Can You Hire an International Architect for US Project?
rulamo
| Posted in General Discussion on
I want to hire an architect and builder to help me construct a new residence in Houston. However, I was wondering about the feasibility of hiring an architect from another country (whose designs I like) to help me with the initial designs and then having a local architect or builder do the final construction/ permit documents.
An architect from Russia I have corresponded with has offered me two options: 1) The first option is called the “initial architectural concept.” We are looking for an image of the house, a sketchy floor plan, sketches. 2) The second option is called “Architectural project”. Based on the concept, we work out in detail the layouts, sections, facades, display materials in detail, and make realistic visualization. — He then writes “with these albums you can go to the local designer and builders who will develop technical documentation that meets local construction standards.”
A part of me is enticed since the aesthetic sense of this architect is exactly what I am looking for. Another part of me is worried that I will waste a lot of money on drawings and material selections that might not translate well to the local market. Looking for any insights from builders/ architects/ or connoiseurs who can tell me if there are any pitfalls of going in this direction.
Replies
I have been part of projects like this in the past. In the reverse though, where architects from US design for other countries. I’ve done a lot of work for a high profile architect from the US working all over the world. It’s been about 8 yrs since I have done an international project with this architect, but my experience will probably apply still. Your international architect will have to be hired on as part of a team with a US architect acting as the chief architect. The US architect will take on all the liability etc, so it’s not something that they will take lightly. It might be hard to find an architect in US willing to do this for an international architect they do not know. The architect I work with is well known, respected and knows architects all over the world, so other architects are usually happy to help as they can use his work to beef up their portfolio. I would ask your Russian architect if he has any connections to the US. Your architect will have to work on a US team, unless he/she has time served in the US and is fully licensed for US work.
Also, another big factor is the building code issue, materials and methods can be quite a bit different between countries. I’ve been on the receiving end of this conflict a lot, it’s not easy.
My advice for budget and sanity. Tell your Russian architect to develop a concept drawing using US building code to the best of his abilities and then hand the concept off to a US architect to develop a working drawing. Our code is called International code, but in reality it’s not really international at all.
Thank you for your reply. Could you explain again the meaning of a "concept drawing" (would that be similar to "schematic design", what the Russian calls "The architectural concept": "We are looking for an image of the house, a sketchy floor plan, sketches. At this stage, we can show how the house and its structure will look.") Would this be a helpful guide to a US architect, and would it help shave off the cost of working with a US architect?
Yes, it would be very helpful for an architect to have this info from the Russian. Truthfully, you won’t really need a to hire a expensive (creative) US Architect as the visual will have been established by the Russian. You need an architect that is willing to just be a pencil pusher and bring the Russian design to US standard. A design build firm may even take on the work. I prefer design build as they will be better on budget and streamline the whole process. I would only pay the Russian for concept (the basic look) w/out a ton of dimensions and details. Don’t bother with structural detail as it will not apply to US methods anyway. A good builder, architect and engineer will be able to mimic the look and apply it to US construction standard. I’ve done a lot of international work, have a company in US and the U.K., I am also sub contracted by a company building structures for the hospitality industry all over the world. I can tell you with the most confidence that you want to build to a US standard (have to anyways). There are only a small handful of Asian and European countries that build to a US standard or better. From the Russian I would request exterior elevations to scale and a basic floor plan. Kind of like the floor plans you see online for cookie cutter builders, where they write the dimensions of each room as a text, but do not show dimension stop lines and wall thickness. It will be helpful if your Russian is aware of common code requirements like minimum required width of stairways, hallways, toilet clearance and minimum riser/tread width for stairs. If these things are not considered the US architect will have to scrap the layout and make it their own. Have you considered finding a project that the Russian has designed already and just handing it off to US architect for interpretation? This way you only pay for an American architect. If you along with an architect can gather up enough info you might be able to match the design very closely. I’ve done historic replica building and mimicked Frank Lloyd Wright homes in the past. It is very possible to achieve the look you are going for with the right US architect.