Architect has not delivered - who will bear the costs?

I strongly suspect that this is not unwillingness, but ignorance on the part of the OP. I gather that he is not aware that a +260sqm house is too large and exceeds the budget. I also understand that he considered a hillside plot desirable (affordable?) without having a real use for a granny flat (like a multi-generation house), office, or similar. Lack of light, strange corners, and so on did not catch his attention in the floor plan. Does the OP know that you don't have to go to an architect if you want to build a house?

And can the link to the Pinterest board please be urgently shared? I think the mistake lies here. Photos that show the incoming light creating the great atmosphere also (coincidentally) show 25sqm long narrow kids' rooms, bay windows, dormers, indoor fountains, and 4 garages.

Does the OP know that you don’t have to go to an architect if you want to build a house?

Just ask him

Does the OP know that you don't have to go to an architect if you want to build a house?

You only need a plan drafter with the authorization to submit plans – such authorization can be held by an architect, but there are other qualifications that are also considered sufficient. But entrusting a hillside property to a draftsman, you'd really have to hate your (borrowed) money very much.

And can the link to the Pinterest board please be shared urgently?

Better not – that would be an unwanted external link here.

Hello, I have been a lurker here for several months and would like to post my first comment in this thread. I can understand the threadstarter – annoying to waste time and money on a draft that he can’t use at all. You can probably write off the money – whether hiring a lawyer is worthwhile is very questionable. Consider it a learning expense and start going to GUs (with your own planners) or prefabricated house manufacturers, who won’t charge you as much for the planning. My most important recommendation: do NOT bring your previous plans to these appointments – if you do, they will immediately classify you into a different price category than you actually want to be in. Good luck! GD

In addition to above: I am currently in almost the same situation as you and have had 6 frustrating months with the architect behind me - also one reason why I found this forum - I wanted to find out what alternatives I have.

Our architect learned about our wishes and cost limit in the initial meeting and said no problem. Then after 4 weeks he presented a plan that matched the budget - but it did not fulfill the room program or anything from the conversation - probably an old project... Then we patiently put our wishes on paper again - then came an extremely inflated design, budget twice as high. We asked several more times to optimize it - then came 2 almost identical designs - budget not met... now he admits that he cannot fulfill our program... constantly pressing us to increase the budget. No agreement on contract termination - lawyer.

TE sorry don’t want to hijack your thread - just as background info. GD

In addition to the above: I am currently in almost the same situation as you and have spent 6 frustrating months with an architect - also one reason why I found this forum - I wanted to find out what alternatives I have.

Our architect learned about our wishes and cost limit in the initial meeting and said no problem. Then after 4 weeks he presented a plan that matched the budget - but it did not fulfill the spatial program and nothing from the conversation - probably an old project... Then we patiently put our wishes on paper again - then came an extremely inflated design, budget twice as high. We asked several more times to optimize it - then came 2 more times almost the same design - budget not met... now he admits that he cannot fulfill our program... constantly pressures us to increase the budget. No agreement on contract termination - lawyer.

TE sorry don’t want to hijack your thread - just as background info. GD

The question for you is also, what were your wishes and do the wishes fit within your set budget? The architect’s task is not to squeeze the client’s wishes into a budget that may not be feasible.

Maybe the architect didn’t have the courage to tell you that the budget couldn’t be maintained and tries to keep you as a client with another idea. Which is definitely not okay. But that is all just speculation. Therefore...

Please let us in on your wishes and budget, preferably more detailed than the OP. The OP apparently doesn’t want or cannot.

I myself, for example, walked around about 5 years ago with the idea that it should be possible to build a “normal single-family house without architectural wonders” for 300k€ on a hillside with 150 sqm living space without a basement “all in,” because at that time that was an incredibly high amount of money (and my limit).

Just as influencers with children/ adolescents cloud and distort the perception of budgets with “better living,” Pinterest, and so on.