ᐅ The architect has become emotional and does not want to continue. How should I proceed now?
Created on: 11 Mar 2026 17:41
O
Ohropax
Hello,
I hired an architect in the Stuttgart metropolitan area to design a single-family house and submit the building permit / planning permission application (service phases 1-4). The architect immediately received an advance payment of 15,000 euros without doing anything.
Service phases 1-2 were basically skipped; at least, I did not receive a project schedule, summaries, cost estimates, or a timetable. She basically spent all her time working only on the design.
The first design was unusable! Our budget is 750,000 euros, which was communicated both verbally and in writing. According to three construction companies, realizing the design would have required 1.25 million euros.
So a new design was created, but it contained so many practical mistakes (corridor too narrow, wardrobe not deep enough, kitchen wall too narrow for a sliding door, ceiling heights too low, bathrooms too small), and many more. An unbelievable number of errors, which you wouldn’t normally expect from an architect (at least I didn’t). The design is now in its 10th iteration because we repeatedly had to point out illogical corners, incorrectly placed windows, etc. Many of the changes were contributed by construction companies and included in the design because it was otherwise not suitable.
It was agreed with the architect that the remaining amount of about 15,000 euros would be paid before submitting the building permit / planning permission application. However, this is too risky for us because the architect’s work is very poor technically, and we fear the application will not be approved as is. The architect charged fee zone IV for a simple single-family house and noted this in the invoice. Is that correct?
Our proposal is to pay the 15,000 euros only after approval. The architect has now completely lost it, refuses to submit the application, and demands 12,000 euros for the design.
I actually did the design myself, and she just used the software. I was not advised. She simply implemented things without pointing out poor practicality. As a layperson, I am not familiar with this and expect advice; that is part of the architect’s job, isn’t it?
What should I do now? I am emotionally exhausted...
I hired an architect in the Stuttgart metropolitan area to design a single-family house and submit the building permit / planning permission application (service phases 1-4). The architect immediately received an advance payment of 15,000 euros without doing anything.
Service phases 1-2 were basically skipped; at least, I did not receive a project schedule, summaries, cost estimates, or a timetable. She basically spent all her time working only on the design.
The first design was unusable! Our budget is 750,000 euros, which was communicated both verbally and in writing. According to three construction companies, realizing the design would have required 1.25 million euros.
So a new design was created, but it contained so many practical mistakes (corridor too narrow, wardrobe not deep enough, kitchen wall too narrow for a sliding door, ceiling heights too low, bathrooms too small), and many more. An unbelievable number of errors, which you wouldn’t normally expect from an architect (at least I didn’t). The design is now in its 10th iteration because we repeatedly had to point out illogical corners, incorrectly placed windows, etc. Many of the changes were contributed by construction companies and included in the design because it was otherwise not suitable.
It was agreed with the architect that the remaining amount of about 15,000 euros would be paid before submitting the building permit / planning permission application. However, this is too risky for us because the architect’s work is very poor technically, and we fear the application will not be approved as is. The architect charged fee zone IV for a simple single-family house and noted this in the invoice. Is that correct?
Our proposal is to pay the 15,000 euros only after approval. The architect has now completely lost it, refuses to submit the application, and demands 12,000 euros for the design.
I actually did the design myself, and she just used the software. I was not advised. She simply implemented things without pointing out poor practicality. As a layperson, I am not familiar with this and expect advice; that is part of the architect’s job, isn’t it?
What should I do now? I am emotionally exhausted...
G
Gerddieter12 Mar 2026 00:24Since I have gone through the process of terminating the contract with the difficult architect, involving a lawyer and learning some costly lessons, I can clear up a common misconception that often appears in this forum.
The architect does NOT owe a design that is automatically approved and that’s it... They owe a design that is approvable, complies with the rules and standards of good architectural practice, and meets the client’s requirements.
In short: many designs are approvable, but if they do not meet the requirements, that is not sufficient.
In the current case, the problem seems to be that a design was agreed upon for a fee. And basically, the architect delivered—you yourself say the design "works." Whether you had to do her work or she charges 900/h is irrelevant; the contract is fulfilled.
However, it is so bold that I would hope she does not try to claim the rest of the payment—no idea if the contract ultimately complies with customs and proper form... otherwise, she will be in a tough spot....
GD
The architect does NOT owe a design that is automatically approved and that’s it... They owe a design that is approvable, complies with the rules and standards of good architectural practice, and meets the client’s requirements.
In short: many designs are approvable, but if they do not meet the requirements, that is not sufficient.
In the current case, the problem seems to be that a design was agreed upon for a fee. And basically, the architect delivered—you yourself say the design "works." Whether you had to do her work or she charges 900/h is irrelevant; the contract is fulfilled.
However, it is so bold that I would hope she does not try to claim the rest of the payment—no idea if the contract ultimately complies with customs and proper form... otherwise, she will be in a tough spot....
GD
Honestly, when I read that the design is bad because sliding doors don’t work or the wardrobe isn’t deep enough, I need to see that. Just as when someone claims they planned everything themselves and the architect only used a tool, I want to see it so I can contribute to the quality.
No offense. But in this forum, I have mainly seen situations like this, which didn’t involve high planning costs but rather the confusion caused by a poster thinking their design was better than the architect’s, while in fact the poster’s plan was worse.
A plan is not bad just because it doesn’t fully reflect the client’s demands. Especially when it comes to sliding doors, I think it’s better if an architect leaves them out because they are simply not effective or obsolete. The question is whether you are stubborn or able to analyze an architect’s suggestion. It may be that your design is simply feasible without pointless sliding doors, but of course awkward with sliding doors. I also wonder how anyone comes up with a design where a corridor becomes almost too narrow. In a new build?
So, I straightforwardly question your expertise and kindly ask here for the architect’s design as well as your design and the spatial planning created by you, which the architect then used for their planning.
No offense. But in this forum, I have mainly seen situations like this, which didn’t involve high planning costs but rather the confusion caused by a poster thinking their design was better than the architect’s, while in fact the poster’s plan was worse.
A plan is not bad just because it doesn’t fully reflect the client’s demands. Especially when it comes to sliding doors, I think it’s better if an architect leaves them out because they are simply not effective or obsolete. The question is whether you are stubborn or able to analyze an architect’s suggestion. It may be that your design is simply feasible without pointless sliding doors, but of course awkward with sliding doors. I also wonder how anyone comes up with a design where a corridor becomes almost too narrow. In a new build?
So, I straightforwardly question your expertise and kindly ask here for the architect’s design as well as your design and the spatial planning created by you, which the architect then used for their planning.
G
Gerddieter12 Mar 2026 10:32I would not post the design here.
1. If you do not intend to pay for it, you do not acquire the rights to it.
2. It would be problematic if the architect recognized herself in the thread based on her design.
Gerddieter
1. If you do not intend to pay for it, you do not acquire the rights to it.
2. It would be problematic if the architect recognized herself in the thread based on her design.
Gerddieter
MachsSelbst schrieb:
You were foolish enough to pay a 15k advance. “Foolish” is a strong word; “trusting” would be more appropriate. That’s why I don’t want to pay the remaining 15k euros without some kind of guarantee.
The architect works alone from home. She could, for all I know, be on the verge of personal bankruptcy. I just want to protect myself.
If she kept the 15k euros, that would be fine with me. The design (meaning the layout) is acceptable. Still, there remains a sour aftertaste from having paid a lot of money for little delivered.
Gerddieter schrieb:
Yes – that would be a valid approach that I would also take. Let her keep the 15,000, she would have to sue for any more... That is also my opinion.
Gerddieter schrieb:
I’m asking again about the facade – it’s the face of your house. Has anyone with expertise taken care of that? That is exactly the important point! As a layperson, I have NO idea what that means. Thanks for asking that. The architect just visualized a brick veneer.
Again, she simply used the software tool. The general contractor now says the brick veneer costs 50,000–60,000 euros. Had I known that beforehand, I would not have gone with it because it’s too expensive.
So, no, I was not advised on what options are possible. My hope lies with the general contractor that something can still be salvaged.
Gerddieter schrieb:
My experience with a similar architect was that they don’t really care if they can’t even properly design the room sizes.... You speak for me. That’s why I’m so “frustrated.” I could have just used that tool myself.
There is an existing house from the 1960s on the plot. I provided her with the original architectural plans. She simply placed the new house in the same location.
So, she didn’t have to do much work either.
It basically raises the question: what is the job of an architect? Just to mindlessly use the tool, or to present something thoughtful to the client? I could have gone straight to the general contractor myself.
That may have been a mistake on my part.
11ant schrieb:
Your formal complaint is probably coming too late now and would therefore be considered overdue. Without a formal complaint, there can be no correction; without a deadline, no fruitless lapse of that deadline; the poor performance is, in a way, resolved / did not happen ... Yes, I agree. I am not a lawyer, but if the contract states that the architect is also responsible for submitting the building permit / planning permission application, and now she says "she's no longer willing," then she is refusing to do the work. She is unwilling because I brought up the issue of the payment timing. However, you can’t simply say you don’t feel like doing it anymore and take offense. I said I would pay, just not immediately. She even refuses a partial payment before approval. Something is not right here.
11ant schrieb:
(But didn’t you initially talk about service phases 1 through 4?) The contract does not mention service phases 1 through 4. The responsibilities are the following: design – permit planning and building permit / planning permission. I assume that corresponds to service phases 1 to 4. I am not an expert, especially since the architect showed me her HOAI tool on the computer and she selected 1 through 4 just to display the total price.
An architect can’t just say she was only hired for service phases 3 to 4, right? You yourself write that the service phases build on each other.
11ant schrieb:
Clarify if the design is ready for construction, and then have the general contractor (GC) submit the application directly. That way, both the permit planning and the detailed planning come from the same source. That’s what I’m doing. Although the GC wants 10,000 euros (about $11,000) for the submission, which seems very expensive to me. I might be able to get it much cheaper through a friend.
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