Architect 101: A Fuss-Free Guide
What does an architect do, how much do they cost and what are the benefits of hiring one? Read on for a basic rundown
Laura Barry
21 April 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor. Home and garden writer, traveller and style enthusiast.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Home and garden writer, traveller and style enthusiast.... More
The role of the architect is complex and varied, and can change from client to client. Here is a fuss-free, straightforward guide to what an architect does, how they will benefit your project, and what payment methods you can expect to encounter.
When it comes to building or redesigning your home, there are myriad options open to you. Do you hire an architect? Should you get an interior designer? Will you consult a building designer? And what exactly do each of these professionals do? Here, we take a closer look at architects: what they do, how they charge and what benefit you receive from using one. Read on for a closer look at the role of the architect in your next project.
What is an architect?
An architect spends five years studying at university, followed by mandatory practical experience, and a registration examination before they’re allowed to practise their trade. Architects combine the necessary aspects of building design, along with your personal dream components, to design your ideal home.
Aside from drawings, plans and renderings of your project, an architect can help you set a viable and realistic budget, while guiding you through council planning processes, managing consultants and obtaining competitive quotes for the work required to complete your project.
Important note: In Australia, any work completed by an architect is protected by copyright law, therefore you cannot ask your architect to re-draw a design you have seen elsewhere. The copyright that protects an architect’s work lasts for 70 years from the end of the year the architect died, or 70 years from the end of the year the work was originally ‘published’ to the public. The copyright can only be handed over to you if the architect signs it over in writing.
An architect spends five years studying at university, followed by mandatory practical experience, and a registration examination before they’re allowed to practise their trade. Architects combine the necessary aspects of building design, along with your personal dream components, to design your ideal home.
Aside from drawings, plans and renderings of your project, an architect can help you set a viable and realistic budget, while guiding you through council planning processes, managing consultants and obtaining competitive quotes for the work required to complete your project.
Important note: In Australia, any work completed by an architect is protected by copyright law, therefore you cannot ask your architect to re-draw a design you have seen elsewhere. The copyright that protects an architect’s work lasts for 70 years from the end of the year the architect died, or 70 years from the end of the year the work was originally ‘published’ to the public. The copyright can only be handed over to you if the architect signs it over in writing.
Why would you want an architect?
In the current housing market, buyers are prepared to pay for the practical and aesthetic benefits of good design, making homes built by architects highly sought after. An architect can identify how to situate your project on the available land in order to take advantage of all possible benefits including optimising views, aspect, sunlight, shade, natural cross-flow ventilation and efficient energy usage. Not to mention the convenience of having an architect oversee the entire operation.
Find a local, reviewed and respected architect on Houzz
In the current housing market, buyers are prepared to pay for the practical and aesthetic benefits of good design, making homes built by architects highly sought after. An architect can identify how to situate your project on the available land in order to take advantage of all possible benefits including optimising views, aspect, sunlight, shade, natural cross-flow ventilation and efficient energy usage. Not to mention the convenience of having an architect oversee the entire operation.
Find a local, reviewed and respected architect on Houzz
What does an architect do?
The services of an architect can be roughly broken down into three parts, and you can employ them to perform all or some of these parts.
Design: This is where you and your architect discuss your requirements, sketch designs to go over potential ideas along with the cost of each idea, and develop the chosen design into detailed drawings, material selection, fittings, finishes and the associated cost to produce it.
Contract documentation: This middle phase is where the technical drawings and specs are laid out; planning and building permits are obtained and tenders are invited.
Contract administration: If you have chosen to have your architect oversee the building contract, you can expect them to liaise with the builder to ensure quality of work and specifications are delivered. They can also approve any discrepancies in price and time due to delays or weather, under your approval identify any issues and rectify them, let you know if there are outstanding decisions to be made, and act as your representative during council certification. And they can advise you on suitable contracts, safeguards and trades.
The services of an architect can be roughly broken down into three parts, and you can employ them to perform all or some of these parts.
Design: This is where you and your architect discuss your requirements, sketch designs to go over potential ideas along with the cost of each idea, and develop the chosen design into detailed drawings, material selection, fittings, finishes and the associated cost to produce it.
Contract documentation: This middle phase is where the technical drawings and specs are laid out; planning and building permits are obtained and tenders are invited.
Contract administration: If you have chosen to have your architect oversee the building contract, you can expect them to liaise with the builder to ensure quality of work and specifications are delivered. They can also approve any discrepancies in price and time due to delays or weather, under your approval identify any issues and rectify them, let you know if there are outstanding decisions to be made, and act as your representative during council certification. And they can advise you on suitable contracts, safeguards and trades.
How much does an architect cost?
The cost of an architect will largely depend on their experience, reputation and the demand for your chosen professional. Architects will also charge differently according to how you have employed them (see stages above). In general, you are charged according to the following methods.
A percentage fee: Where an architect is employed under the agreement that they will be paid a percentage of the overall project value, this percentage can sometimes be higher for smaller projects.
Fixed fee project: In order to enact this method you must be very clear about what you want and how much you can afford. This is an excellent way of ensuring project costs don’t skyrocket during construction.
Hourly rates: This means there is no fixed budget and you only pay for work that is completed. This can be useful to the architect, ensuring they don’t spend more time on a project than it’s worth, but it requires excellent record keeping.
Important note: Any work done outside the client and architect agreement will cost you more, so be clear and concise about what you want, what you can afford and what will be delivered before signing an agreement.
The cost of an architect will largely depend on their experience, reputation and the demand for your chosen professional. Architects will also charge differently according to how you have employed them (see stages above). In general, you are charged according to the following methods.
A percentage fee: Where an architect is employed under the agreement that they will be paid a percentage of the overall project value, this percentage can sometimes be higher for smaller projects.
Fixed fee project: In order to enact this method you must be very clear about what you want and how much you can afford. This is an excellent way of ensuring project costs don’t skyrocket during construction.
Hourly rates: This means there is no fixed budget and you only pay for work that is completed. This can be useful to the architect, ensuring they don’t spend more time on a project than it’s worth, but it requires excellent record keeping.
Important note: Any work done outside the client and architect agreement will cost you more, so be clear and concise about what you want, what you can afford and what will be delivered before signing an agreement.
What do you need to do before agreeing to an architect and a project?
First, consider what kind of work an architect usually does. Ensure that they have a similar style to what you’re after, are experienced working in the environment you have chosen, and are familiar with local rules and regulations. You also want to ensure you can have a great working relationship with them; after all, they will be designing your home.
Check your architect’s qualifications with a local board of authority to ensure you are working with a certified professional, and if possible try to view some of the architect’s past projects to get a feel for their work.
Before meeting with your architect for the first time, make sure you have a clear, concise brief for exactly what you want to get out of your home, what things are must-haves and what are happy extras. Be upfront about what you want, or can afford, to spend on the project, and never hesitate to ask for clarification on exactly what will be delivered and its cost.
Keep notes from your meetings with your architect, or better yet, see if they use Houzz Pro software, which keeps track of all communication, invoices, payments as well as timelines etc, as it can be useful to look back on who made what decisions and when. Talk about timetables and be aware that there are extraneous variables that can affect your project going forward.
First, consider what kind of work an architect usually does. Ensure that they have a similar style to what you’re after, are experienced working in the environment you have chosen, and are familiar with local rules and regulations. You also want to ensure you can have a great working relationship with them; after all, they will be designing your home.
Check your architect’s qualifications with a local board of authority to ensure you are working with a certified professional, and if possible try to view some of the architect’s past projects to get a feel for their work.
Before meeting with your architect for the first time, make sure you have a clear, concise brief for exactly what you want to get out of your home, what things are must-haves and what are happy extras. Be upfront about what you want, or can afford, to spend on the project, and never hesitate to ask for clarification on exactly what will be delivered and its cost.
Keep notes from your meetings with your architect, or better yet, see if they use Houzz Pro software, which keeps track of all communication, invoices, payments as well as timelines etc, as it can be useful to look back on who made what decisions and when. Talk about timetables and be aware that there are extraneous variables that can affect your project going forward.
Most importantly, develop a constant flow of communication between you and your chosen architect. The more you talk, the clearer the project gets, and the more unlikely it is that you will come across an unwelcome surprise. Architects have a finely honed set of skills and creative minds, so be sure to create a working relationship built on mutual respect, and you can be sure your project will be a smoother process for everyone involved.
Tell us
Did you employ an architect for your home build or renovation? Tell us what benefits you experienced from their service in the Comments below.
More
Are you looking for more than a generalist architect? Do you want to learn about sustainable architects? If so, take a look at Renovation Insight: How to Choose a Sustainable Architect
Tell us
Did you employ an architect for your home build or renovation? Tell us what benefits you experienced from their service in the Comments below.
More
Are you looking for more than a generalist architect? Do you want to learn about sustainable architects? If so, take a look at Renovation Insight: How to Choose a Sustainable Architect
What are you working on?
Related Stories
Renovating Advice
How Do I Find, Assess & Hire the Right People for My Renovation?
Do you need a kitchen designer or a joiner? An architect or an interior designer? Find out with our essential reno guide
Full Story
Renovation Guides
What Key Measurements & Room Dimensions Should I Know for a Reno?
Read practical information about key room measurements and minimum clearances for fittings and fixtures in every room
Full Story
Bedrooms
12 Decorating Tips to Make Any Bedroom Look Better
By Anne Ellard
Want to know how to make your bedroom look better? Here are 12 great tricks
Full Story
Renovation Guides
Room by Room: Experts on Ways to Avoid Common Renovation Blunders
From the kitchen to the garden, and all areas in between, experts identify common mistakes and share priceless insights
Full Story
Bathroom Expert Advice
5 Reasons Your Bathroom Smells Funky (and How to Fix the Problem)
A plumber reveals five reasons your bathroom might smell like sewage or emanate a musty odour
Full Story
Kitchen Renovations
From Planning to Pendants: Kitchen Lighting Essentials
By Joanna Tovia
This valuable guide will give you all you need to know about choosing kitchen lighting for fabulous form and function
Full Story
Living Rooms
The Full Picture: How High Should Your TV Be?
By Matt Clawson
We look at an important question to consider when locating your television: how high should you set it?
Full Story
Bathrooms
All the Dimensions You Need to Know for Your Bathroom Makeover
Fit everything comfortably in a small or medium-size bathroom by knowing standard dimensions for fixtures and clearances
Full Story
Renovation Guides
How to Control the Cost of Your Renovation, Room by Room
Where to save, where to spend (and all the tricks in between) for keeping the cost of your renovation on track
Full Story
Architecture
Renovation Insight: How to Choose an Architect
A great architect can turn your dream home into reality – three industry experts reveal where to look for the right one
Full Story
Thanks for this. Here are a few more reasons why every quality renovation / new home needs an architect:
Don’t believe the myth championed by sections of the building industry that architect-designed houses are expensive. In actual fact, an architect will minimise costly changes during construction because they will produce a proper level of drawings (expect 30 x A3 pages for a new home, rather than the 1-2 pages you’ll receive from a drafting service.) Without this, you are entering a contract with a builder with none of the details resolved. You wouldn’t do that if you were buying a house, so why do it when spending another significant amount of money?
Quality builders want to work with architects. A reputable builder will ask for plans and specifications to be thoroughly documented so that they can go ahead and do what they do best, which is build. Working out with the owner what you’re going to build and why is the architect’s role. If your builder is reluctant to involve an architect, what they’re really saying is that they don’t want an architect there assessing the quality of their work and ensuring they build exactly what’s on the plans.
Don’t just accept what your builder says it will cost.
If you’re shopping for real estate, or a car, do you simply accept the price the vendor asks you to pay? I doubt it. So why do it for your renovation / new build? If you want to stay in control & tender your building works to several builders, rather than being shoe-horned into paying what your builder dictates, you need an architect. Your architect will manage this process and shop your project out to however many builders you like.You can then make the kind of informed, carefully considered decision your property deserves.
Leave project managing to the professionals.
Don't be a sitting duck ie. a ‘project managing' owner with unresolved drawings. Builders will regard you with glee - an opportunity to happily accept your constant changes because it’s just another variation that they can charge for. Project managing is a specialist skill. Leave it to your architect.
This article has great points and I will forward it to clients for review. As a custom builder in Sydney, we work with clients to design and build their dream homes. When clients come with a clear vision of what they want to achieve, then we can collaboratively move forward to produce a design that meets their family needs and stays within budget. When working with a client, we bring together a team that includes an architect, a builder and a designer to work with the client at concept stage - this ensures that the integrity of the design and well as building sensibilities are considered when developing a plan. A solid design brief, coupled with a good team, will ensure that your project runs smoothly, on budget and delivers you a home that is perfect for your unique needs.
A great topic that needs discussion. Unlike Europe a majority of Australians are not used to employing an architect when building a home. The difference between a draftsperson and architect is not well understood. A key benefit of an architect is their design and masterplanning skill, nobody has their level of knowledge on proportion, space, context, connection and flow. Architects also have creative training to put these elements together in a way that suits a client's lifestyle and tastes. With an architect you get sooooo more than 'CAD skills' and 'house plans'.