Architect myth-buster
Opinder Liddar takes a closer look at some of the common misconceptions associated with engaging a professional designer for your bespoke home building project
Opindar Liddar dispels some of the commonly believed misconceptions about working with a professional designer
Over the course of my career as an architect, I’ve worked with a plethora of clients to help them bring their vision for a bespoke home to life. I’ve also advised many people during chats at exhibitions such as Build It Live. These sessions often provide an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the value a professional designer can bring to a project. Some of these dialogues have also established an opportunity for me to address the common misconceptions people have about working with an architect.
The first thing a high quality professional should do is listen and develop an understanding of your goals. This will help them to translate your thoughts and desires about a new home into reality. It paves the way for them to deliver great results that exceed your initial ideas, creating a
MYTH ONE: Don’t architects just design big projects?
You may think it bizarre, but I’ve been asked this question on many occasions, as people are often not clear about the project scope an architect will take on. It seems a lot of individuals think we only design large scale developments like the Shard. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth, as a professional can handle the drawings for any building-related project – particularly houses.
RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) and ARB (Architects Registration Board) should be a first port of call when you’re looking for a professional to design your home. Many exhibitions such as Build It Live provide a mine of information on how to engage the services of dream abode you’ll be proud of for years to come. Here, I address some of the common myths people have about working with an architect, as well as shedding light on whether there’s any truth to these. Hopefully the following pages will provide you with enough guidance to know whether you’ve selected the right professional for your journey. I’ll also share tips on how to challenge your designer, should they not deliver the service you expect. a designer for a one-off scheme. Plus, these events often grant the public with easy access to expert advice.
MYTH TWO: I can’t afford an architect
A professional designer and high quality services do cost money, however, they’re worth the investment when it comes to creating a great home. Plus, they’re not as expensive as you might think when offset against the value and clever ideas they’ll bring to your project.
Architects are obliged to provide you with their fee proposals, in writing, at the outset. By breaking the sum down into stages, you can therefore decide if you want to take them on for the entirety of the programme or just as far as a specific phase. For example, it’s possible to
engage an architect for the brief and design stages. Then you can consider different routes to building your house.
When it comes to sub-dividing your budget, it’s worth remembering that creating your dream home is likely to be one of the biggest financial and emotional investments you ever make. An architect will bring a holistic view of the project. As well as understanding your needs and producing a design to reflect this, they will know the relevant planning and Building Regulations your scheme needs to meet. They should help to inform you about various construction options, levels of sustainability and control the costs. Your chosen professional will be able to coordinate relevant consultants and lead the development team, ensuring health and safety standards throughout. Ultimately, a professional designer brings tremendous value in ensuring project success.
Therefore, when you set an architect’s fee against the whole project cost, it is not that large. I’ve had many clients say we have saved them money in the long run. In some cases, people aren’t accustomed to paying professional fees, so when they are presented with the cost breakdown at the beginning of their scheme they assume that it’s too much and that a cheaper alternative could work. However, this approach significantly downplays just how much value and experience a design expert can bring.
MYTH THREE: I can do it myself
Despite my experience in the profession, I still find myself challenged by the depth and complexity of Building Regulations that now apply to developing new homes in the UK. This is another reason why I’d suggest that anyone keen to commission their own home should have a strong guide, such as an architect, beside them.
Balancing great design, budget and buildability is a complex equation that needs expertise and experience. I use the analogy that anyone could draw up plans for their own car – it only needs four wheels, seats, an engine and a steering wheel. However, when you look at what can be produced and the differences between a basic and a more elegant model, the results are worlds apart. House design is similar – but unlike with cars, it’s difficult to change your dwelling every few years. That’s why it’s so important for the design to be of a high standard from day one.
Computer software might be helpful when it comes to getting your thoughts down on paper, but it’s nowhere near good enough to create a dream home that satisfies all the building and planning regulations, as well as being affordable. My suggestion would be to use this kind of program as a sketching tool to explore your ideas. Then, employ an architect to take your drawings and translate them into something that’s deliverable and inspiring.
MYTH FOUR: Can’t I just use a builder?
Perhaps as little as 10 years ago, you may have just about got away with this approach. However, this was a time
when expected levels of design were not as high and regulations were limited in comparison to those that apply today. A high quality contractor is good at developing dwellings, however, they often need a good designer to enable them to be the best at what they do. Where you have an independent professional working alongside you and your builder, you can be confident that things are being done right and at a fair price.
Bear in mind that architects are obliged to refresh their knowledge through continued professional development. Plus, they need to be aware of and understand the latest regs. A builder, on the other hand, may develop properties using the same method that they’ve always used, which might not necessarily keep up with modern requirements. In the past, I’ve even had contractors ask me, “what’s all this energy stuff about?” If this happens too late into your project, it can be expensive to put right later on.
MYTH FIVE: Architects are disinterested, aloof & arrogant
As with any service, there are good and bad providers. I hear about many people’s experiences of interviewing potential architects for their project. Common phrases that have been used about my fellow professionals include, “they didn’t listen”, “the project is too small” and “they gave us their vision, not ours.”
When selecting your designer, consider whether they are truly listening to you and if they’ve understood your long-term goals. At the start of your journey, your chosen architect should help you formulate a brief that covers the basics of what you want – how many bedrooms you need, number of bathrooms etc. This process should also establish your ambitions for maximising natural light, for instance, or the level of sustainability you want to achieve.
To know whether you’ve chosen the right person for the job, it’s also vital to see examples of their work. For instance, are they experienced in residential projects or commercial? There really is an art to making a house a home, and I’ve seen many dwellings designed by architects who generally work in the latter category that result in an abode that looks completely soulless.
CONCLUSION
As an architect, the best way I can help you – the client – is to understand your needs and steer you through the self build journey, which is often complex. Your project could potentially last for several years, so it’s important to choose someone who is interested in your scheme and that you get along well with. Ultimately, your dream home should be how you want it to be – never let anyone tell you otherwise! A good architect will listen to you, take your thoughts and wishes and transform them into a deliverable result.
CONTACTS
ARB www.arb.org.uk Base Architecture & Design 01743 236400 www.basearchitecture.co.uk Des Ewing Residential Architecture 020 7305 7481 www.desewing.com Lapd Architects 01865 407722 www.lapdarchitects.co.uk Plaice Design Company 01394 610844 www.plaicemaking.net RIBA www.architecture.com Undercurrent Architects 07866 440066 www.undercurrent-architects.com OPINDER LIDDAR Opinder Liddar is a Build It Award-winning designer and a director at Lapd Architects. He specialises in self build homes and renovation projects, and is a regular expert at Build It Live.