You have finally decided to renovate or expand your home.  Maybe you have even decided to build a new home from scratch.  What is the next step and are there reasons to hire an architect?  Are there advantages to involving an architect vs. going straight to a builder?  Designing and building a home is an extremely complex task, so you need the right person to guide you through the process.

What is an architect?

An architect is someone that has been professionally trained and licensed to guide you through the process of designing a home.  They also serve as advocates during construction.

Why hire an architect?

1. A Thorough Understanding of Your Needs

Before putting pen to paper, the first step in the design process is to set up a meeting with a potential client, preferably where the project will be completed.  During this meeting, the most important thing that an architect will do, is listen.  Fundamentally, the point of this meeting is to explore the core reasons for the project.  What are all of the needs and wants that a homeowner wants to address with a new design?  Are there architectural styles or concepts that excite them?  Are there specific issues with their current home that cause problems or are they looking for something more cosmetic in nature?

One of the most important goals of an architect is to gather all of the information from a homeowner and interpret those ideas, first into a design, and then into a built project.  The only way to accomplish this is to first listen to what the client wants.

2. An Understanding of the Project Site

During an initial meeting, an architect will gather information about the project site.  This not only involves gathering information about an existing building, but also includes gathering specific details about the site.  What is the layout of the current building?  What are the materials are used in the construction?  How does the grade slope?  Are there any existing trees that may influence the design?  All of these details may influence the design of a future addition or new home.

In addition to the information gathered at the initial meeting, an architect will often need a site plan, or as-built survey.  A survey shows much more than how an existing building sits on a lot.  It also shows trees, grading (which way the site slopes), sun direction, any water locations, and the adjacency to neighboring houses.  It also shows how far a house must be built away from a property line.  Site research also includes an in-depth analysis of the national, state, and local building codes and how they may affect the project.  Are there local restrictions that limit the square footage?  Are there height restrictions?  Do you have to comply with architectural design guidelines that require certain building materials?  Are there any historic or neighborhood organizations that may impose more restrictive constraints to the design?

Once all of the site information is gathered and combined with the information gathered in the initial meeting, an architect can then develop a full understanding of the obstacles and benefits inherent in the project.  It’s only then that a fully informed design can begin.

3. Project Experience

A great architect brings with him not only education and training, but years of firsthand, valuable experience.  They have a wealth of knowledge about past projects completed, as well as any obstacles that were encountered along the way.  Sometimes ideas and concepts that didn’t work are just as valuable as those that did, when imagining new designs.  Architects often find themselves looking at real estate listings or projects under construction by others, seeing issues they have encountered in the past and would have avoided completely now.  Education is valuable, but experience is something that is hard to teach.

With experience, an architect gains valuable insight not only into design and construction, but also into cost and cost savings.  Changing materials or eliminating complicated details may be a much easier way to cut costs than cutting square footage, but you often need the experience of how much things cost to know the most effective solution.  An architect also has a wealth of projects and homeowner experiences.  There are certain details or spaces that work great in concept, but just don’t function as intended.  The ability to offer insights from experiences is something you can only gain with time.

4. Creativity and Imagination

Architects spend years studying design theory in college, but a lot of their education comes from built projects.  Creativity is not only about designing something that is pretty, but also about designing something that works well in practice.   The true value that an architect brings to the table is that they can see the project holistically.  It’s not enough for someone to be able to develop details, they must also be able to see how the details fit in the overall design.  A deep covered porch may be a great idea, but it may mean that a roofline will conflict with windows above.  A huge great room/kitchen/dining area may be great in concept, but may not work from an interior design, furniture layout sense.

A lot of people can lay out a simple floor plan, but give them a complicated set of parameters or design constraints and they flounder.  One thing that makes architects different is the ability to design complex plans that are both efficient and functional.  Designing a space that flows well is not something that’s always easy to see on paper.  A good architect can see things in three dimensions.  Vaulted ceilings and covered porches have an impact on the spaces above, and it is invaluable to be able to see those conflicts ahead of time.

Architects are also constantly looking for new ways to do things.  Walking into a new room, or seeing a new building, these are just experiences that affect architects differently.  Architects are always on the lookout for new materials and creative ways to deal with design constraints.

5. Value in Good Design

There is an added value in good design.  Have you ever seen new houses sit on the market and you can’t figure out why?  There is often something bad about the design choices that prevents a potential homeowner from pulling the trigger.  It may be gaudy finishes, a circulation that feels awkward, floor plans that feel inefficient, or details that just don’t work.  You often don’t notice at first when things are not aligned, but subconsciously you know the design doesn’t feel comfortable.  Well-designed homes sell faster, because they just feel right.  Fireplaces centered on rooms, windows that align from floor to floor, kitchen appliance locations that make sense, these are all things that an architect thinks about when laying out space.

Curb appeal is a major selling point when listing a home.  A design that feels out of scale or bland can kill a sale before a potential buyer even leaves their couch.  Character and depth are descriptions of homes that have been designed well, and that comes from education and experience.

6. Architects are Advocates

Building a home can be a massive endeavor that homeowners are often undertaking for the first time.  Most of the time, they are not educated in construction terminology or in the correct ways to build things.  An architect is the advocate for the homeowner.  During construction, if something isn’t built per the drawings or per code, the architect is often a resource for the homeowner.

You may want to read First Steps in a Home Renovation or New Construction Project at https://robertkochdesigns.com/first-steps-in-a-home-renovation-or-new-construction-project/

To see some of the exciting projects designed by Robert Koch Designs and to learn more about the home design process, please visit www.robertkochdesigns.com.  Here you’ll find many examples of both modern and traditional homes, created with an attention to detail and a love of design.