Wall Street Journal article on hiring an architect.
January 10, 2009 by Phil
This article provides some basic information about when it is necessary to hire an architect and what an architect can bring to a remodel project.
Should You Hire an Architect?
"Architects are necessary whenever a home remodeling calls for changing a home's "footprint" (making an addition, or altering room sizes and shapes) or making major changes to plumbing, electrical, or heating systems. Architects will explore a homeowner's lifestyle and use of the house, assess the house's structure, and draw up construction plans that address both the owner's desires and the structure's requirements. Depending on their city's codes, homeowners may also need to submit plans with an architect's seal before beginning work."
- Wall Street Journal Real Estate Archives
Read the whole article: http://www.realestatejournal.com/buildimprove/20030327-doherty.html
The article begins to discuss the design process and relationship between the designer and clients in a remodel project, but it is a two dimensional depiction, as if every architect and client have the same relationship. One of the best things about residential design is the three dimensional aspect - each project is unlike any other project because clients have different personalities, needs, tastes, and lifestyles. Every job for me is different and custom because each project I have been brought into requires a different way of thinking about design and usability. I approach a new remodel project with an open mind, ready to analize the clients' needs - how they relate to the home as it exists and how we can improve that relationship. Each stage of the remodel process, from the first meeting with the client to the final coat of paint is equally important. A good architect will help the client plan the appropriate steps to make the process move smoothly.