Architect change possible - contract termination?

A very dear hello to all forum members,

At the moment I have really “big stomach pains” regarding our architects.

We are building for the first time, so we also have no “prior experience” with architects and their contracts.

We are currently in performance phase 4. Performance phase 3 has been completed and in performance phase 4 we are shortly before submitting the building application.

So far so good. We have sat together with the architects about 7 times at least. At the first meeting we expressed our wishes expecting that more questions would come from the architects’ side. But they didn’t ask much, rather just started planning and I had the feeling that if something in the planning didn’t suit us, they were angry and impatient.

We have a very “prominent” plot by the water and it seems to me as if they simply just want to realize themselves.

When we then asked another architect to look over the plans, my bad feeling was confirmed. Planning mistakes after planning mistakes.

As the “last straw” I found last week in my email account the email from our architects with.... “we have a compromise for you”. It was basically a complete optical change to the building without consideration of our wishes.

Now I am sitting here and am desperate.

Does anyone have an idea how to end such a collaboration???????????????????

Are there any legal foundations that protect building owners in such situations???

Such a construction project would ruin us not only mentally but also financially.

Does anyone have advice or ideas??? Thank you all Your BH

Exiting the contract is always difficult and associated with costs. Are there verifiable valid reasons for a breach of contract? Are there written records of the wishes you have?

That is the problem, there are things like a room (interior dimension) 9.20x16.0 meters not taking sound into account, a kitchen exhaust hood planned for 8x16 m without having any idea how to design the duct for the exhaust, a wall in an 8-meter-high slope with corners planned that could reveal themselves as a potential future problem zone (we have a lot of space and infinite design possibilities). We have asked you many times to make the back wall straight. Without success. Also, the 23 floor-to-ceiling windows you cannot redesign because it is simply great design. We don't like it, but that does not impress the gentlemen. All toilets in the middle of the house without windows without it being necessary.

You have obviously been driven along by the architects for a long time, otherwise the preliminary planning would have already failed. Find someone who is more assertive and who will support you concretely.
Incidentally, no one can force you to build the design, that is at least a possible exit.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with you , in that respect I am really weak in enforcing myself, but I had trust in "the expert."

Does one really have to be hard there? That way you leave no room for the architect's creativity, do you? What bothers me most are the already visible technical errors in the planning, such as no heating room planned. Where does something like that exist?

Do you really have to be tough there? That way you don’t leave the architects any room for creativity, do you?

Whoever pays the music also gets to choose what is done. YOU are the clients, YOU pay the architects, YOU have to live in the planned house. So tell the guys who’s boss. Bang firmly on the table and be the boss – because that’s what you are.