Over-sharing and Architecture
Trust is key in any kind of collaborative relationship. And it’s definitely integral to working with an architect. You want to ensure that you’re entrusting one of your biggest investments with someone who will do right by you and your project.
We get it. Everything we do builds from that basis of trust. We’re here to craft a solution tailored specifically to your desires and lifestyle. One that maximizes the potential of a space in a way that balances your wants with what’s appropriate to and practical for the site context.
This might be the first time you’ve worked with an architect or invested in such a large undertaking. Here are a few tips on how to get the most out of that relationship and, ultimately, your project.
Share your hopes and dreams
We’ll encourage you to share as much as you can from the very beginning. The more information we have to work with, the more tailored — the more you — our designs will be. Typically there’s a lot more we can bring to your project than the obvious, overtly stated solutions — often we can help you see opportunities you didn’t know existed.
There’s no such thing as over-sharing, so don’t be shy about communicating your hopes and dreams for your project for fear that they’re too lofty — or potentially too expensive. Part of what we do is to strike a balance between budget and dreams, and we’ll be honest about what we can achieve with what we have to work with.
Telling it like it is
We’ll also need you to be brave about making decisions and offering feedback. The design process is an iterative one, and we’ll use your reactions and ideas to inform and refine our solutions until they’re right for you.
If something’s not right or things aren’t going as planned, let us know, and we’ll get things back on track or find new ways of working that are better suited to you. It’s much easier to change things at an early stage than it is at a later one, so feel free to step up to the plate and have your say. It’ll make for a happier working relationship all around.
Art meets reality
We’ve all battled the idea of opportunity cost. At some point the infinite possibilities of your dream home have to be narrowed down to the actualities of your real home, which means making decisions and compromises. As with anything in life, it’s better to focus on what your home is — a custom, personal project as perfectly suited to you as possible — rather than what it’s not.
Custom builds are a large undertaking, with plenty of moving parts and different factors to consider. A lot goes on between working up our initial drawings and handing over the keys, so be prepared to expect the unexpected and to be flexible when it’s needed. We’re on your side when it comes to navigating the road from conception to completion, and we’ll act as your advocates to get through the hiccups and road blocks that are sure to arise.
Collaboration and trust
You’ve hired us as a partner and collaborator, but also because of our experience and expertise. Every solution we design arises from our understanding of your needs and goals, the possibilities offered by the site context, and the technical requirements of your space. As that knowledge deepens throughout the design process, what were concepts begin to solidify and ideas start to become real.
The more we know about you, and the earlier in the process we can agree on vision and direction for the home, the smoother the transition from concept to reality can be.
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Read more about our experience and approach to residential architecture.
