ᐅ Architect for initial design phases 1 and 2 in Upper Bavaria, new construction

Now that the land purchase is progressing, and I have been convinced to at least plan the initial phases with an architect, I am now looking for one.

Can anyone recommend an architect in Upper Bavaria (between Munich, Rosenheim, and Bad Tölz)?

A rough outline of the project:

• New build
• 2 single-family houses (unless the architect convinces us otherwise to go for a duplex)
• Open to construction method (currently leaning slightly towards masonry)
• Initially phases 1 and 2 of services (and then we will see how to proceed)
• The goal is a building permit / planning permission inquiry, as there is no zoning plan
• A fixed price would be preferable

I appreciate any tips.

sebastian84 schrieb:

I am grateful for any tips.

Just today I gave some again:

11ant schrieb:

1. You should find an architect (or have one found for you; I work nationwide and there are several consultants like me). "Suitable for your project" means that the architect specializes and has experience in single-family home construction. [...] For casual information seekers, this might be a bit tricky: a typical suitable single-family house architect not only usually runs a small office where they are the sole licensed professional, but often also has a somewhat outdated homepage—sometimes even a retro style from T-online—and almost always remains under the radar if you try to find them based on "reviews."

and one hour later...

11ant schrieb:

1. If you are building in Munich, you can find @Muc1985 here (although I’m not sure if your project wouldn’t be “peanuts” for their architect firm, which I personally consider recommendable) and @gregman22 (whose architect is not on my personal must-meet list).

... specifically for a search area that will also be suitable for you.

sebastian84 schrieb:

First phases 1 and 2 (and then we’ll see how things proceed).

That’s not ideal—you haven’t yet excluded the "phases 1 to 4" group, and the architect could misinterpret this wording as if you are starving the architect of work. It’s better to specify "phases 1 through 5 with options to exit after phase 2 as well as the possibility to extend up to and including phase 8." Also, see what I recommended above as the first step regarding how to proceed after the initial drafting stage. You can often book the "setting the course: moving toward implementation" either with me or with the architect.

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/

P.S., I forgot to add some clarifications regarding this:

sebastian84 schrieb:

• Construction method preference (currently we lean slightly towards masonry)
• The goal is a preliminary building inquiry, since there is no zoning plan (building permit / planning permission)

The decision on the construction method should always be based on the feedback from the preliminary inquiry phase, and explicitly not made before that. Any statements from the architect regarding preferences, reservations, or areas of expertise should initially be noted only “in the back of the mind,” and efforts should be made to keep the preliminary design neutral regarding construction methods. An exception is the explicit pursuit of a passive house or a fixation on it—in such cases, the decision “against masonry” is practically made in advance, since the feedback will then clearly favor providers of timber construction methods.

A preliminary building inquiry is especially recommended when there is a classic indication for it (for example, a formal integration requirement according to §34 instead of a zoning plan). But practical integration requests (in a zoned area that is mostly already fully developed and where the zoning plan is quite old) also represent a good reason to use this procedure. An often underestimated indication is also tricky height issues, such as with floating or variable reference elevations and on slopes where different eave heights or story requirements apply on the uphill and downhill sides (e.g., first and second floors on one side, basement and first floor on the other). Such cases regularly lead to interpretational differences. However, in many other situations, “it does not hurt” to file a preliminary building inquiry. Basically, one can say: even the existence of an undisputed zoning plan is not a contraindication ;-)

A preliminary building inquiry is often “not necessary” and skipping it saves some money, but it almost never costs time, since the best time for it is at the start of the preliminary design phase and it is usually processed quickly. If dialogue is required during the preliminary building inquiry, it should be seen as a clear warning sign for complications in the actual building permit application process!

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https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/

11ant schrieb:

... especially for a search area that fits your needs

Sorry for the late reply. Thanks a lot for the two contacts. I also gathered one recommendation myself and will see how it goes. I’m also bookmarking your blog and services 🙂

11ant schrieb:

That’s not good – with this wording, you haven’t yet ruled out “phases 1 to 4” of the architect’s services, and the architect could misunderstand this as trying to avoid using an architect. It’s better to say “phases 1 to 5 with options to exit after phase 2 and extend up to phase 8.” Also, see what I recommended earlier about the next steps after the resting phase. Instead of booking the “setting the course: progressing to implementation” phase with me, you can often book it directly with the architect.

Good point. I certainly don’t want the architect to deliberately plan things so that only one specific architect (especially him) can carry it out; I want him to draft openly. I’ll see how the initial meetings go.

11ant schrieb:

I always recommend making the building method decision based on the feedback from the orientation inquiry during the resting phase, so definitely not before that. Any statements by the architect about preferences, reservations, or areas of expertise should initially be noted only “for the record,” and you should try to keep the preliminary design construction-method neutral. The only exception is if you explicitly aim for a passive house or are fixed on that idea—in that case, you have practically already decided against masonry, since the feedback will then clearly favor providers of timber construction methods.

That’s exactly what I took away from your earlier posts, and it was one of the most valuable insights on how to approach planning a single-family home. Thank you!

sebastian84 schrieb:

Good point. Of course, I don’t want the architect to deliberately design the project so that it can only be realized with one particular architect (especially not just with him), but rather to prepare the preliminary design openly with regard to different possible outcomes.

Now I’m wondering what you might have misunderstood. What I wanted to say is: if you only hire the architect for phases 1 and 2, he might think you want to use the architect’s services as minimally as possible and then leave the architecture profession without work. He should realize that you’re not looking for someone to just provide the initial design ideas for the later collaboration with a general contractor, but that you want to keep the architect involved in the later phases — just not contract them through to the final completion right away. The concern that an architect would design something incompatible with other colleagues is unfounded. It can only be properly clarified during the preliminary design phase which construction method will result in the most cost-effective bids in the specific case.

sebastian84 schrieb:

I had taken that from your previous posts too, and for me it was one of the most valuable pieces of information on how to approach the planning of a detached house. Thank you!

Which information are you referring to now: the advice not to decide on the construction method too hastily, or that with an EH40 or even a passive house, you can already anticipate that decision to some extent?

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https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/