Collaboration with an Architect

 

 

Planning a home renovation? Interior architect Krzysztof Miruć advises how to start working with an architectural studio. What to pay attention to when estimating a design, what responsibilities the interior designer has, and what the investor has.

What does working on an interior design look like? What are the architect's and the client's responsibilities at the stage of starting cooperation?

Let's remember that an architect is not a fortune teller. They don't know how we want to live. It's us who have to give them as much information as possible. We have to tell them about our expectations, dreams, desires and habits. The more we tell them, the richer they will be with this knowledge and will respond to these problems. Let's remember that for us a modern interior does not mean the same as for an architect. So let's prepare inspiration in photos. Let's show what we like, but being able to say about the photo or picture what we like and why. Or the opposite. What we don't like and why. This is also very important, we have to be firm. Another thing. Let's think through our decisions, because the most problems arise when the investor changes their mind. If the architect doesn't respond to our needs and problems, then we can part ways. Let's not struggle with a person who is supposed to arrange our home. Let's remember that the architect works with us, not for us. This is very important.

Interior design consists of several stages. What does working with an architect look like from the first meeting to the handover of the apartment? What are the key points when creating such a design?

The first thing is the interview, i.e. telling the architect why you came to them and what problem you have. The second thing is presenting the brief, i.e. our expectations and desires, and telling them what we like and what we don't like. Then we receive a concept from the architect, one or two, on which we have to make corrections. Let's think everything through, ask questions, what we understand, what we don't understand. Then we have the design, which must be discussed with the architect. We have to be sure of these decisions, we have to know what we want. At the very beginning we also have to define the budget for the architect, so that they know within what limits they are to design for us.

After this stage, implementation begins. We arrange with the architect the number of visits on the construction site. Let's remember that the architect supervises the implementation of the design, not the construction process. Supervising the crews is not their responsibility. For this, we either hire a construction manager, or the boss of the renovation crew does it for us, or we do it ourselves. Unless we commission the architect to carry out the investment in a substitute investor system, and thus we hand over the keys and nothing concerns us.

What should a complete interior design include: a functional design, technical design, 3D visualizations?

It must include everything, all plans, all sections, all descriptions.

Can you commission an architect to design only one room?

Of course. An architect can also simply provide a consultation—we don't have to have a design. You can arrange an hourly consultation with an architect, just like with a lawyer or a psychologist. We then come away richer with some knowledge, with certain worries either resolved or with greater confidence in our own convictions. An architect is a person who is there to help us and can draw something for us, but we can also simply talk with them, like with a professional. Let's go for consultations, let's go for conversations about our own interior. Let's devote a little time and a little money, but let's make sure that what we want to do is wise and well thought out, so that later, when we start spending real money, it doesn't turn out that we spent it badly.

What services, beyond preparing a design, can architects provide, or what can we commission?

We can commission just the design from an architect; we can commission supervision of the construction. We can do the shopping together with them, or they can do it themselves. This is a concierge-style service. It depends on how we want to be involved in the project or how we want to be served. It all depends on the agreement between us and the design studio.

You already mentioned supervising the progress of the project's implementation. What does an architect's visit to the construction site involve?

Checking whether the crews are carrying out the work in accordance with the design. The architect appears at every stage of the work on the construction site, if, of course, this is specified in the contract.

How should such a contract with an architect be structured?

Very simply: define the terms of cooperation. Every architect has a contract template and will tell us on what terms they work with clients.

 

Do architects also have any discounts at certain stores for their clients?

Of course, architects have discounts at stores for their clients. They usually get a few percent at partner stores, and it's worth taking advantage of shopping in such places with such an architect and using those discounts.

Should you choose renovation crews recommended by the architect? Do you ever work with crews chosen by the investor?

Of course, such teams understand each other, and then we can count on fast and good cooperation as well as fixing any mistakes. We also work with external crews and have no problem with that. It's all a matter of communication.

The ideal client of an architectural studio. Too prepared, or completely unaware of what they need.

A decisive and aware client who knows what they want. That is the ideal client. Someone who knows how they want to live, how they want to use the space, and what they like, and who expects interesting, original solutions from the architectural studio. A person who doesn't design on behalf of the architect, but defines how they want to live and expects the architect to be a partner and a specialist. Let's remember that we are going to a specialist, and it's sometimes worth listening to that person even if they say something we may disagree with. A good specialist knows what they are talking about. Just as a good doctor makes a good diagnosis. A good lawyer finds solutions to the various difficult situations we find ourselves in. It's the same with an architect.

Do you have any architectural dream, would you like to design something you don't yet have in your portfolio?

Everyone has something like that, and every project is unique. One could go on listing them. I would like to work one day after death, and it would be the happiest day of my life.