Bauherrin2016
2016-05-01 07:16:54
- #1
Dear forum community,
we are dissatisfied with our selected architect and would like to change him. But first things first:
We decided on an architect at the end of January who is somewhat of a "freelance architect" (i.e., not a general contractor or similar) but works independently under a GmbH. In our first conversation, we verbally commissioned him for the tasks up to the approved building permit. The commission was given verbally; so far we have not signed anything in writing. After the first meeting, the architect handed us a preliminary draft #link deleted at the TE's request; building expert In a further appointment, we addressed change requests and what we did not like, so the architect wanted to revise the floor plan accordingly. He then developed two new designs for the ground floor (the upper floor remained the same), which were quite similar (only the living room and kitchen swapped). This took about 7 weeks (and only went that "fast" because we followed up on the status; without our inquiry, he probably still would not have gotten back to us) with the result that these new drafts combined everything we did NOT want and had said so clearly multiple times in the previous conversation, but we assume he forgot everything after 7 weeks (he did not take notes during the meeting). Objectively, these drafts were simply really bad; if I had posted them here in the forum, they would have been torn apart because they contained many things that are actually no-goes. We were very upset that we had basically wasted seven weeks for nothing, and in fact, the two second drafts were even less suitable than the first. We then had another conversation with the architect yesterday, told him everything again, and the architect roughly sketched some changes on the existing draft in our presence.
However, we had the feeling that he absolutely did not want to deviate from his original draft and that all the back-and-forth adjustments in the existing draft only made things worse (L-shaped utility room with a lot of unusable space, etc.). He barely or only partially addresses our change requests, so the draft is somewhat closer to our wishes but still far from something we would want to build. He absolutely refuses to change many things (the children's rooms are too large for us, the bathroom is too small with an unsuitable sanitary arrangement (see draft in the above-mentioned link, for example, the bathtub is placed in a very awkward and tight spot), but he did not accept redesigning the upper floor completely. He really clings to the draft, so to speak, come hell or high water. He does not want to change the position of the staircase, even though we asked him several times to move it slightly closer to the entrance. This was rejected with "that would make it too tight at the entrance," which may be so, but then we need a completely new concept because we just don't like it as is. But he does not want that either. The external dimensions of the house are set in stone for him, even though I told him several times that we could slightly enlarge the house by a few centimeters if there are minor space issues. The elevations are awful and not at all in the style we imagine for our house, and his shuffling of the windows does not really improve this. I have the feeling that he already has the basic shape of this house finished in his drawer from another house and absolutely does not want to change it because it would be more work. At least that’s how it seems to us.
We are therefore absolutely dissatisfied; many things do not fit for us, and working with the architect is a struggle. He just shifts the walls in the existing draft and then claims it is perfect, and every small change we want leads to a fight with him. That won’t work; the floor plan is completely botched; we need a completely new concept, but he does not go along with that. We just don’t feel good about him anymore; I barely slept last night and get stomach aches just thinking about the floor plan. This cannot continue, and honestly, I do not see any further cooperation with this architect. The trust basis on our part is gone; we do not believe that continuing the collaboration will ever result in a draft that we like. He also applied a bit of pressure indirectly not to "request" more preliminary drafts because then we supposedly would no longer know what we actually want, etc.
Plain talk: We want to switch architects and end the cooperation with the current architect. But how does that work, is it that simple? And what costs might we incur for the current architect? All three drafts were in the style as in the link posted above, i.e., hand sketches without dimension details, etc.—does that still count as preliminary planning according to HOAI or already as design planning? Does the architect bill according to HOAI even though he operates as a GmbH? Exact costs have not been mentioned yet, only a rough estimate for the complete work up to the submission of the building permit. It would be a shame if we had to pay a four-figure sum for this work now, as it is obviously a lot of money for "nothing." But I simply see no further collaboration with him; it no longer fits on a personal level or in style or floor plan. What would you do? Spend a lot of money on "nothing" and look for a new architect, or stick with him and "force" a good design with a lot of assertiveness and discussions? Although I doubt that will succeed because he does not see many of our criticisms (e.g., the arrangement of the sanitary fixtures in the bathroom, that everything feels cramped and we do not like the placement of the bathtub, or the size of the children’s rooms (possibly reduce by relocating the office upstairs (only one child planned, but we would like two children’s rooms because you never know if a second child might be desired later, but the rooms do not need to be huge).
Thank you very much in advance for any answers!
we are dissatisfied with our selected architect and would like to change him. But first things first:
We decided on an architect at the end of January who is somewhat of a "freelance architect" (i.e., not a general contractor or similar) but works independently under a GmbH. In our first conversation, we verbally commissioned him for the tasks up to the approved building permit. The commission was given verbally; so far we have not signed anything in writing. After the first meeting, the architect handed us a preliminary draft #link deleted at the TE's request; building expert In a further appointment, we addressed change requests and what we did not like, so the architect wanted to revise the floor plan accordingly. He then developed two new designs for the ground floor (the upper floor remained the same), which were quite similar (only the living room and kitchen swapped). This took about 7 weeks (and only went that "fast" because we followed up on the status; without our inquiry, he probably still would not have gotten back to us) with the result that these new drafts combined everything we did NOT want and had said so clearly multiple times in the previous conversation, but we assume he forgot everything after 7 weeks (he did not take notes during the meeting). Objectively, these drafts were simply really bad; if I had posted them here in the forum, they would have been torn apart because they contained many things that are actually no-goes. We were very upset that we had basically wasted seven weeks for nothing, and in fact, the two second drafts were even less suitable than the first. We then had another conversation with the architect yesterday, told him everything again, and the architect roughly sketched some changes on the existing draft in our presence.
However, we had the feeling that he absolutely did not want to deviate from his original draft and that all the back-and-forth adjustments in the existing draft only made things worse (L-shaped utility room with a lot of unusable space, etc.). He barely or only partially addresses our change requests, so the draft is somewhat closer to our wishes but still far from something we would want to build. He absolutely refuses to change many things (the children's rooms are too large for us, the bathroom is too small with an unsuitable sanitary arrangement (see draft in the above-mentioned link, for example, the bathtub is placed in a very awkward and tight spot), but he did not accept redesigning the upper floor completely. He really clings to the draft, so to speak, come hell or high water. He does not want to change the position of the staircase, even though we asked him several times to move it slightly closer to the entrance. This was rejected with "that would make it too tight at the entrance," which may be so, but then we need a completely new concept because we just don't like it as is. But he does not want that either. The external dimensions of the house are set in stone for him, even though I told him several times that we could slightly enlarge the house by a few centimeters if there are minor space issues. The elevations are awful and not at all in the style we imagine for our house, and his shuffling of the windows does not really improve this. I have the feeling that he already has the basic shape of this house finished in his drawer from another house and absolutely does not want to change it because it would be more work. At least that’s how it seems to us.
We are therefore absolutely dissatisfied; many things do not fit for us, and working with the architect is a struggle. He just shifts the walls in the existing draft and then claims it is perfect, and every small change we want leads to a fight with him. That won’t work; the floor plan is completely botched; we need a completely new concept, but he does not go along with that. We just don’t feel good about him anymore; I barely slept last night and get stomach aches just thinking about the floor plan. This cannot continue, and honestly, I do not see any further cooperation with this architect. The trust basis on our part is gone; we do not believe that continuing the collaboration will ever result in a draft that we like. He also applied a bit of pressure indirectly not to "request" more preliminary drafts because then we supposedly would no longer know what we actually want, etc.
Plain talk: We want to switch architects and end the cooperation with the current architect. But how does that work, is it that simple? And what costs might we incur for the current architect? All three drafts were in the style as in the link posted above, i.e., hand sketches without dimension details, etc.—does that still count as preliminary planning according to HOAI or already as design planning? Does the architect bill according to HOAI even though he operates as a GmbH? Exact costs have not been mentioned yet, only a rough estimate for the complete work up to the submission of the building permit. It would be a shame if we had to pay a four-figure sum for this work now, as it is obviously a lot of money for "nothing." But I simply see no further collaboration with him; it no longer fits on a personal level or in style or floor plan. What would you do? Spend a lot of money on "nothing" and look for a new architect, or stick with him and "force" a good design with a lot of assertiveness and discussions? Although I doubt that will succeed because he does not see many of our criticisms (e.g., the arrangement of the sanitary fixtures in the bathroom, that everything feels cramped and we do not like the placement of the bathtub, or the size of the children’s rooms (possibly reduce by relocating the office upstairs (only one child planned, but we would like two children’s rooms because you never know if a second child might be desired later, but the rooms do not need to be huge).
Thank you very much in advance for any answers!