Please note there is an update at the bottom of this post dated 21 Jan 09
It’s no secret that we feel we’ve had a total disaster with our first architect and while i want to vent my spleen and name and shame there comes a point where you have to accept that people run into unexpected circumstances that impact is and our renovation and we have to deal with it rather than get angry. I have no doubt that we’ll be let down again but there is no time more biter than your first!
What made this more disappointing was the fact that we thought we’d found an architect that understood us, the house and the vision. The architect even came to stay with us for a few days to measure up and talk through the ideas, and while i “think” ultimately we got what we asked for (plans of how the building is now) we really thought we were starting a relationship that was going to continue as the house grew into our home, so when things fell flat it was a major personal blow to us both.
Time came and went and plans didn’t materialize however 50% upfront payment was made so we hung in there. Heated words were often exchanged in our house and tensions were running high. Months after due date and with me basically on my way to the guys house drawings arrived. I say drawings and not plans as the drawings are missing some key parts (as I’m now painfully aware….need i say “bathroom”). But onwards and upwards.
I’m a HUGE believer in the power of the internet and am now turning to the online communities to break out of the traditional mold and challenge people to think openly. We have the basic layout and the files are in digital format and are looking to post them in some architect forums to let people run wild with their own personal vision of what the house could be like.
Now we are fully aware and expect some of the ideas, layouts and designs to be far fro our taste or practical for that matter but somewhere in there we are hoping to find some true inspiration and someone we’ll choose to work with closer before we then get the plans finally looked at by a French architect.
So in time i’ll post the raw drawings and CAD files on here for you all the play with (they are in ArchiCAD so you’ll need to do some converting) but for now i’m just going to go over and measure the sides of the house again and let the internet hopefully throw some interesting inspiration out way..
UPDATE : We are getting some excellent idea’s thrown out at us from people at ELance and some great feedback from the Architect community on what we should have done BEFORE we got anything drawn up ( or not ) and i’ll be approving all these comments shortly and will try and do a full write-up with the help of these contributors as advice to others before they find themselves down a blind alley like we have.
THANK YOU ALL
I have met soooo many people like you … unfortunately, lol. I will delight you with our services, I am better than many architects because I design for the homeowner not wishfull thinking. Our company motto is ‘If we can’t draw it, you can’t build it’.
I will get you through this, naturally it may cost you bucks, but honestly you’ll get every penny worth.
Sorry about your experience with this so called “architect”. I really question if they were an architect, for even though there are incompetents in the field of architecture, they are still licensed professionals liable to penal laws in the state in which they are registered.
Many draftsman and modelers will claim to be “architects” online but don’t even hold a drivers license. Beware of these as they are many which may have attended some design school or took courses, but have never been eligible for or passed the ARE (Architects Registration Examination). Just think about it, would you take services from someone who claimed to be a nurse without checking to see if they were a RN.
I recommend you check the AIA (American Institute of Architects) at http://www.aia.org to see if your next “architect” is legitimate. Elance provides some verification of credentials on their site, but if you are looking for an architect, the AIA is the place you can find a real pone fide one.
Sorry to hear about your experience. Unfortunately many will pass themselves off as “architects”, but are really not. If you want to find an architect, go to the AIA (American Institute of Architects) at http://www.aia.org.
Architects are licensed professionals just like CPA’s, RN’s and MD’s (accountants, nurses, and doctors). They are liable to practice architecture in accordance State Law in the State in which they are registered. Many will try to pass themselves off as architects, but unless they have a license number, they are no more than draftsmen, modelers or simply folks that might have gone to design school or taken a few design courses.
Rule #1 Never hire anyone claiming to be an architect without asking for their state license. Just like contractors, they must provide one before doing any work.
Rule #2 Always sign a contract with your legitimate architect. This will protect you from incompetence, design errors and poor business practices. Unfortunately many architects are brilliant designers, but not very good businessmen.
Rule #3 Always have your architect provide a cost estimate with their design. This is different from a contractors cost estimate, as it will not include labor or equipment to build, but it will provide a sound board to check that the work they are providing you is not more than you can afford. It is always a good idea to have a construction cost estimate to be performed at the conclusion of the Design Development Phase. Even though it will cost you money to do it (also by Certified Cost Estimators) it will require that the architect redesign (on their own dime) the house to fit you budget (which is listed in your contract with them).
At Alpha Analysis, Inc. we do architectural planning, design and construction management for our clients. We are also expert witnesses in construction court cases and arbitration. I am not saying that unlicensed folks are worthless, but they are not professionals and thus can screw you out of your money and plans without recourse. Something to think about the next time that someone calls themselves an “architect.”
HAhah… i am reading your blog. its quite funny as it is a REALLY advanced project technically. you seem to have all the energy to figure it out, i guess houses own you and they demand more than 2 men can deal with when the roof isnt on properly.
i’m interested in big oak beams every 4 meters that i can put the smaller wood on myself. cos i dont have the budget for a full on framework contract.
regarding architect…get some prior pictures, some design plans and photos from his portfolio…
what you need for you house is moden space allocation.
Large spaces, massive dining room, big bathroom, extra bedrooms are always good, whatever!!! doesnt matter as long as u maximise space and can walk through the house comfortably, i reckon (speaking from my zero experience) . anyhow i want to get a cheap kitchen and paint the wood in transparent blue and white pastel paint with blue and white rustic tiles and lots of light to have mediterranian freshness, brown on the floor only, and i want to tile the stairs, so that when you look at them they look lovely…
i have on 35k euros for a house and renovation as my first one. -nightmare!!!! if i manage to double it then i should get teh nobel prize.
cheers for your blog, please assure the walls and roof now and imagine what spaces you want.
for me the main considerations are where to put the windows, after that the interior shouldnt be too much of a head scratch. once you have as much light in the house and a couple of large spaces, you can link them all together and try and use the light and the open space to maximum effect?
read lots of other blogs to get a cheer up alog the way, it really lifted me to read all these blogs. although you seem to be having a tough one so i am mostly learning from you, i.e. architect reliability.
I am very wary of french walls. i am half french, i know that they arent made to last as long as square stones and handle water poorly, and when a wall moves one way, it keeps on moving at the same rate every 10 years. so butressy supports can be necessary.
sand trenches along the edge of the house can help in case there is damp problems, spreading the weight, etc. i am just going to get a very strong walls and roof as a first project, i would be scared to adjust windows and make new windows if it is a lime and uneven stone wall. it looks very strong though, just doors windows and roof are in order! and heating and the placing the barthroom area, so you can live there and work on it.
good luck