10 reasons to hire an architect
When you are coming to the decision to start your own project, you may wish to consider who will lead the project on your behalf. Every project needs a leader. Some offices describe this role as akin to being a parent (lead consultant) to bring up baby (your project). I think this is a good analogy, because through a what is best summarised as a process of bifurcation, architectural projects take time - “bring up baby” doesn’t sound that far removed from reality when you are starting out on a new project - how will baby grow up - hopefully well with the right leadership and skills.
There are a number of professionals out in the marketplace offering ‘design’ and ‘management services’, these include Building Designers, Draftspersons and Project Managers. They all have differing levels of education, professional conduct, skills, expertise (and regulation and insurance requirements), and they all come at different price points.
Architects however on average have 5 years of university education, and all have sat an exam to become a Registered Architect and partake in continuing professional development to maintain their registration.
As part of our education, architects have developed research and analysis skills to help inform our clients on the best possible approach for their project. Our greatest strength is our design skills, that have been regularly tested and refined, both at university and during our working lives.
10 reasons to hire an architect
1) Adherence to a high level of professional conduct.
2) Required to carry a minimum amount of Professional Indemnity Insurance
3) Holding moral and ethical obligations, and always have quality and long-term thinking in mind.
4) Being able to lead the design team to provide full services from the first sketch, right through to completion.
5) Able to navigate the building regulations and planning codes
6) Being able to act as an independent adviser, designer, documenter and agent for the client, Draftspersons are totally dependent on taking instruction from their client.
7) Being creative and innovative in their work and competent in all aspects of Architectural Practice.
8) Gives projects a unique selling point when they enter the market.
9) Able to test the market by tendering projects to find the best possible build price for their clients.
10) Add value to the project beyond their fees in comparison to the total project cost.
If you are fairly confident on what you are after from your project, or perhaps limited in scope, maybe an architect is not for you. But if you are looking to explore design quality, future thinking and something that is bespoke and tailor made for your needs then your project would benefit from our skills and vision to bring up your project (or baby, whichever term your prefer), then give some strong consideration to engaging an architect.
Redmond Hamlett is a Director (Project Architect) at WHDA, you can get in touch with Redmond on 03 7020 5784.