Wishlist for the architect

For example, I really almost don't care how high the rooms are – what is important to me is that they are bright. How that is achieved should be known by the architect.

Exactly these things are important. Are you sensitive to heat in summer? Do you enjoy the scent of fresh outdoor air? Does an allergy need to be considered? Is it rather lively with you? How do you communicate? Do you like to play? What do you find "beautiful" and what not (sample photos help the architect, the whole thing does not have to be coherent)? How important is cleanliness to you? Do you walk around the house with shoes or always in socks? Are there special hobbies? How do you spend the day, the evening, a successful weekend? How about a successful meeting with friends? What – even completely unusual – habits and preferences do you have? Where have you ever enjoyed an architectural detail and what did it trigger in you (e.g. a special washbasin or an additional entrance for coming home with a happy and dirty dog in bad weather…)?
All these things (list totally incomplete) can be better or worse supported by a house and good architecture is based on that. The practical requirements from experience (routes, enough space but no waste of space…) are gladly brought by the architect.

Shouldn't you go down from the wishlist to the must-have list?

Absolutely not. You will never achieve an extraordinary good result if you don’t strive for it. Therefore, it makes sense not to restrict yourself at first, because that also limits the creative process. Without this process of excessive collecting of dreams, wishes, and ideas, you will not later come to a really fitting prioritization, since the framework conditions always set some limits.

(Self-)individual contracting needs experience, or you have to rely more on luck than on sense to prevent things from going wrong.

From my point of view, the key for private builders when doing individual contracting is that they know their project exactly and through dealing with it exactly know for what purpose what is done where. And this purpose emerges in the above-mentioned processes of finding out "How do I want to live" and "What supports my way of life". Whoever is clear in their mind and priorities and has good communication skills, and not only focuses on money and deadlines but also on people, can easily tackle this without having to rely on luck.

And with hardly anything do DIYers overestimate themselves more than with the challenge to also complete own work just in time so as not to disrupt their construction schedule.

Absolutely. Being able to prepare an excellent steak does not mean you are able to get it on the plate on time for 20 people as part of a menu.

(Self-)single awarding requires experience

is planned, but with an experienced construction supervisor.

no, it doesn't work that way

Ok. What does that mean? On the one hand, I find the contributions, especially from @ , to my question quite helpful. But I don’t want to be annoying or violate (unwritten?) forum rules, and therefore I ask for some clarification.

These are, for example, parameters that the architect works out for you according to the development plan, not according to your specifications.

There is no development plan.

Hopefully in the inner area, right?

Outskirts. Among other things, that is also why it is not yet clear whether and to what depth I am allowed to build. Nevertheless, before the conversation with the building authority (whether me or the architect or both), I want to have an idea of what I would like. The surrounding development does of course not consist of leftover farms, but of neat single-family houses. The residents of those, by the way, would be happy if the farm were preserved and not an investor levels everything and replaces it with even more neat single-family houses.

That is a parameter that drives costs up by increasing the floor area.

That is, for example, the kind of information I was hoping for (thank you very much!). I will talk to the architect about it and of course then consider what my wishes are worth to me in €.

Bad conditions!

We’ll see. A development plan that prescribes a lot makes many things easier, but also reduces the possibilities.

@ : I will take this with me into the discussions. There should especially be clarity on these points

Exactly these things are important.

Thanks again for your hints. That is a completely different way of thinking than my original approach. Wouldn’t such a list of questions, compiled by forum pros, be a helpful tool for many newcomers to building? (it helps me)

I think I can manage with my list now. Many thanks to everyone who participated. My next post will surely come....

Those who are clear-headed and have their priorities straight, possess good communication skills, and pay attention not only to money and deadlines but also to people, can easily tackle this without having to rely on luck.

Au contraire!

In my view, when managing the project by oneself, the key for private builders is to know their project exactly and, through engaging with it, to precisely understand for what purpose what is done where. And this purpose emerges through the aforementioned processes of figuring out “How do I want to live” and “What supports my lifestyle.”

I fully agree, but it is “only half the battle”: a self-managed individual contract award is not a walk in the park, but a rodeo. Whoever formulates services and deliveries imprecisely will soon be capsized in the shark tank of additions, reductions, overtime hours, and the like. It only goes smoothly if one is lucky that the bidders do not exploit inexperience.

I believe it is important to mention another aspect: individual awarding does not mean a bidding process. A tender should never be created by a layperson. We defined the services together with the craftsmen based on the target specifications. We had support from the architect and the carpenter, who was especially invaluable in construction coordination. If we were actually just lucky – maybe that will become clear in the next project. I would be interested, but at the moment I have neither the time nor the need.

I neither know what I am allowed to do (building authority,...) nor what I can (pay), nor what I exactly want. So phase 0. At the moment, I would like to provide the architect with at least somewhat reasonable information. That’s why I asked what I should pay attention to.

If you are still in "phase 0", it is best to pause the conversations with the architect for now. On Monday morning, go straight to the building authority and ask what you are allowed to do there. There are often open office hours: print out a floor plan, draw in the house with desired dimensions, that is sufficient preparation. On Monday afternoon, meet with your house bank or a financial broker to clarify your financing framework. I find it strange that on one hand you want to avoid price drivers already now, but then express very expensive wishes (for example "high windows; ground floor room height at least 320 cm") and also say that the costs don’t interest you for the time being. Especially the budget is one of the most important parameters for architects. With what you are allowed to do and what you can afford, that’s what you take to the architect.

If you are still in "Phase 0," then you should probably pause the conversations with the architect. On Monday morning, go directly to the building authority and ask what you are allowed to do there. There are often open consultation hours: print out the floor plan, draw in the house with desired measurements, that is enough preparation. On Monday afternoon, meet with your house bank or a financial advisor to clarify your financing framework. I find it strange that on one hand you already want to avoid price drivers now, but on the other hand you express very expensive wishes (for example "high windows; ground floor room height at least 320 cm") and also say that the costs do not interest you for now. Especially the budget is one of the most important parameters for architects. With what you are allowed and what you can afford, you go to the architect.

What you are allowed but please also get that in writing. It is not uncommon that different things are required in the building application phase than what was verbally assured.