How to Work with a Residential Architect, Part II
Michael Roehr’s observations on the residential design process
About five years ago, I published a handful of observations for working with a residential architect. In the intervening years that article has garnered a good bit of attention and positive feedback — and a not insignificant number of commissions for our firm — so I thought it might be worthwhile and fun to revisit those thoughts and expand upon them a bit.
If there was a general theme that connected the suggestions I’d made then, it was that working with an architect is more akin to committing to a relationship than hiring a service provider, and as such one must be prepared to engage in a process, with all of the give and take that may imply, rather than expect a simple transactional exchange. Certainly one can approach it that way, and many people, architects included, do; but I believe that a simple quid pro quo shortchanges the richer potential of working with an architect, and that in fact many of the proverbial frustrations of working with an architect arise from misunderstanding this difference. As with any relationship, the quality of what you get out of it is ultimately dependent on the quality of what you put into it.
So here are a few more suggestions for creating the optimal conditions for a rich and rewarding experience working with your architect.
FOLLOW UP ON REFERENCES
Many people will ask for references, but few actually follow up on them, or do much more than make a perfunctory effort to do so. But there is no better way to gauge the potential for this relationship than hearing the stories previous clients have to tell. A typical project will have its ups and downs, moments of excitement as well as discouragement. You need to know not only how your architect can help you dream and discover the wealth of opportunities for your project, but more importantly how she will be there with you to negotiate the challenges, difficult decisions, and inevitable trade-offs inherent in any complex project.
Take a Field Trip
Better yet, go visit with these previous clients in the spaces that resulted from these collaborations. Most people with a positive experience of working with an architect will be more than happy to show off the results. Hearing the recollections of the design process provoked by walking through the finished spaces together - recounting the genesis of a particular detail, or memory of a humorous moment - will make the process, and the prospective relationship, that much more tangible for you.
Have your architect walk you through the evolution of a design, from initial studies through the finished project
Most people never get exposed to the early, tentative explorations and false starts with which virtually every project is born. The best projects begin with few preconceptions and an open mind, and it’s crucial to be able to suspend judgment through the initial work of generating the concepts to provide a rich palette of often divergent ideas which to then sift, synthesize and refine into a cohesive resolution. The design process has a trajectory, a life-cycle of sorts, and as such most projects pass through a phase of awkward adolescence. As the client, you’re probably not exposed to many of these awkward moments, and you’d be surprised at how many discarded sketches and abandoned iterations it takes to get to the relative handful of images you ultimately do see. But exposure to the substantial work that takes place in the background of any design project will prepare you to be a better partner, and trust in a process that, like any true adventure, is bound to pass through some uncertain moments on its winding path to a successful outcome. It’s much easier to enjoy a bumpy ride if you are confident that you’re not about to drive off a cliff.
I hope these suggestions are helpful. I’d be interested in your thoughts and any other similar observations you may have on this topic. You can reach me at michael@roehrschmitt.com.