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...
ypg schrieb:
Nevertheless, you should work on the terms you use and clearly describe in your communication what you want. The architect is a professional, and I am a layperson. She has to ask me if she doesn’t understand something. That’s what I’m paying good money for.
If three full floors lead to construction costs of 1.3 million, which is 50% ABOVE the budget I communicated, then she shouldn’t create a design that includes three full floors.
Don’t you see it that way too?
ypg schrieb:
would work perfectly with you even during an interrogation Interrogation? Haha, this is civil law. Who is supposed to interrogate me?
ypg schrieb:
By the way, nowadays ventilation ducts are cast into the suspended ceilings, so no suspension is needed. It’s meant to be a modern house. The general contractor says that suspension is always done anyway, also to hide lintels and so on.
ypg schrieb:
However, there are some statements here that I personally doubt Which of my statements do you doubt?
I believe the architect is trying to pressure me. Because things are currently at a standstill and she clearly knows that.
She doesn’t want to advance any work, which she is supposed to do, and also doesn’t want to submit the building permit / planning permission application anymore, which she must. That is stated in the contract. But I’m supposed to pay 27,000 euros for an almost self-made design. Gladly, anything else?
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nordanney12 Mar 2026 23:08Ohropax schrieb:
It’s supposed to be a modern house. The general contractor says it will always be attached, also to hide lintels and such. The term general contractor seems outdated here. No, normally these elements are cast in place. If he needs “lintels,” we are probably talking about an unusual floor plan. Extensions generally don’t require them in a typical single-family house.
And “etc.” actually interests me as well. What else needs to be hidden?
nordanney schrieb:
Does it still need to be hidden? "Lowering the ceilings slightly (about 6-8 cm (2.5-3 inches)). Recessed spotlights and similar fixtures are installed there, as many find it difficult to decide on these in advance. Sometimes a beam is also concealed there."
Ohropax schrieb:
Don’t you see it that way too? Unfortunately, quotes can’t be sorted properly on tablets and phones.
I tend to see it this way: at least it seems here that you expect a lot from the other person’s communication but don’t give anything yourself.
I actually work in a field where every single word or sentence has a precise purpose.
That means: if I’m not sure about something, I have to say so. Or if I assume something, I need to write it down and I am obliged to ask the other person whether I am correct or if it’s more likely to be plan B.
A simple example: this “I want green” is very problematic because everyone perceives colors differently. And colors look different in various surroundings. That’s why you usually show an example of what you mean.
Another recent example from this forum: “we want it cozy and if possible an island in the open kitchen!” He ended up with a huge kitchen in a comparatively small room, leaving about 20m² (215 sq ft) for the dining table and sofa area including the fireplace. There was no space left for the sofa or guests. The patio door was blocked. During the planning here, the living area was eventually increased by about 15m² (160 sq ft) or so. Not exactly cozy from a planning perspective, but easy to furnish. The homeowner is happy with that. But instead, he should have expressed it differently.
Just like a psychologist conducts an initial consultation, so does an architect. The more honest you are, the more useful it will be.
And yes: especially here in the forum, people often write very briefly – I also make mistakes in phrasing quite often. But it’s just a forum anyway, which should be approached critically.
Ohropax schrieb:
The general contractor says it is always covered, including beams and so on, to hide them. That’s nonsense. Our beam is adequately concealed without any ceiling drop (built 2013).
Ohropax schrieb:
blackmail Strong words. As far as I know, blackmail involves more than that. If anything, it’s coercion. But she is probably risking her job, since there is an architects’ chamber. Maybe that’s an option for you.
Ohropax schrieb:
"suspend the ceilings slightly (about 6–8 cm). Recessed spotlights and so on are then installed in these, since many find it difficult to decide on this beforehand. Sometimes a beam is hidden there as well." But recessed spotlights are often avoided precisely for that reason.
From memory: patios without a threshold are called barrier-free or accessible. Everything else is speculative. Our old house had a 20cm (8 inch) difference in height, our current one has about 5cm (2 inches). That would still be too much for some people or for you. In the upper floor, it’s not feasible anyway because of insulation.
Tell me, did the general contractor provide the architect for you?
In my opinion, you’re in completely the wrong place with a general contractor – you have too many custom requests that are not standard.
ypg schrieb:
Unfortunately, quotes cannot be sorted on tablets and phones.. Do you see it the same way here?
“An architect is the professional, and I am a layperson. She has to ask me if she does not understand something. That’s what I’m paying good money for.
If 3 full stories lead to construction costs of 1.3 million, meaning 50% OVER my communicated budget, then she shouldn’t create a design that includes 3 full stories.
Don’t you see it that way too?”
ypg schrieb:
Nonsense. Our ceiling overlay is adequately hidden without a dropped ceiling (built 2013) Thanks, learned something new again.
ypg schrieb:
Strong words. To qualify as blackmail, there usually needs to be more, to my knowledge. If anything, this is coercion. Blackmail = If you don’t pay me, although I’m required to deliver services in advance and you are not obliged to pay me yet, then I won’t submit the building permit / planning permission application and your construction project is on hold for now. That’s the toughest kind of blackmail. I will definitely contact the architects’ chamber.
ypg schrieb:
In my opinion, you are completely wrong about the general contractor — you have too many special requests that are not standard. So far, the general contractor has offered everything I want. It doesn’t have to be from a specific manufacturer; whether the ventilation system or heat pump is from manufacturer XYZ doesn’t matter to me.
The main thing is that the general contractor can install them. The main thing is the ventilation system.
The discussions with the general contractor are going very well, almost harmonious. The architect is being difficult!
The general contractor takes over starting from work phase 5. However, he does not want to submit the (external) design either.
Ohropax schrieb:
So far, the general contractor has offered everything I want. Absolutely! They earn good money from you as the client. First, approve everything. "We can do that, you’ll get it." Good for their reputation, showing what they can deliver.
Reminds me of @Hotzenplotz, who also expected a lot from the general contractor, was told "We can do that," even though it was no longer standard. But they couldn’t deliver anything.
A million-dollar project that wore the owner down.
You have to look it up here. Or it was @R.Hotzenplotz.
A general contractor is only as good as their standards!
Ohropax schrieb:
Blackmail = W No, believe me. A serious problem is more than just one issue or an unsubmitted building permit/planning permission application.
Ohropax schrieb:
She should ask me if she doesn’t understand me. Who says she doesn’t understand you? If I am told, please design the house as tall as possible, that is a clear and precise instruction without room for interpretation. You could actually achieve that with a smaller footprint. If additional requests come on one level, then the client probably has unrealistic budget expectations. That can and should be discussed.
And here I am again: we weren’t present during the discussions.
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