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We’re getting close to adding about 1,400 sf to our 1,000 sf post-war tract. I have a knack for design myself, but I also respect the talents of a good architect. What I need is an architect that could understand the thought I’m trying to convey and offer suggestions for different layouts and exterior details. Ideally, I’d like to hire him/her on a fee only basis, meaning, I really need an “architect consultant”. I’m capable of producing my own drawings and have sources for civil engineering.
So, are there some architects that work in this mode? How do I interview an architect to see if their predominant styles and modes of thinking are similar to mine? Do I ask to see pictures or plans of previous projects? Should I expect them to have portfolios? During this “interviewing” phase, I assume that I’m not being charged.
I’ve heard that architechtual fees can be percentage of the total project cost. I’m not looking for the architect to be with me through out the project, I just need solid ideas and direction.
This project will be happening in Southern California.
Thanks in advance!
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Don't assume that you're not being charged because he assumes that you are picking his brain in the interbieew and will hold back if not clear he's being paid for his intellectuall property. If he gives it away free, he's a fool.
Many do work hourly or for a set fee, depending on the job and customer. Liability issues should be addressed, in other words - he'll want you to aasume them since YOU are the architect and he is just a consultant.
Another place you could post this is:
http://www.aibd.org/forum/disc2_tocf.htm
it is an architects forum so you'll be speaking to them. Good luck.
Your other questions have too much room for interpretation for me to feel comfortable answering here without knowing you. Much of this can be a personality issue.
*I can't speak for your area, but I went (just yesterday) into the largest, and most professional firm in our town - Brantford, south of Toronto Ontario Canada (OK so there are only 2 Architectural firms in town, thats beside the point) I described my situation, (which is not entirely different from yours) and he advised that for what I wanted to do, an architect was overkill, and I ought to go with a design-drafting firm.Just so you have a reference point of my situation vs yours - We have a 500 sq ft pre-war home close to 100 yrs old. In the Spring we want to add on a 1 car garage with a loft bedroom. A few yrs from now we will be building a new house (1500 sq ft) on the property. Once the new house is built the existing house will be torn down, except for a small portion that will become the second bay for the garage, the loft bedroom will become a workshop.The Architects advice was that unless there were serious structural challenges, a design firm would be able to adapt stock plans to our site/lifestyle, and come up with sets of working prints at a fraction of the cost of going in with an architect. That and that the architectural firms don't especially want to work with homeowners on a small project that will span years before its completion. We are owner-building.Having said that, I also contacted an Architect North of Toronto who quoted in the area of $1600 to do the plans for our project since she is fairly new out of School and trying to build a customer base. We will more than likely go with her, unless things start getting out of hand. All I want from my architect though is a set of working prints adapted to my lifestyle - Of course the plan we found that we like is designed to sit on the Florida Gulf coast, up on 8 ft piers, with hurricane proof walls - When was the last time a hurricane blew through southern Ontario...
*ask friends, neighbors, collegues, engineers, contractors.... who they recommend. when you call the architects to schedule an appointment, be very honest with what you are looking for. make sure to ask if they charge for interviews (most do not). remember the interview is to see whether or not you want to work together, not free design recommendations.when you schedule the interview, ask to see examples of work similar (in scale, style, work method...) to what you want. this may be in the form of a portfolio, a drive through town to look at buildings, or a slide show. ask for references, and be sure to call. clear communication of needs and desire, from both sides, is incredibly important. my guess is, for what you want, you will have more sucess with smaller (1-5 persons) firms.alternately, you could work with a reputable design/build contractor. just be sure you comply with all necessary regulatory issues (ie do the drawings need to be stamped...)
*Hey Hust Another Guy, Just for your information, the last hurricane to strike Ontario, Canada was hurricane Mitabwa in 647 A.D. It caused over 60,000 wampums worth of damge, wiped out 47 tepees and 8 quonset huts. -Peter
*Actually we had another one after that...Hurricane HazelFor Ontarians old enough to remember it, Hazel was the storm of a lifetime -- and one of the few to do significant damage in central Canada. Hurricane Hazel formed in early October, 1954, and crossed the Caribbean and the eastern U.S. before entering southern Ontario in mid-month. The storm left as many as 1,000 dead in Haiti, 6 more in the Bahamas, and another 95 in the U.S.In Ontario, the storm killed 81 people and caused $100 million in damage. However, the storm was, technically, no longer a hurricane by that time. "When it actually entered Canadian areas, it was downgraded to just a tropical depression-it wasn't even a tropical storm as it moved across the border," says Kirkwood of the CHC. In Ontario, most of the damage from Hazel was caused by severe rainfall, with 200 millimetres falling in less than 24 hours. The rivers of Dufferin County, northwest of Toronto, experienced the worst flooding seen in 40 years. From http://www.cbc.ca/news/indepth/weather/hurricanes.htmlBut enough of this, lest I pull us too far off topic...
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We're getting close to adding about 1,400 sf to our 1,000 sf post-war tract. I have a knack for design myself, but I also respect the talents of a good architect. What I need is an architect that could understand the thought I'm trying to convey and offer suggestions for different layouts and exterior details. Ideally, I'd like to hire him/her on a fee only basis, meaning, I really need an "architect consultant". I'm capable of producing my own drawings and have sources for civil engineering.
So, are there some architects that work in this mode? How do I interview an architect to see if their predominant styles and modes of thinking are similar to mine? Do I ask to see pictures or plans of previous projects? Should I expect them to have portfolios? During this "interviewing" phase, I assume that I'm not being charged.
I've heard that architechtual fees can be percentage of the total project cost. I'm not looking for the architect to be with me through out the project, I just need solid ideas and direction.
This project will be happening in Southern California.
Thanks in advance!