10 tips on ways to maximise your time with an architect

Accountant, lawyers, specialist doctors, and architects. They are expensive to utilise and some run high hourly rates. But do they actually get you the return?

Below are ten tips on how to maximise your time and get bang-for-the-buck with a high-performance architect in Malaysia.

Remember, a good architect works together with you to bring your thoughts, dreams and vision to the next level;

1. Activities you like.

What are they key activities you certainly envision yourself doing in this new property in 3 years time? Is it having a bbq party? Is it having your kids playing in a dipping pool? Is it having your friends over to wine and dine? Or is it simply you wanted a sculpture the size of a house to contemplate with your odd friend/relative from the exteriors and to meander through? By allowing your architect to be your counsel to your definite needs, he/she will be able to 'diagnose' the spaces and organise its flows for you efficiently.

2. How much Ringgits.

What is your budget and is there a range? We notice in Malaysia, architectural clients are quite restrictive in sharing this information in a clear manner. Perhaps this is a form of risk management by the client. However, this move is counterproductive, as the best architects are able to design even a spoon or a napkin to fit your new architecturally designed home or mansion. This holistic design movement was once started by Adolf Loos back in the early 20th century in Vienna, Austria, whereby the architect was the curator of style for the entirety of the building project, right up to the way the user would sit! Clarity in budget allocation for your architectural project in Malaysia will mean your eventual lifestyle aspirations will not only be met, but, be given a new dimension and taken to the next level of design excellence. Therefore, contrary to conventional thinking, providing budget clarity gets the architectural client more value.

3. Be an artist.

Whilst a client might think the reason they hired an architect in Malaysia is sometimes due to their lack of time and/or creativity or artistic skill, it actually is important that the client is able to provide key moments of inspirational input to lift the architectural design and composition. An example would be the relationship between Steve Jobs and Jony Ive. Steve Jobs was probably a rather tasteful and artistic person already in his approach towards the products he created later in his life. However, he always trusted that Jony Ives will always be able to translate his thoughts, and not only realise it but bring to another level altogether. Jony Ives later would fuse together, understand, integrate and develop the engineering inputs. The architectural design process is rather similar. The computer aesthetic world changed when the iMac G3 in 1999 was introduced in the various colours and forms. This led to the metal designs and bevel edges and eventually the iPhone today, which is probably the greatest product designed ever. Now back to the role of the client, whereby if they are able to produce moments of inspiration in their weekly or bi-weekly meetings with their architect. By supplying 1 or 2 artistic nuances, however simple or if need be, complex, whether it is the colour, the form, the material, then your architect is able to not only translate, but eleviate that thought to a whole new level. This uncertainty and moment of holding your breath for your upcoming surprise is part of the joys of hiring a good architect. Malaysian architects are generally sufficiently creative to bring your project to the next level, but are all clients able to be a little bit of Steve Jobs inside?

4. Your greater good.

Ask what is the impact of your building beyond your ownselves.

A well executed piece of architecture does more than provide you with a comfortable and dynamic living space. Usually it has positive affects to the neighbourhood, whether from as simplistic as a external feature elements (for e.g. types of walls or screens). In an even more profound manner, sometimes your design outcome will drive a new movement, such as the now overused exposed bricks, black steel and concrete finish palette. The trick is not to be stuck in a movement and regurgitate, but allow a good architect to envision together the next one, whether it an evolutionary course or a more revolutionary style.

5. Connections.

Ask, what will your new architectural masterpiece create for not only your immediate family, but towards your friends and family members, whom you plan to 'allow' to visit you? How do you communicate your love to this inner circle groups of yours? By envisioning a connection to your future visitors and virtually integrating them into your spatial planning and aesthetics, you inadvertently push more value and squeeze out more creativity from your architect! Good architects thrive on evolving your building's program with creative connections, materiality adjustments and organizing or re-organizing spatial elements to fit.

6....

So what are your thoughts on the above? Seems much easier than you would have thought? Yes, sometimes, it is about also letting go, and allowing the architect to be the problem solver towards your ideals but also being strategic about it.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for my next 5 tips to maximise and make the most out of a good architect in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya and the Klang Valley!