Architect selection

Hello everyone,

I am new to the forum and read with interest because my husband and I want to build soon.
We are still at the very beginning and are currently conducting introductory meetings with architects.
We have an architect on our shortlist who is already retired and has a lot of experience. He also made us a good offer and my husband finds him suitable, although I do not share the same feeling.
I am skeptical because this gentleman is from an older generation and left the profession when almost everything was digitized... He would draw the house on "paper" and then deliver it to us in that form. How contemporary is it to hire such an architect? Would it be a problem to receive everything on paper?
I have serious concerns because I think it would be much better for communication to have everything electronically... He said he would scan it for us if we need clarification...
What do you experienced users think about this? Does it matter what medium he draws on?

Best regards from southern Germany

Today everything is electronic. Plans are created digitally and then, for example, sent to the specialist engineers for further processing, who then add their information. Electrical and heating/plumbing usually do it that way. Tenders are sent to the trades in a special file format; they fill it out on the computer and send it back to the architect. All communication takes place via phone or email. Paper letters are only used when "real" signatures are needed, for example in contracts. At least that's how I know it with my architect. Apart from that, technology, standards, regulations, etc. develop very quickly. He has to stay up to date.

Hello,

What do you experienced users think about it? Does it matter what he draws on?

No; it just takes longer for the documents to arrive at the recipient.

Whether or not to have a paperless office should also not be the reason why you decide for or against the architect ;)

Best regards from the Rhineland

So at first, I was also "shocked" to be presented with a leaf/paper sketch. In hindsight, it even had more charm than a digital floor plan (which of course was then available for execution).

What I wouldn't want to give up, however, is email communication with PDFs, scans, etc... that saved paper and often time, because all parties involved a) could coordinate quickly, but also b) could document decisions at night or on the go and set their own pace without having to constantly make phone calls (during work).

Thank you all for your answers.

Apart from that, state of the art technology, standards, regulations, etc. develop very quickly. He has to be up to date.

That is a very good point that I had not considered. Thank you very much for the hint.

Paperless office yes/no should also not be the reason why you decide for or against the architect ;)

You are right, when I think about it, that probably just reinforces my gut feeling not to work with him.

Well, at first I was also "shocked" to be presented with a sheet/paper sketch. In hindsight, that even had more charm than a digital floor plan (which of course was also available for the execution).

I think that it definitely has a charm to see everything on paper, but in our case there isn’t even a digital floor plan... you could probably have it digitized elsewhere, but that would be extra costs. Otherwise, you would have to have it scanned or photographed in order to have it with you everywhere.

I think scanning should not be a problem. I also don’t know of any craftsman walking around the construction site with an iPod; they still have their plotted execution plans in hand, scribbling on them – and we too have found these plans better on site and edited our plans with pencil. I would also have no problem with the technology changing: ambitious professionals continue their education or seek professional help. We are talking about a professional profile that keeps changing and that must motivate an architect to keep learning. Since he apparently has reached retirement age, ... he has his empirical knowledge and should also be flexible in design and creativity (provided he has been throughout his entire professional life). And: once an architect, always an architect. "Retirement age" is not out of the world yet as long as one is not speaking of an old man ;) I honestly have reservations about the peculiarities that a person acquires in old age – I am thinking of the stubbornness and rigidity of age... not very compatible with criticism ;) I am just thinking of my favorite film, the must-watch film for clients: "Einmal im Leben"... There the propagandists pick the architect later according to very bizarre criteria after the first architect spontaneously died of old age (heart weakness) :)