How to find a residential architect
Finding a residential architect that’s right for your project can be a complete minefield. Whether you are building a new home or adding to your existing home, you are about to gain a new best friend (your architect), who will guide you through the dirt and mud.
Futile as the dance may seem, finding the right fit from the beginning can help you avoid budget blowouts and awkward confrontations down the road. Luckily for you, we are here to guide you on how to find a residential architect that’s right for your project.
Research your architect
Understand the type of work they specialise in so you can align your project requirements. For example, Steele Studios specialises in modern residential architecture across Melbourne. While we have had years of experience in developing commercial spaces, we prefer designing new homes with a modern aesthetic. Our designs are a nod to Australian culture and respect for nature. If you are looking for a design that is dark, dingy and outdated, we are not the right fit.
What are your style preferences and do they align with your architect’s? Social media like Instagram or Pinterest is great for researching an architect’s style and you’ll be able to bookmark or save the images for your mood board.
We also highly recommend doing a background check to ensure the architect is registered. This can simply be done by checking online with the Board of Architects in your state.
2. Ask questions
Interview all your candidates. It can be helpful to know the architect’s working rhythm and communication style. After a short email exchange or phone conversation, we like to have a coffee or kombucha with our clients to understand them better. Think of it as a first date.
We like to listen to your needs, what your daily routines look like and how you want your home to grow with your lifestyle. You need to feel confident with your architect and realise your vision and how they plan to execute it. The purpose is to extract information that you’d like to be clear on during the design and potentially, the construction process. How they communicate and how regularly they keep you updated can also alleviate any concerns.
Ask the architect if they’ve ever been in a dispute and why. The reasons for the dispute may be valid but you can gain insight into how the architect works, how they face challenges and whether you feel confident your design problems can be resolved stress-free.
3. Consider cost, time and quality
Be honest about your budget. It’s important to be upfront from the get-go so the architect can design the best solution for your proposal. As experienced residential architects, we have long standing relationships with our trusted chippies and tradies and their high quality of work. A great architect will be able to guide your investment and protect your interests during construction to save you time and money.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a fee proposal from prospective architects. You will be able to compare costs and services as well as combing through examples of their previous work.
4. Create a project brief
Find an architect that is attuned to your needs. Jot down everything you want in order of priority. You can make your wishlist as long as you like but try to be realistic – an indoor swimming pool might not cut it on a lean budget for example.
Consider what you would like to achieve with your home, perhaps you crave more storage space or you would like to harness more natural light. A great architect is professionally trained to come up with solutions. The more information you give, the better the outcome can be. Establishing the priorities of your house earlier rather than later will save a great amount of time, money and frustration for you and your architect.
As a client, it’s important to communicate your needs and wants from your home. Once you’ve chosen an architect, trust them to realise your vision.
