Architects are the individuals who are responsible for designing buildings, skyscrapers and even houses around the city and countryside. An architect is always judged by the work that they do – depending on how good or how bad they are at designing projects. However, in eagerness to prove their worth to their clients in hopes of being the best one out there, many architects end up agreeing to projects that they simply cannot work on properly – or they just have a lack of information prior to the project.
Many clients often look for architects to carry out projects at the lowest cost possible. This is just one of the many reasons why they often avoid giving out too many details beforehand. However, this is highly unfair to architects – both experienced and beginners – because they put in a lot of effort into ensuring that they prove their skill and work hard to make their clients happy.
For this reason, and of course, for the added clarity, it is absolutely crucial to ask as many questions as you want before agreeing to a project or signing a contract. Experienced architects, such as William Prescott Lecky, urge all newbies to ask enough questions to ensure that they have some form of clarity prior to working on projects. It is understandable that this can be quite difficult to do since most novice architects are eagerly looking for opportunities to start showcasing their skills and building a portfolio.
Highlighted Architect: William Prescott Lecky
If you follow in the footsteps of prime architects like Lecky, then you will find that success actually goes hand in hand with intelligence, and lack of either can jeopardize your career. Moreover, Lecky is an American architect, author and an artisan. In the duration of his architect career, Lecky has noticeably worked harder than most and has been a dedicated and focused individual throughout.
Most of Lecky’s work includes architectures that represent something important and hold great meaning for the people of today and also have historical value. William Prescott Lecky influenced architecture in the DC area and is also the prestigious designer of the Korean War Veterans Memorial. Lecky has influenced hundreds of architects through Cooper-Lecky Architects which was active for 30 years, with many of these architects moving on to start their own firms as well.
Questions Architects Should Ask Clients
As aforementioned, many architects simply do not understand how to bring up the conversation and ask their clients the questions that might be circulating in the back of their head. First and foremost, it is important for architects to ensure that they also remain humble and that their entire journey is one that requires learning and experience. Moving on, these are some questions that you should always ask your clients before agreeing to a project to gain the most benefits:
- Does the project signify something important? It is imperative to ask this question because many clients may want you to design something particularly for something major, such as Lecky’s Korean War Veterans Memorial. This will also give you an idea of the importance of the architect – although you should treat all of your designs with the same respect and value regardless of significance.
- Do you have a long-term plan for the space, & if so, what is it? What age group is this space intended for? For instance, if the space is intended for small children, then you can add some fun shapes and get really creative with the design.
- What is your personal lifestyle like, and would you want this space to represent that?
- Will anyone with a disability (mental or physical) be present here and do arrangements need to be made in the design, in accordance to that?
- Do you have any landscaping requirements that hold high value?
- How much budget are you willing to put aside for this project and can you cross this, if necessary?
- What activities will this space be used for? Such as for personal use i.e. a home, office, school, etc.
- Are there any views that you absolutely want to maintain on the site?
- Do you have any photographs or an idea of what style you are looking for?
Moreover, these are some questions that you should always ask your clients before you start working on a project. Additionally, you should also ensure that there won’t be any extra work that needs to be done, and if so, communicate this to your client in regards to the additional costs as well.
