Being around or in the construction industry one way or the other most of my life did notprepare me for the shock I received when I finally realized a lot of people do not know what architects do or when it is beneficial to hire them. Two things happened this last week that brought me to this revelation.
1. Our 23 year old niece asked “What makes you qualified to do that?” when she witnessed us selecting materials for a custom home project.
2. Our marketing person said, “An architect may not be well versed in design”. He was making the point that our firm is a design firm and we want to be sure and showcase that on our new website but still, if that is the impression of architects, it’s not positive.
So here are five reasons to hire an architect, there are more but I will stop here. With all the construction going on in Hawaii, I sure wish more people understood the difference between design and building. Our neighborhoods and property values would benefit from more focus on the design aspect of each project.
Your Advocate
An architect has a fiduciary duty to look out for your best interest and is your advocate in the design and construction process. In brief, an Architect:
Listening to what you want:
- This cannot be emphasized enough, it is your project, if your team is not hearing you then you should consider another team.
Pulls together:
- Functionality
- Structural needs
- Circulation requirements, this includes flow of people and tasks as well as air flow
- Orientation, maximized for the site and microclimate
- Aesthetic considerations of your likes and dislikes as well as the neighborhood
The above list is designed into a unified whole. Wouldn’t it be great to have a professional dedicated to the highest standards of integrity, and competence helping you through it?
(Major Renovation of Existing House. Honolulu)