If in doubt, call a consultant
If you’re overwhelmed by choice, a consultant can help you find the right practice. Alice Barrington-Wells is co-founder of Carter Wells, an agency that connects clients with architects (along with surveyors, planning consultants or interior and garden designers). “We don’t have a set list of practitioners. We’ll work with the client to establish their aesthetic, budget and schedule. We then shortlist architects we think would be a good fit for them. Think of it as an architecture dating agency.”
The first date
This can be done virtually or in person, and there is usually no charge. Henry likes to visit potential clients in their homes. “It helps us understand how they live,” he says. “Are they messy or organized, do they like their spaces richly populated or minimalistic? We don’t make judgments, we just determine what will work best for them.”
It is also important to understand exactly what services an architect covers. “There can be a gray area between interior design and architecture: about who does what,” says Aida, who advises her clients to “make that clear at the beginning – to avoid problems later.”
This is the time to establish (and be honest with) your priorities. “We’ll find out what clients want to invest in,” says Robert Cox of ADAM Architecture, a studio known for its neoclassical new buildings. “It could be a concrete stone for the facade or a plush kitchen. Everyone values different things.
The first conversation should focus on how you live, says Rabih Hage. “It’s not about square footage or number of rooms. That happens later. We start with functionality; whether it’s a meditation space, a guest room—or wine storagehe says, “it’s architecture from the inside out.”
Lewis, whose eponymous practice also includes interior design, compiled a lengthy questionnaire. “We’ll talk about where customers keep their keys; do they like to talk to guests when they’re cooking, do they need a lot of freezer space?” Design ideas will come out of it.’
This is no time for exact numbers. “Blow off any architect who asks you what your budget is at this stage,” says Rabih. “That comes later; when you have made the plans and the quantity surveyor has rationalized the numbers. Also, focus on the process, not on Pinterest, says Jonathan Tuckey of Tuckey Design Studio. “It’s easy to get carried away with images and ideas, but you have to make sure half the meeting is about practical things.”
At this stage, some architects will be liberal with ideas. “Others won’t do that until you sign a contract. It’s not closing a deal,” Alice says. “The most important thing is to recognize an architect’s experience; if you get along. And chemistry matters. ‘If you’re doing well, trust your gut.’
