There is a reason why registered architects are more expensive than architectural designers or designers working for house building companies. If you like a standard brick and tile, or a traditional timber home as built by any of these building companies, then you don’t need an architect.
But, if you’re looking for something unique, unusual or exciting, or you want to use the skills of an architect to make your home better in ways that will surprise you, you’re going to need a registered architect.
Architects have the expertise to turn your ideas into reality and the experience to know what works and what doesn’t. Moreover, architects will create spaces that feel right and offer up ideas that will delight you.
There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing an architect for your project, and it is important that you find someone you can trust to do the job well.
Find Out Who’s Out There
Before you do much else, you will want to get an idea of who is out there and the kind of work they do. The internet is wonderful for this, but so are old fashioned magazines. Learn what kind of styles you like – contemporary, modernist, traditional, neo-classical or something else.
- The Institute of Architects (NZIA) lists its members, links to their websites and showcases the award-winners.
- Architects have examples of projects on their websites
- Look at architecture magazines, websites or blogs: Pinterest, Archipro and Houzz are both good for this, though Pinterest is heavily American-biased
Taking the time to view a variety of works will also give you an understanding of the stylistic differences between architects and points of comparison. Be aware – those homes you see featured in magazines are usually not at the cheap end of the scale.
Shopping around is crucial for something as important as an architecturally-designed project. Find house designs you like, then find out who designed them. A good rule of thumb is that you should consult with and seriously consider at least three different architects before choosing one for your project.
There’s a saying – “you can always tell an architect, but you can’t tell them much.” Some architects have reputations as being dogmatic in seeing their design created and are less than willing to collaborate with the homeowner. If you’re happy with this arrangement, you can end up with a visionary masterpiece, or something that looks good but is fundamentally flawed.
Other architects can deliver similar results without the confrontations and hassles. Ask about how your architects work and speak with their clients. It is better to know these things before you sign any contracts.
Your Ideas Are Important
Architectural design is ideally a collaborative process between you and your architect. For a real collaboration to take place, you need an architect who will listen to and understand your desires, and then translate them into a practical design that both embodies and improves upon your ideas – at the price you can afford.
Honesty is essential for both you and the architect when you are consulting. You should be completely honest about factors such as your budget, your timeline and your expectations, and in return, you should expect complete honesty about the anticipated cost of the project, the firm’s capabilities and its capacity to complete the project on time.
A good architect is one who is respectful of your ideas while offering you expert advice. If you take your time to shop around, become familiar with who is out there and aren’t afraid to ask questions, you will find using an architect for your project to be a satisfying and fulfilling experience and your home a source of pleasure and joy forever.