How to choose an architectural firm/Architecture is not about "choosing a work" but about "choosing a person to talk to"
How to choose a design firm
How to choose an architect
"Design office comparison"
People who conduct searches like this are already at the stage of thinking concretely about their building plans.
But in many cases, the axis of comparison is
- Design preferences
- Number of construction examples
- Design fee amount
It tends to be biased towards.
Of course, those are important too.
But that's not really the important point.
This is because architecture is not a "product" but a "process of dialogue."
1 | Why is choosing a design firm important?
Construction can take anywhere from several months to several years to complete.
During that time, dozens of meetings were held.
Budget adjustments and course corrections will occur.
In other words, choosing a design firm
It's about choosing a long-term partner.
Rather than just looking at the completed building,
- What process was it made by?
- What kind of conversations have you had?
You need to see.
2. Organize the types of design offices
There are several main trends among design firms.
① Design-led
This type of artist has a strong worldview and puts the quality of their work at the forefront.
The finished photos are beautiful and create a striking piece of architecture.
On the other hand, there are times when the artist's personality takes priority over the client's requests.
② Efficiency and rationality
This type of design emphasizes cost and construction time and provides rational design.
The plan tends to go smoothly,
Efficiency can sometimes take priority over the quality of space.
3) Dialogue-oriented (our company's approach)
This is the type of person who will explore direction together with the client through dialogue.
- Management's philosophy
- Land characteristics
- Possibilities of materials
- Future Operations
We will proceed with the design while carefully digging into these points.
The final product is the result of a dialogue with the client.
3 | What is a dialogue-focused design method?
Focusing on dialogue does not simply mean listening carefully.
A hearing is not a way to "confirm your requests."
In many cases, the client himself is unable to put into words the space he truly desires.
Dialogue is
- Why do you want it?
- What is important to you?
- What kind of future do you envision?
This is a process of exploring this together.
If it is a corporate facility, we delve into management philosophy.
If it's a vacation home, ask how you would like to spend your time.
The direction will become clear through dialogue.
4 | How to spot a good design firm
① Don't judge based on drawings alone
Drawings and CG can be made to look beautiful. The important thing is,- Why did it take that shape?
- Why did you choose that material?
② Are you on-site?
The quality of a design is determined on-site. Whether you can understand the site, check the materials, and make fine adjustments. Also, whether you have a flexible design approach that can accommodate sudden changes is directly linked to the quality of the space.③ Check the quality of the questions
Good designers ask deep questions.- Why do you want to build it?
- Why now?
- Why that scale?
5 | What causes the difference in design fees?
The costs of design firms vary widely.
The difference is,
- Number of meetings
- Frequency of on-site supervision
- Depth of material consideration
- design time
This is reflected in the following.
Roughly speaking, it all comes down to "working hours" and "concentration."
If you judge based on price alone, you may end up with additional costs or differences in quality.
Architecture should be judged by "what time is spent on" rather than by how cheap it is.
6 | How should you judge compatibility?
You can get a good idea of your compatibility with a design firm during your first consultation.
- Don't interrupt me
- Don't jump to conclusions
- Do not make unilateral proposals
- Is the question specific?
Architecture is not just about numbers.
It's very important that you share similar values.
7 | Choosing a design firm is a matter of choosing a philosophy
The final question is,
Align yourself with this designer
What do you think?
It's not about choosing a piece.
Choose your interlocutor.
Architecture is a collaborative project between the designer and the client.
Finally | For those who are considering consulting us
It doesn't have to be a concrete plan yet.
- I want to know the differences between design firms
- Unsure of direction
- I want to talk first
We value dialogue from this stage onwards.
In architecture, the process is more important than the finished product.
If you would like a design that begins with a dialogue, please feel free to contact us.