a doctor trying to make a diagnosis based on cryptic descriptions from their patient, an architect also needs to listen closely to understand what their client is describing.
The information that is important to a design may not be immediately clear to the client or to the architect, but may bare itself through conversations that can be totally unrelated to the project. Things like your favourite holiday locations, what time you like to wake in the morning, what your hobbies are or your favourite season, may all be a useful foundation from which an architect can build a design.
Because there is no hard and fast way to get to know you, it can be greatly beneficial to have a social relationship with your architect. Make some time to go out for coffee or for lunch to discuss things other than architecture. A strong personal relationship will inevitably lead to a great outcome.
Explore this home
Find inspiration
When paying an architect’s fees, it is reasonable to be wary of being too descriptive so as not to compromise an architect’s freedom to draw from their professional expertise. An architect should be given freedom to design an optimal solution for you, but it should be based on information that you supply.
Deciding the things you like and do not like is an easy first step in letting an architect know your tastes. Houzz has millions of photographs of great projects that are available to flip through. Putting together a couple of Ideabooks is a great way to collect these images, and you can share them with your architect using the ‘Collaborate’ tool. You do not even have to like everything in the photograph; maybe you like the range hood, but hate the splashback tiles of a kitchen, or love the carpet in the bedroom, but the wall colour is too much. Your architect should not be looking at these ideabooks to copy the things you like, but as a source of inspiration to inform their whole design.
Step inside this property
When paying an architect’s fees, it is reasonable to be wary of being too descriptive so as not to compromise an architect’s freedom to draw from their professional expertise. An architect should be given freedom to design an optimal solution for you, but it should be based on information that you supply.
Deciding the things you like and do not like is an easy first step in letting an architect know your tastes. Houzz has millions of photographs of great projects that are available to flip through. Putting together a couple of Ideabooks is a great way to collect these images, and you can share them with your architect using the ‘Collaborate’ tool. You do not even have to like everything in the photograph; maybe you like the range hood, but hate the splashback tiles of a kitchen, or love the carpet in the bedroom, but the wall colour is too much. Your architect should not be looking at these ideabooks to copy the things you like, but as a source of inspiration to inform their whole design.
Step inside this property
Maintain good communication
An architect should be working entirely in your interest and will want to achieve any requirements that you have of them. Be clear about your budget and the desired timeframe from your first meeting, and be quick to update them if anything changes.
A well-thought-out brief which outlines all the spatial requirements you have for your project ensures everyone is on the same page. A brief can include anything that you would like to see incorporated into your project.
Meeting minutes can also be useful to keep track of the project throughout the design of your home. Minutes ensure that all issues are covered and nothing is forgotten.
A successful partnership is required to create successful architecture, and good communication is the cornerstone of great partnerships.
An architect should be working entirely in your interest and will want to achieve any requirements that you have of them. Be clear about your budget and the desired timeframe from your first meeting, and be quick to update them if anything changes.
A well-thought-out brief which outlines all the spatial requirements you have for your project ensures everyone is on the same page. A brief can include anything that you would like to see incorporated into your project.
Meeting minutes can also be useful to keep track of the project throughout the design of your home. Minutes ensure that all issues are covered and nothing is forgotten.
A successful partnership is required to create successful architecture, and good communication is the cornerstone of great partnerships.
Working with an architect can be a rewarding experience that results in a home that will be a joy to live in for many years.
Picking the right architect, one who you share values with and one you can trust is likely to result in a friendship that extends beyond your working relationship.
Great design will ensure you build a house that is energy-efficient, beautiful and tailored perfectly for you.
TELL US
Have you worked with an architect before? Do you have any tips to share on how to create a good relationship and guarantee the best outcome? Tell us in the comments section below.
MORE
Renovator’s Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before Construction Begins
Countdown to Renovation: 10 Things to Discuss With Your Builder
Building a Home: 10 Decisions You Will Never Regret
Picking the right architect, one who you share values with and one you can trust is likely to result in a friendship that extends beyond your working relationship.
Great design will ensure you build a house that is energy-efficient, beautiful and tailored perfectly for you.
TELL US
Have you worked with an architect before? Do you have any tips to share on how to create a good relationship and guarantee the best outcome? Tell us in the comments section below.
MORE
Renovator’s Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before Construction Begins
Countdown to Renovation: 10 Things to Discuss With Your Builder
Building a Home: 10 Decisions You Will Never Regret
I would suggest that anyone that is considering hiring an Architect, have a solid idea in their minds first. After 3 years of constant pain. i sacked 1 designer and finished to plans and council approval with an architect. Which we are no longer talking too!
While what we may end up with is outstanding , it is basically a spin on what we had in mind from the beginning. With the concept borrow from an other architect via a website Archdaily.
The problem being they don't listen / understand to your needs. I ended up suppling my own 3d cad drawings to him, along with picture of the look we liked. Than it took 2 years of the 3 for him to finish it.
We fell out of love with the whole project because of the time it took.
Make sure you understand the person not the image they portray .
know what you want ...... by touring many show homes and selecting the elements you like and being aware of floor plan and room sizes, have a wishlist, plus absolute clear communication of your budget and obtain a fixed price contract
my dream turned into a costly nightmare his ides not my dream 3x the quoted cost