Why Hire an Architect
Working with an Architect is the right first step
Here are the basic steps of an ordinary project.
Architects are highly trained –
Did you know that on average, it takes between 8-15 years of education, jobsite training and federal and state regulated exams to become an architect ? When you hire an architect, you’re already in good hands. The term “architect” is a legal term that means one is licensed as an architect. If you don’t have a licence to practice architecture you can’t call yourself an architect. There are plenty of people and companies who use clever language to get around that. an “architectural designer” may have lots of experience and may do a fine job, but if they were licensed they would be calling themselves an Architect. Be aware of what you’re getting.
What is the basic process of getting something permitted? –
The basic process is that every job needs to be reviewed by two departments at the city you’re in. Planning (think of planning as department #1), which cares about the size, location and exterior impacts of each job, and then once they approve, needs to be reviewed by the building department (department #2) which looks at structural concerns and construction details. Each department will issue “comments” meaning corrections to the drawings to correct mistakes, meet regulations etc. It’s common for every job to get 2-3 rounds of comments depending on the size and complexity. Once the building department approves the drawings they get issued to a contractor or homeowner and you’re ready to begin construction.
My Stance on the use of Artificial Intelligence –
I don’t use AI in my work for a variety of reasons. Architecture involves two things which AI don’t perform well at: 1. an understanding of how humans use space and 2. an attention to the accuracy of details.
our brains are like the muscles of our body in the sense that if we don’t use them, they atrophy and become weaker. What AI does in general is offload the process of thinking, which on the surface seems faster and more ‘efficient’ but over time and a reliance on AI, reduced our individual capacity to do those things for ourselves, even down to the level of basic thinking-tasks. As a practice, the craft of architecture involves careful thought, planning and artistic vision any aspect of which are skills that unless used frequently tarnish, erode and go away if not exercized.
There is however, one use case for AI in architecture. if you as a client are having a hard time articulating what you think is beautiful about architecture, and are having a hard time finding images online of spaces and buildings you think are pretty, there may be room for you to give an image generator a prompt like: “a beautiful house in (insert your favorite architectural style) with (something you find beautiful) accents/details in the style of (insert your favorite architect, town, city fantasy style ect)” – send me that stuff, it can be good tool for showing me what you think beautiful architecture looks like and then I can figure out a way to implement that in a way that doesn’t break the bank. Even if the results it gives you aren’t realistic or are the right size or shape for your lot, I can pick that stuff apart
Fine Art –
Did you know that the original five fine arts were: Painting, Sculpture, Music, Poetry and Architecture ? Architects are trained to be sensitive to the more rarified aspects of architecture and, as a baseline will be able to deliver a nicer, more beautiful and logical space in a way that can’t be replicated without vision, training, or both.
Architects are the coordinators of your project –
No matter if you’re working with an architect, a ‘designer’ or a design-build firm, the architectural process always goes through the same predictable phases and you’ll typically need the same amount of consultants. The Architect is the coordinator of your project and will lead you through the process, one easy step at a time.