10 tips to maximise your time with your architect (Part 2)

6. Spec

Architects in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, and around the Klang Valley are comprehensive when it comes to understanding construction methodology. Experienced designers with a portfolio of built projects have gone through the advantages and limitations of various products in application (rather than in theory/marketing material). For e.g. : Which waterproofing is the best?
Would you know if your contractor supplied you an inferior spec? The question is whether the leak from your toilet above, in your guest bedroom, around a year down the road a worth while compromise? Probably not.

Your architects provide a first layer of defence for your investment. Good architects not only possess a dynamic qualitative + aesthetical sense of blending materials and product specifications. They are also much more careful as they are bound by professional liabilities and deep knowledge of legislative by-laws to ensure the products in your house passes not only a high, but importantly safe standard for day-to-day usage.

7. ROI

In Malaysia, a locally registered architect is required to memorise the development and construction contracts process in order to pass the examination. In essence, good architects in Kuala Lumpur are meant to serve developers with profficiency. Developers hire architects to not only develop their building submissions to local authorities, but the best architects are also able to balance out the best ROI's for their clientele.

Hiring a good architect means a method to develop your project efficiently, with the appropriate materials and application(labour costs) to achieve an optimal return, whether to lease out or when eventually to sell.

Want to know more on how serious some architects take ROI? -Have a read on this article on one of Kuala Lumpur's largest architectural practice.

8. Socialize

It is 2018, do not underestimate the power of social-media in this day and age when it comes to the value of your space. Whether it is a retail shop, cafe interior, bar or your house, having a portion of your space 'Instagram-able' would mean an incredible marketing advantage. People do not believe newspaper ads and tv/internet ads as much as when someone stands in front of a space, speaks about the food/service/product, and tags the location of the space that they are at. Extracting spatial content from Pinterest would be very much self fulfilling and the norm these days, especially when your friends start to notice your apartment or office space. However, a good architect with good comprehension of public realms, social behaviors, culminating with a strong sense of art forms can create spatial compositions which are entriely unique to its genius loci and provide an altogether original 'Instagram-ble' composition that is enduring.

9. SubConsult
To push for an optimum level of refinement of your architectural end-product, a simple trick would be to engage your subconsultants at the soonest possible stage. Your talented and experienced architect will be able to advise on who he/she wants on board at the soonest possible stage, at the allowable budget. For e.g., a decent structural & civil services engineer could advise periodically at the early stage of your project to optimise structural sizes and required services and its best positions, saving you time and potentially cutting off a chunk of the costs a few months down the road.

10. What Innovation?
Also because it is 2018, we are in the era of the blockchain, e-disruption and Iphone's 10th Anniversary; to push more value from your architect, simply ask, 'What Innovation are you bringing to the table, Mr.Architect?' A good architect will always able to stand up to the challenge and share something new, and perhaps even better still, implement it.