Working with your Architect

Every year, thousands of Australians build new homes, or renovate and extend their existing homes. Unfortunately, many are unhappy with the finished result Some owners find their home looks different to the way they pictured it, is poorly planned, hard to heat or keep cool, or has cost far more than they thought. This is where an Architect could have helped.

What can an Architect do for me?

If you are contemplating building a new house, or remodelling and extending an old one, an Architect can be of considerable help. People often feel that Architects are expensive without really knowing what they do. This page aims to tell you something of what an Architect can do for you. The title 'Architect' is a legal one, indicating that a person has demonstrated his or her professional competence by examination and is registered, or licensed by the Board of Archictects under the Federal Government's Architect's Act to practice architecture.

Architects work in four broad stages:

1. Schematic Design

Can we build up? Do we spread out? Do we step down with the block? Where is the pedestrian and vehicle access? These questions and others are schematic design questions. The best solutions are most often available through consultation with your Architect. By using an Architect's training and experience, you can usually improve your original concepts.

Your Architect considers orientation, massing, circulation, energy efficiency, furnishing and siting. Once these things are decided, you will be able to prepare a preliminary building budget, and your Architect can help. The Archicentre Renovator Report or "New Home" Report is a form of schematic design.

It is not uncommon for an Architect to save thousands of dollars in improving loose designs - for example, combining all that's required into a smaller, more effective space, thereby dispensing with unnecessary building costs. Even the reduction of around 10m2 of space will result in several thousands dollars savings

2. Design Development

This is the stage where the design is developed, where your Architect shows you a range of options regarding choice of building materials. Your Architect can outline the merits of each, determine their likely costs and help you decide: "Should we have a concrete or timber floor? What areas do we tile? Will timber-lined ceilings in the family room be worth the extra expense? What are the best systems for heating our house, or keeping it cool?"

Unexpected cost-savings may be made at this stage, as your Architect may be able to offer attractive but less expensive alternatives to the building materials you originally thought you would have. On the subject of building materials, your Architect constantly receives trade literature from suppliers, and because he or she doesn't accept any commission from suppliers, your Architect is completely impartial and can freely advise you as to your best options. This may not be the case with other design consultants or building companies.

3. Contract Documentation

Now you are satisfied that the design suits your needs and your budget, and you have decided to proceed with the building, a major part of an Architect's work starts. Contract Documentation is a term which describes the drawings and other instructions needed to make sure that your house is built to your requirements, and to the standard expected by your local building authority.

The stages of an Architect's thorough contract documentation are:

(a) Working Drawings
(b) Specifications
(c) Liaising with Authorities

(a) Working Drawings

In the case of vaguer working drawings, the builder may claim, for example, that the standard of materials you expected are not shown on the drawings, and what you are now asking for are "variations" which will cost more. Or worse, he may be halfway through building the wrong way and charge for undoing the work already begun, as well as for the cost of constructing to your (now) more precise requirements.

The drawings enable you to "shop around"

Particularly with the assistance of your Architect, your detailed drawings will help you obtain accurate price comparisons and quality comparisons from a number of builders. This is called "competitive tendering', which basically means you now have the ability to "shop around".

(b) Specifications

The specification component of the document sets out the materials to be used and the standard of workmanship required of each trade.The headings in a typical specification set out the stages of building and the tasks of each tradesperson, eg; Demolition, Excavation, Concreter, Bricklayer, Carpenter... etc By being more specific about what is required, your Architect establishes high standards from the beginning.

(c) Liaising with Authorities

The local building authority will require a number of sets of your drawings and specifications, which will be checked against regulations before you are issued with approval to build. Your Architect liaises with the building surveyor to provide any additional information that may be required. Your Architect is familiar with their procedures and, as a consequence, can usually expedite the granting of approval. The building approval system exists to ensure that the community's standards of health, safety and amenity are adhered to

4. Contract Administration

Attention to detail is the Architect's benchmark. No other alternative provides this thorough approach, which helps to minimise worry, and ensure that your building project will turn out just the way you pictured it.

Comments From People Who Have Used Architects

"Before we began, we saw so many other renovations that could have benefited from professional design advice."

"Renovating is a process fraught with anxiety. Our Architect saved us a lot of nervous energy we would have otherwise needed for the project."

"The Architect knows the acceptable standard the builder should work to - and I don't. If the builder tells me that the job he has done is to an 'industry acceptable standard' I can't argue the point."

"At one stage the builder spent a good deal of time telling me a certain thing couldn't be done, and that he would have to change it. When the Architect arrived, he showed how it could be done, and there were no further worries."

"An important role of the Architect is to help advise what not to do."

"Our Architect interpreted and embellished our ideas, and found special building materials for us that we didn't know existed."

"He is the middle man in case of disputes. Because I did not have to argue with the builder about variations, I remained on good terms with him throughout the job - and co-operation was essential, because he was working where we were living!"

What do Architects charge?

Your Architect will individually negotiate with you, to set a fee for the level of service you require. It is important that this happens as early as possible, to make sure that everybody is clear about your needs. The basis of the fee can vary, depending on the type and complexity of the project. It may be worked out as a percentage of the building cost, on an hourly basis, or simply as an agreed fixed sum. The cost of an architect to plan, document, tender and supervise a project can usually be negotiated between 10% to 15% of the value of the project, but you may save up to 30% with the architect organizing competitive tenders.