Architect or Building Designer: Understanding the Professional Service Differences for Your Forever Home
When considering building or renovating your forever home, it's essential to understand the distinctions between architects and building designers. While both professionals play crucial roles in the design and construction process, there are variations in the range and quality of services they offer. One significant difference lies in the fees and the level of deliverables provided. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview, taking into consideration feedback regarding the limitations of services typically offered by building designers due to their lower fee structures.
The Two Roles
Let's start by breaking down these two roles:
Architect: Architects undergo extensive education and training, typically holding a professional degree in architecture. They are licensed professionals who are required to adhere to a strict code of ethics and maintain professional liability insurance. Architects have a comprehensive understanding of the construction process, building codes, regulations, and design principles. Their focus is on creating functional, aesthetically pleasing, and sustainable structures.
Building Designer: Building designers, also known as draftsmen, are professionals who specialize in the design and documentation of residential buildings. They possess technical expertise and are skilled in producing detailed construction drawings and specifications. Building designers often work closely with architects, builders, and clients to create functional and visually appealing designs that meet the client's requirements.
When building or renovating a home, clients should match their values to the services they seek. Architects offer comprehensive design and documentation but at higher fees. Building designers cater to functionality and limited deliverables due to their lower fees. Both options have their merits, and clients' expectations and budgets should guide their decisions.
Architects prioritise beautiful design outcomes, providing personalised and innovative spaces. They excel in bespoke designs, intricate detailing, and visualisations that bring the vision to life. High-quality contract documentation is also their forte, ensuring smooth project execution. Clients valuing design excellence and seamless construction should consider architects.
Building designers focus on functionality and practicality. While their services may be more streamlined, they provide satisfactory outcomes for clients with modest budgets. However, their typically lower fees mean building designers often provide limited specifications and schedule documents.
It is crucial to note that homeowners engaging a builder with an in-house designer need to be cautious. In such cases, the homeowner does not own the rights to the design. If they are unsatisfied with the construction price provided by the builder, they cannot take the drawings to another builder. This limitation should be considered before engaging a builder with an in-house designer.
By making informed decisions based on their priorities and budget, clients can achieve their desired outcomes while avoiding potential limitations or conflicts down the line.
Typical Inclusions and Exclusions
When engaging an architect versus a building designer, the following services and outcomes may differ. It’s important to remember that these are generalisations only, however they are useful to understand if comparing fee proposals.
Master Planning and Long-Term Strategic Vision:
Architects excel in creating master plans and long-term strategic vision for the project. They consider the site, client's requirements, and future growth potential to develop a comprehensive plan that aligns with the client's long-term goals.
Building designers may focus more on immediate functional requirements rather than long-term strategic vision.
Design Quality:
Architects are trained in design principles, aesthetics, and spatial relationships. They prioritise design excellence, bringing creativity, innovation, and attention to detail to ensure a visually stunning and cohesive design outcome.
Building designers may emphasise functionality and practicality over design excellence, resulting in a more straightforward and utilitarian design approach.
Number of Design Iterations:
Architects typically offer multiple design iterations to refine and perfect the design based on client feedback. This iterative process allows clients to be actively involved in shaping the final outcome.
Due to budget constraints, building designers may provide fewer design iterations, limiting the client's involvement in the design development process.
Quantity of Drawings and Design Details Consideration:
Architects produce a greater quantity of detailed drawings, including floor plans, elevations, sections, and construction details. This level of detail ensures a comprehensive understanding of the design and facilitates accurate construction implementation.
Building designers may provide a more limited quantity of drawings, focusing on the essential design aspects. This may result in less intricate detailing and a narrower scope of construction documentation.
Inclusion of Specifications and Detailed Schedules:
Architects include comprehensive specifications and detailed material, fitting, and fixture schedules in their documentation. These documents enhance the client-builder contract by clearly outlining the desired materials and finishes, reducing ambiguity and potential disputes during construction.
Building designers may offer more general materials schedules - often with no specification document - providing basic guidance but with fewer details and customisation options.
3D Visualisations and Their Applications:
Architects excel in creating high-quality 3D visualisations that serve multiple purposes. They can be used for marketing purposes, showcasing the design to potential clients and stakeholders. Additionally, these visualisations are valuable for town planning approval processes, and assist clients in making informed decisions about the design elements and aesthetics.
Building designers may provide 3D visualisations; however, the level of detail and quality may not match the high standards set by architects. These visualisations may serve as a general representation of the design but may lack the intricate artistic details and accuracy found in architectural renders.
Time Spent Understanding Clients' Needs and Desires:
Architects dedicate significant time to understanding their clients' needs, desires, and lifestyle preferences. They engage in thorough discussions and consultations to ensure the design reflects the client's vision and functional requirements.
Building designers also aim to understand clients' needs but may have more limited time and resources for in-depth consultations, potentially resulting in a less comprehensive understanding of the client's aspirations.
Contract Knowledge and Preparation of Contract Documentation:
Architects possess comprehensive knowledge of construction contracts and are experienced in preparing contract documentation. They ensure that all legal and contractual aspects are addressed, including detailed scope of work, payment terms, timelines, and dispute resolution mechanisms. This expertise helps establish a robust contractual framework, protecting the interests of both the client and the builder.
Building designers may have a basic understanding of contracts, but their expertise in contract preparation may be limited. Consequently, the level of detail and comprehensiveness in their contract documentation may vary, potentially resulting in ambiguities or gaps that could lead to contractual disputes or misunderstandings.
Including this additional point highlights the significance of contract knowledge and the ability to prepare thorough contract documentation. Architects, with their in-depth understanding of construction contracts, can provide clients with a stronger contractual framework, minimizing potential risks and ensuring a smoother construction process.
Return on Investment:
Research for Architects in Small Practice (RAsP), available at this URL [https://www.architeam.net.au/news/rasp-the-results], highlights that engaging an architect can provide a higher return on investment. The study reveals that projects designed by architects tend to have higher resale values and greater market appeal. The design expertise and attention to detail offered by architects contribute to long-term value and enhance the overall investment potential of the property.
While specific research regarding return on investment for building designers may be limited, their focus on functional design and cost-effective solutions can still contribute positively to the value of a property. However, the lack of extensive design input and architectural expertise may result in a comparatively lower return on investment compared to projects designed by architects.
Considering the potential return on investment is crucial when deciding between an architect and a building designer. Engaging an architect, as supported by the RAsP study, may yield higher resale values and increased market appeal, ultimately offering a stronger return on investment over time.
Remember to refer to the Research for Architects in Small Practice (RAsP) at [https://www.architeam.net.au/news/rasp-the-results] for more detailed insights into the benefits of working with architects in terms of return on investment.
A Recent Story
The trigger for writing this post was conversations with two separate clients who had recently had remarkably similar dealings with building designer(s) in the same local area of Melbourne. Their experiences highlighted to me one of the main differences between the two professions and (typically) their business models.
Building Designer:
“Here is the design, drawn on your block, and to the local council standards. It has all the rooms you said you wanted.”
Client:
“Okay, we see what you’ve done. Thank you. It doesn’t address these few items of the brief though. Can you please suggest some alternative solutions?”
Building Designer:
“You tell me what you want and I’ll draw it”
How a typical conversation at a similar stage plays out in our office (and I’m sure in many other architects offices):
Architect:
“Here is the draft design. We start at the approach to the home - from the driveway you see out to the lake - this is why you chose to buy this block. You can see a striking white garden wall leading to the feature timber entrance door. When you step into the house you see a view through to the lake…[continues for a while]… What do you think?”
Client:
“Okay, we see what you’ve done - we love it! Thank you. There are a couple of small items from the brief it doesn’t address though. Can you please suggest some alternative solutions?”
Architect:
“Absolutely! We thought we’d addressed those with A, B, and C, but if that’s not working for you because of X, Y, and Z then we can offer some alternative solutions such as […]”
TLDR
Choosing between an architect and a building designer for your building or renovation project involves considering various factors. Architects provide comprehensive services, including master planning, high design quality, detailed drawings, multiple design iterations, thorough contract knowledge, and preparation of contract documentation. They also offer 3D visualisations, strong client understanding, and potential for a higher return on investment, as supported by the Research for Architects in Small Practice (RAsP) study.
Building designers focus on functionality and practicality, catering to more modest budgets. They may offer fewer design iterations, limited drawings, and basic specifications and schedules. However, their expertise in contract knowledge and documentation may be less extensive compared to architects. It is important to note that when engaging a builder with an in-house designer, ownership rights to the design may be limited.
To make an informed decision, consider your values, priorities, and budget. Architects tend to provide greater design excellence, comprehensive contract documentation, and potentially higher returns on investment. Building designers offer practical solutions within budget constraints. Research, such as the RAsP study, can provide valuable insights into the benefits of working with architects. Evaluate your needs and the potential long-term value of your project to determine the best fit for your specific requirements.
