ᐅ Architect or Structural Engineer – When Is Each the Right Choice?

Hello everyone,

I have been a silent reader here for quite some time and have already learned a lot. Thanks a lot for that 😉.
I understand that it makes sense to hire an architect for a new build and to engage them at least through phase 8 of the service phases.
However, I have difficulty understanding exactly what the difference is between an architect and a structural engineer.
When comparing offers on various websites, the services offered seem very similar to me as a layperson.
I can imagine that an architect offers advantages if you want an unusual house shape or something similar.
But what about if you don’t have any special requirements for the house shape?
For us, making efficient use of the plot, the interior layout, and the installed technology are much more important. A very "normal" house with a pitched roof would not bother us at all.
Does it make a difference for us as clients whether we plan with an architect or a structural engineer?
Is it possible to say when one is better than the other, or vice versa? Or are there services / service phases that only one of the two offers?

Thanks for your support!

Cheers,
Johnny

All I can say is that an architect primarily designs houses, requests quotes, handles contractor selection, supervises construction, and carries out inspections. In short. And this applies even to very ordinary houses with pitched roofs, just like ours.

I don’t know exactly what a civil engineer does, but an architect is not just for show.

Although most of them (ours definitely) act like artists. You need to be able to handle that.

JohnnyEH schrieb:

I understand that it makes sense to hire an architect for a new build and to keep them involved through service phase 8.

I am very glad to hear that.

JohnnyEH schrieb:

However, I have difficulty understanding the exact difference between an architect and a civil engineer.

These are different fields of study, although some architects have also studied civil engineering. But for something like a highway bridge, you need very little architectural knowledge, and the training is specialized accordingly by focusing away from what is not relevant. For example, neurologists do not perform joint surgeries, but they are doctors just as much as orthopedic surgeons.

JohnnyEH schrieb:

Or are there services / service phases offered only by one of the two?

The service phases defined by HOAI apply across the board. For a single-family house, you only need service phases 1 through 8, and it’s better to hire an architect (who, as mentioned, is often also a civil engineer).

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In many architectural firms, including smaller ones, both types often work together or divide the tasks accordingly.

@11ant perfectly explained the comparison of specialties in the medical field. So, if they specialize in single-family homes, after many years of professional experience, there is often no noticeable difference anymore.

Good morning,

thank you very much for the replies.
@Tarnari I didn’t mean to imply that the architect is only good for superficial details. I just assumed that architects have better drawing skills than structural engineers. The other services you mentioned are also offered by structural engineers – at least that’s what we were told.

@11ant Could you briefly explain why the architect would be the better choice? The background is this: The structural engineering firms we have contacted so far all offered a free initial consultation (about 1 to 2 hours) to discuss our requirements. The architectural firms (to be fair, there were only two so far) only responded with a standard email containing general statements like “mid to high standard – 3200 to 3500 euros per m² (around 300 to 330 USD per ft²).” For anything further, phase 1 of the service would have to be officially “booked.” Getting a sense of different architects and initial construction cost estimates can quickly become quite expensive ...

Much more important than the educational background are other aspects: passion for the work, interest in the client, commitment to the project, communication skills... this can apply to a civil engineer who enjoys building residential houses as well as to an architect.