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...
11ant schrieb:
Your complaint would probably be too late now and therefore effectively time-barred. Without a complaint, there can be no correction; without a deadline, no ineffective expiration of the same, so the poor performance is more or less considered fixed / not having happened… Yes, I agree. I’m not a lawyer, but if the contract states that the architect is also responsible for submitting the building permit / planning permission, and now she says "she doesn’t want to do it anymore," then she is refusing to work. She doesn’t want to because I brought up the timing of the payment. But you can’t just say, “I don’t want to anymore” and act offended. I said I will pay, just not immediately. She even rejects a partial payment before the approval. Something doesn’t add up here.
11ant schrieb:
(But didn’t you originally speak of service phases 1 to 4?) The contract does not mention service phases 1 to 4. The obligations are as follows: design – building permit planning and building permit submission. I assume that corresponds to service phases 1 to 4. I’m not an expert, especially since the architect showed me the HOAI tool on the computer and selected 1 to 4 just to show the total price.
But an architect can’t just say, “I was hired only for service phases 3 to 4,” right? You yourself say that these service phases build upon each other.
11ant schrieb:
Clarify whether the design is construction-ready and then have the general contractor submit it directly. That way, at least the building permit planning and the detailed planning come from the same source. That’s what I plan to do. However, the general contractor wants 10,000 euros (approximately 11,000 dollars) just for the submission fee, which seems very high to me. I might be able to get it much cheaper through an acquaintance.
ypg schrieb:
No offense. You have a point. I just want to repeat an example:
"The initial design was unusable! Our budget is 750,000 euros, communicated both verbally and in writing. To realize the design, we would have needed 1.25 million euros."
Isn't that completely wrong?
The architect underestimated the ceiling heights. We have to install lowered ceilings because of the central ventilation system. We want a seamless transition from the living room to the terrace. The screed needs to be poured higher. Although the development plan allowed it, the original shell construction heights were too low. The clear room height would have been around 2.45 meters (8 feet). Perhaps that is “permissible,” but not for a house costing 750,000 euros or more.
Do you see my point? The architect should recognize this herself and say, okay, I can raise the house by 1 to 2 meters (3 to 6 feet) and offer this option to the client while providing advice accordingly.
Then say, yes, this is possible, but it will cost about XY. Isn’t that part of design phase 2?
Only when I asked did we push the house height to the maximum allowed. It was revised, and lo and behold, there was still a lot of room above. Isn’t that a mess?
In summary, I always had to question everything and was correct on most issues. However, I don’t want to push my architect towards the solution; I would have liked to see options proactively so I could decide myself. Or am I expecting too much?
N
nordanney12 Mar 2026 12:59Ohropax schrieb:
We have to lower the ceilings because of the central ventilation system. Why is that necessary? It’s usually easier to cast the ducts directly into the concrete ceiling. That’s standard practice. Maybe that was the architect’s idea?
Ohropax schrieb:
Although the development plan allowed it, the original shell construction heights were too low. You would end up with a clear room height of about 2.45m (8 feet). Too low in what sense? Compared to your explicitly stated wish of 2.60m (8 feet 6 inches), or did you just assume it would be more than 2.45m (8 feet)? Even that height isn’t unusual or particularly negative if it wasn’t discussed in advance.
Ohropax schrieb:
Maybe it’s "permissible," but not for a house you pay 750,000 euros or more for. 750,000 euros is relative. What exactly should be included in that 750k? All-in, that just about covers 180 sqm (1,940 sq ft) plus additional construction costs, garage, and landscaping. More than sufficient, but not lavish.
Ohropax schrieb:
Do you see my point? The architect should be able to see, okay, I can raise the house by 1-2 meters (yards) and offer that to the client and advise accordingly. Yes, consultation should happen. But on the other hand, there are always two parties involved. Did you communicate your “wish list”? If you don’t specify anything, of course the architect will initially plan a standard design.
I’m not trying to defend the architect. But
Ohropax schrieb:
Only after I asked did we explore the maximum height of the house? It was adjusted, and lo and behold, there’s still plenty of room to go higher. Isn’t that a mess? That’s the start of planning: communicating your wishes and not being surprised that the architect can’t read minds.
My impression after five pages of discussion: there are two parties not communicating properly. One asks too little; the other doesn’t express their expectations and then gets annoyed when the other side hasn’t asked or read their mind. So it’s a communication issue, not a planning issue. That’s how it looks from the outside.
nordanney schrieb:
I don’t want to defend the architect. But You make good points. I might be wrong.
From the very beginning, I asked to plan the house as tall as possible, so we could see what was feasible. Then we would decide what was affordable and practical.
Is this how you express such a request?
N
nordanney12 Mar 2026 14:09Ohropax schrieb:
Please plan the house as tall as possible so we can see what’s achievable. Then we’ll look at what is affordable and practical. Is that how you make such a request? No. Not really in construction. “Just do it and we’ll review later” is a really “bad” way to express a wish. In step 2, the architect should create a preliminary design—a rough sketch or plan. It’s also common to calculate with rough figures (e.g., 3,500€/m² (325 sq ft) of living space to allow enough buffer). Only then should you proceed with further planning.
Maximally feasible? Maximally within the limits of the building regulations or planning permission, even if that ends up being 3.4m (11 feet)? Maximally within what the architect usually does? Maximally tall according to your personal preferences?
The actual wish should be: X rooms, maximum area, life situation XY, daily routines AB, ceiling height of 2.60m (8.5 feet) or higher, clearly floor-to-ceiling windows (please specify whether fully accessible or with a typical small threshold), and so on.
As I said, I’m neither blaming nor defending you or the architect (I wasn’t even present as an observer). I just see a serious communication problem and entrenched positions.
G
Gerddieter12 Mar 2026 14:41I have a strong suspicion about what happened here:
The architect probably popped open some champagne after you signed THIS contract.
Then she started planning a bit half-heartedly, likely just using an old draft she had lying around.
Now that you are becoming "demanding," which from her perspective is "annoying," she is happy to stop working and generously waive 3,000 euros (about 3,200 USD)...
By the way, 10,000 euros (about 10,700 USD) for the building permit / planning permission through the general contractor (GC) is the next rip-off!
My local GC charges 6,000 euros (about 6,400 USD) for the entire process from design phases 1 to 4, and with them, "real" architects do the work, not draftsmen (I know because I came with a completed building permit and they credited me 6,000 euros).
Gerddieter
The architect probably popped open some champagne after you signed THIS contract.
Then she started planning a bit half-heartedly, likely just using an old draft she had lying around.
Now that you are becoming "demanding," which from her perspective is "annoying," she is happy to stop working and generously waive 3,000 euros (about 3,200 USD)...
By the way, 10,000 euros (about 10,700 USD) for the building permit / planning permission through the general contractor (GC) is the next rip-off!
My local GC charges 6,000 euros (about 6,400 USD) for the entire process from design phases 1 to 4, and with them, "real" architects do the work, not draftsmen (I know because I came with a completed building permit and they credited me 6,000 euros).
Gerddieter
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