ᐅ Process for Architect and Floor Plan: Phases 1–4

Hello,
we have finally chosen an architect for our hillside property.
We have already received the initial floor plans.
However, most of our communication is via email, and it takes about two weeks to get responses to our questions and requests (moving the fireplace, vestibule, or guest room...).
Originally, we planned to submit the building permit / planning permission in March. At this pace, it will probably only happen by the end of the year.

What is the "standard" or ideal process when working with an architect? How often do you usually have meetings? How frequently can you request changes?
I’m a bit concerned that it will take way too long and that we will have to constantly push to get answers or ideas from them.

Thank you and best regards

Let’s take a look at the designs. I’d like to see how the architect has addressed the hillside issue.

Changes should be quick these days. Unless you’re not satisfied with the design and the architect has to start over again.

Schedule an appointment to discuss and revise the floor plans, either in person or via Zoom, etc. The latter has the advantage of allowing you to better view the shared screen compared to three people in an office.

Once the rough floor plan is complete, it should already exist in CAD. This way, you can easily make small changes, see how they affect the design, then move a wall by half a meter (about 1.5 feet), and so on.

Kapitänin schrieb:

And answers to our questions and requests (moving the chimney, vestibule or guest room...) take about 2 weeks.

If your communication is as "clear" as this sentence, then I’m not surprised, even for five cents.

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You should also include a date in the contract for the planned submission of the application. Have you clearly communicated your intention to submit in March?

In our case, the process has been a bit faster than expected, but we have also talked to our architect at least once a week. From the initial drafts to the submission, it still took almost 4 months, as several iterations are necessary.

Now, during the construction planning and tendering phase, we speak 2-3 times a week. Emails are added on top of that.

icandoit schrieb:

Let’s take a look at the designs. I’d like to see how the architect has addressed the slope issue.

Changes should be quick these days. Unless you’re not satisfied with the design and the architect has to start over.

It’s not the change itself. We like the floor plan. It’s more about fundamental discussions. For example, we and the architect wondered whether we’d prefer a vestibule or a guest area (roughly speaking) – his answer was simply that nowadays no one builds vestibules anymore... So now we’d have to email him again and so on. It just drags on like this.

I’d prefer not to share the floor plan just yet. My husband is against that ;-)

WilderSueden schrieb:

Make an appointment to discuss and revise the floor plans. Either in person or via Zoom, etc. The latter has the advantage that it’s easier to focus on the shared screen than having three people in an office.
Once the rough floor plan is done, it should already exist in CAD. Then you can easily make small adjustments, see how they work, shift a wall by half a meter (around 1.5 feet), and so on.

We’ve met twice and discussed changes. That went quite well each time. But now, for example, we’ve waited two weeks for a reply. I’m getting a bit restless. There is no CAD model yet, only the floor plan in 2D so to speak.

11ant schrieb:

If your communication is as “clear” as this sentence, I’m not surprised at all.

Um, I was referring here to the collaboration between the architect and us. Of course, I didn’t quote our entire email exchange with him here. I think/hope it’s clear we’ve communicated more than just three words in parentheses –.^ But thanks for your helpful comment ;-)