What is an architect for? Designer response

An important and relevant question is asked by the user our portal - why do we need an architect if the designer changes the project almost completely? We turned to the designer Vitaly Safonov and found out why an integrated approach to designing a house is needed and why an architectural section of the project is needed.

FORUMHOUSE member question

“Now I am faced with the problem of choosing a project. So far, only formulating desires, but still. If (let's say) I draw my vision of the house in a notebook, how wrong is it to turn to the designers, bypassing the architect?

I got the impression that the task of the architect is to visualize the wishes, which can then do not coincide at all with the possibilities of the construction budget, and the designer will remake the project very strong.

In this regard, there was a desire to bring ideas to some kind of their own visualization and turn directly to the designers. How far are these thoughts from the logic of correct design? "

The designer answers

“This is a very interesting question. You, I think, like any person, want to live in a beautiful, convenient, comfortable, and, most importantly, in a safe house. But you, as I understand it for economic reasons, want to refuse the services of an architect and immediately proceed to the constructive section. I would not advise you to do this. And to apply exclusively to an architect for a project is also not an option.

Ideally, all sections of the project should be worked out comprehensively. I will give an example of a possible situation:

For example, an architect creates for you a masterpiece of indescribable beauty. You are happy, you take the architectural section and go with it to the designer. The designer looks at your project and stuns you with the news - it is impossible to build such a house because the design features of construction are not taken into account. He writes a comment on your project and you start walking in circles. You need to go to an architect and redo an architectural project. Basically, you need to connect between the architect and the designer. Alternatively, you will have to redo the project several times just for the reason that the architect and designer do not work in the same team. Time passes, and after redoing the project several times, you are given documentation for the architectural and construction section. In your future house, you need to make communications: water supply, sewerage, heating, ventilation and electricity. You go for a project on these communications and here it turns out that the project did not take into account requirements for the furnace room, and you again need to redo the finished project for architectural and construction part. Your project turns into agony with the endless need to commute performers of various sections with each other.

To avoid such problems, it is most reasonable to order a project from an architect who works with a team of specialists who make the project comprehensively, including all of its sections. It is difficult to achieve the desired result without an integrated design, and there are many risks. And construction without a project is akin to an adventure with a dubious result.

When a construction site starts without a project, the consequences are dire: problems and negative circumstances, sometimes the collapse of the building structure occurs. If you save on project preparation, there will be an overspending of building materials and significant spending on correcting shortcomings and rebuilding the house. In addition, a house built without a project does not stand out for its architectural style, is not comfortable enough and will not pay off when sold. Construction, begun without a project, often has to be stopped to think over one or another structural unit.

And the cost of a complex project, compared to the cost of a house, is not so high to refuse it. The total cost of a good finished project of a house for 100 m2 will be about $ 500, i.e. the average market price is about $ 5 / 1m2 (depending on the size, number of storeys, structural complexity, volume of project documentation and visualization). With the construction cost of 1 m2 at $ 500, this is only one percent of the construction cost. "

Did you start construction without a project? Write your experience in the comments!

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Read also: how to control the work of an architect — personal experience; the choice of a septic tank - how not to drain your money;sewerage - how to protect a house and site from flooding.

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