Hello everyone,
I have already read some posts in this forum and would like to hear your opinions on the above question regarding the (co-)determination of the floor plan by architects.
Here is the situation:
I am planning to build a house and have designed it using a publicly available 3D house planning software. So, there are basic plans showing the interior walls, doors, room layout, room sizes, and windows. When I went to the initial meeting with the architect on my laptop (no contract signed yet), he smiled and said we need to be careful not to clash over the plans: as an architect, he also has an artistic claim, and the house being built is a reference/advertisement for him. He also wants to take interior photos and have permission to publish them. I am welcome to express my wishes and ideas, but he would like to decide on certain aspects, such as the alignment of various walls. If we want a floor plan created by us to be built exactly as is, we would be better off with a building contractor.
As the client, I don’t want to overstep, but my thought is that I am the one building the house, paying for it, and living in it. The interior design should concern the architect only insofar as he fulfills my requirements or—if I agree—designs according to my general ideas.
On the other hand, one could also see the architect as an artist who receives a commission from me to create a work of art (the house). It is therefore his product, taking my (rough) ideas into account. Like a commission for a painter: I tell the painter I want a vase with red tulips, but he decides how to execute it—the shape of the vase, the number, and especially the arrangement of the tulips.
Is the artistic claim of the architect described above reasonable and something to expect from other architects, or can one usually give an architect exact plans which they only challenge if there are technical building reasons or practical living concerns?
I am open to both approaches described above but would like to know what is generally the norm.
Thank you very much for your assessments!
Best regards, Jersey
I have already read some posts in this forum and would like to hear your opinions on the above question regarding the (co-)determination of the floor plan by architects.
Here is the situation:
I am planning to build a house and have designed it using a publicly available 3D house planning software. So, there are basic plans showing the interior walls, doors, room layout, room sizes, and windows. When I went to the initial meeting with the architect on my laptop (no contract signed yet), he smiled and said we need to be careful not to clash over the plans: as an architect, he also has an artistic claim, and the house being built is a reference/advertisement for him. He also wants to take interior photos and have permission to publish them. I am welcome to express my wishes and ideas, but he would like to decide on certain aspects, such as the alignment of various walls. If we want a floor plan created by us to be built exactly as is, we would be better off with a building contractor.
As the client, I don’t want to overstep, but my thought is that I am the one building the house, paying for it, and living in it. The interior design should concern the architect only insofar as he fulfills my requirements or—if I agree—designs according to my general ideas.
On the other hand, one could also see the architect as an artist who receives a commission from me to create a work of art (the house). It is therefore his product, taking my (rough) ideas into account. Like a commission for a painter: I tell the painter I want a vase with red tulips, but he decides how to execute it—the shape of the vase, the number, and especially the arrangement of the tulips.
Is the artistic claim of the architect described above reasonable and something to expect from other architects, or can one usually give an architect exact plans which they only challenge if there are technical building reasons or practical living concerns?
I am open to both approaches described above but would like to know what is generally the norm.
Thank you very much for your assessments!
Best regards, Jersey
It is common practice to let the professional handle it.
Or do you also tell your dentist how to treat your periodontitis?
He is right in saying: clients who do not make demands beyond their own amateurish meddling are well served by a general contractor. I mean that in a neutral way and it does not imply that anyone who builds with a general contractor has no expectations.
You can try contacting them directly. But be prepared that your possibly amateurish drawing may be accepted as is [emoji6]
Or do you also tell your dentist how to treat your periodontitis?
He is right in saying: clients who do not make demands beyond their own amateurish meddling are well served by a general contractor. I mean that in a neutral way and it does not imply that anyone who builds with a general contractor has no expectations.
You can try contacting them directly. But be prepared that your possibly amateurish drawing may be accepted as is [emoji6]
Jersey schrieb:
He also has an artistic ambition as an architect, and the house being built is meant to serve as a reference or advertisement for him. He wants to take interior photos and be allowed to publish them. I’m welcome to express my wishes, but for example, he may want to decide on the alignment of certain walls. If the architect would rather drive a taxi and tell his passengers about what a demanding artist he is than earn his living designing houses for ordinary people, then you shouldn’t stand in the way of his detachment from reality and should give one of his many reasonable colleagues the chance that could have been his too. Eventually, Hollywood will call him.
Be thankful that he revealed his true nature early on. That is better than if you had already reached an agreement and later wanted to move a wall, but he disagreed and found a judge who would have sided with him (prioritizing copyright over the client’s interests). Apparently, such cases are not that uncommon.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
T
toxicmolotof21 Nov 2017 07:12And if I want to move a wall in my house, I don’t approve the plan. The architect can twist and turn all they want.
But I do agree with the architect in principle; it’s just that their reasoning is completely off. They are the professional and ideally know better what makes sense and what doesn’t.
But I do agree with the architect in principle; it’s just that their reasoning is completely off. They are the professional and ideally know better what makes sense and what doesn’t.
Experience:
3 architectural firms we work with.
1) They like to wear black turtlenecks, drive Audis, and have an office in an old villa. Their goal is to create something special. Not suitable for standard projects, too expensive for small tasks. Good for old listed buildings. Expertise is top-notch, respect for construction techniques from past centuries. Strong connections with craftspeople in that field.
2) Blue jeans, Ibiza-style shirt, white Mercedes. Energetic presence. Good for commercial and large-scale projects. Creative, with good ideas, but somewhat chaotic. Bold use of color. Somewhat cost-conscious.
3) Office in a single-family house. Drives an Opel. Background as a master craftsman. Good for small projects, renovations, and certainly single-family houses. Loved by tradespeople because he’s down-to-earth: a good choice for tenders. Keeps an eye on costs. Willing to negotiate. “We build what you want.” Aesthetic advice, not aesthetic dictates.
There’s a lid for every pot. Karsten
3 architectural firms we work with.
1) They like to wear black turtlenecks, drive Audis, and have an office in an old villa. Their goal is to create something special. Not suitable for standard projects, too expensive for small tasks. Good for old listed buildings. Expertise is top-notch, respect for construction techniques from past centuries. Strong connections with craftspeople in that field.
2) Blue jeans, Ibiza-style shirt, white Mercedes. Energetic presence. Good for commercial and large-scale projects. Creative, with good ideas, but somewhat chaotic. Bold use of color. Somewhat cost-conscious.
3) Office in a single-family house. Drives an Opel. Background as a master craftsman. Good for small projects, renovations, and certainly single-family houses. Loved by tradespeople because he’s down-to-earth: a good choice for tenders. Keeps an eye on costs. Willing to negotiate. “We build what you want.” Aesthetic advice, not aesthetic dictates.
There’s a lid for every pot. Karsten
I believe the floor plan must be developed collaboratively. As the client, you will live in the house, so it needs to suit your needs. The architect must focus on feasibility and provide suggestions on how to optimize the design.
I would look for someone else. This does not fit.
I would look for someone else. This does not fit.
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