First Meeting with Architect
aceofdiamonds
14 years ago
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macv
14 years agobigkahuna
14 years agoRelated Discussions
I wish I hadn't let my architect talk me into...
Comments (32)He didn't talk me into anything just wasted 7 months of my time and $50,000 for a plan that was 3X more than I told him on day one (very emphatically) that I was going to spend. So here I sit $50k poorer with a large set of drawings I'll never use that I put so much time into helping develop. I have no idea what to do next. That's what my architect inadverantly talked me into. He had no idea whatsoever how much anything costs as he evidentally only worked with millionares with unlimited budgets. Heck the biggest red flag was in December when he and the only contractor willing to even discuss the project at that point with me were wasting my entire work day when they were supposed to be talking about reducing the cost on my project but, instead they spent an hour or 2 talking about their experiences with rich clients and how very funny it was to have clients with unlimited budgets that would build something, not like it, and tell them to just tear it down and do it again another way. Knock me in the head with a hammer(pardon the pun)! IMO it seems architects in my small city (Baton Rouge) like clients with unlimited money who don't care how many anything costs. I am a hard working person who has worked their behind off for all that I have. I was so intimidated being a female going to get a huge loan and hiring an architect (seemed pretentious). But, I felt with an investment this large, I thought it was the right thing to do. I felt sheepish doing it. It took 5 month in the process to finally go to bid and 2 out of 3 contractors refused to waste their time doing a formal bid and personally told me so. They said the architect was crazy and it was a totally unrealistic project and that I would be wasting my money and that the drawings were horrible. On December 24th (yes Xmas Eve) the architect told me he would do everything in his power to make it right. The story ends today March 2 with me having NOTHING still and waiting. So, I would also advise never, ever use relatives or feel obligated to use someone related by marriage. No matter how good people say they are. Trust your instincts and stick to your budget. Or you will be sitting here waiting 7 months later with no plan, much poorer and frustrated. I know I sound mad. I am. He is now fired. I don't have any recourse that I know of. I finally got my loan approved (post mortgage crisis) after much frustration architect frustration. Now I have to start over. PS I signed the first architect agreement or SOW on 7/28/08. Put timelines in writing or it will cost you money! My SOW said 4-7 weeks for drawings to go to bid? That was 7/28/08...See Morearchitects drawing plans you can't afford
Comments (1)We went through a similar experience with a design-build firm too - we came in 40% higher than our budget. We spelled everything out in advance and it was documented in our contract, so I felt that all parties were operating from the same page. We basically went back to the drawing board, took a hard look at the subs costs (most everything is subbed out) and our budget for this project. It was a compromise and took seven more months to get started. Luckily we had time on our side. At the end of the day I think it takes time, patience, knowledge and lots of research...and more patience....See MoreFloor plan input before architect meeting
Comments (21)Regarding the "You need an architect" angle, as with most things in the wacky world, it's very hard to neatly categorize an endeavor in a "one size fits all" assessment. There's all kinds of levels of inherent design talent among the owners here, from outstanding to horrible. And likely most of those who post their designs here think they fit into the former design talent category. And it's not just here, I deal with that sitting across a table from owners separated only from them by a pencil a scale and a roll of bumwad. In that setting of course, those folks have actually gone to an architect where I think here a minority of those who write "need input before meeting architect" actually end up seeing an architect, exceptions of course and Pardo might very well be one. And here I'm thinking of the word "architect" as describing somebody who's creative, not a person who will size the steel beams although an architect will do that too. Some may genuinely be thinking that when they write that they will be going to an architect but never get around to it. Others may have no intention of doing so but want it to look like they're seriously approaching the task of spending a healthy six figures of their money the best way possible. Here, I generally steer clear of offering comment to the folks who post their designs where it's thought out right down to where that narrow but tall kitchen cabinet will be to store the cookie sheets. In an impersonal setting like here it's always very difficult to get someone thinking differently, but especially so when such detailed thinking has gone into their design. And of course often the TIME ITSELF spent on the task becomes THE reason for not considering other solutions "But we've spent a lot of time on this!".........the fact that the result of that effort "sucks" (I don't use that word either Mark!) becomes secondary. So with all that said, for those who really ARE going to talk to someone creative, I think it's counter productive to put too much thought into the minutia of the design. The detailed preconceived ideas might likely end up being counter productive to being open about other thinking. I remind my own clients of this by thoughts of two creative people.... Steve Jobs observed “A lot of times, people don't know what they want until you show it to them. Everyone wanted an iPhone when they first appeared, but no one could have described what they wanted before seeing one". And Henry Ford mused "If I had asked people what they wanted they would have told me "A faster horse". A good architect, while still sizing the beams correctly and finding a nice spot for those pesky cookie sheets, will also lead the way through the intangibles of creating a great solution in the spirit of Mr. Ford and Mr. Jobs....See MoreWhen meeting with an architect
Comments (11)Bring your site plan. Bring photos of houses you like, and even rooms and details you like. Bring a very rough sketch showing any rooms that need to be near other rooms or if you want a particular room looking out at a view. Bring your feelings of how you want your house to make you feel or even if a particular item (like a piano, or in my case a hand crafted buffet) needs to be incorporated into the plan. Bring what is important to you. For example, in my home, I knew I wanted a courtyard feel to my home with the house being a U shaped house to help give an intimate and "enclosed" private feel since we were working with a small lot. When I was in my 20's I had studied in Mexico and fell in love with the hacienda's with the house surrounding the courtyards. Those created a small, private oasis within the city that I found to be soothing. Ideally, I wanted my kitchen/dining next to my living room on the bottom of the U shape and my DH's study and our master bedroom anchoring the top of the U shape. I wanted all the spaces to have easy access to our backyard courtyard, so that meant doors and sliders. Because we were on a narrow lot, we needed to go up. I wanted my studio on the second floor with a balcony so I could photograph still life setups in natural light and also so I could photograph my finished drawings. Despite the Fl sun, I didn't want this area enclosed because it would hamper my photography. However I did want very large eaves surrounding the whole house to help with passive solar gain. Our eaves are 32" wide. I had my 80" wide buffet that I had designed and a woodworker had made for me and I wanted that incorporated near my dining area. I love craftsman houses with their wide moldings, their knee braces and rafter tails outside, their use of natural materials and their porches. All of the above, along with photos is what I would bring to an architect if I was asking them to design my house. For your home, think what is needed and important to you, but also what makes you happy when you're in a house....See Morekateskouros
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