Lessons for life from the 5 stages of architecture - Part 1

Have you ever heard people say that they are “Laying down the foundations”? For what ever reason everyone (bar people working in the building industry) seems to think this is the greatest way to start any endeavour. After all, if your foundations are not suitable for what will is intended to be built, imagine the dire consequences for such bad planning.

I have a major problem with this particular saying along with the concept of starting a project with foundations. As an architect, I can tell you straight up, starting any project from the “foundation stage” is doomed for disaster.

Before I can go any further with my explanation as to why I feel this way, I need to explain the 5 stages that an architect is required by law to complete for the client, if the full fee that is agreed upon is to be paid. It is somewhat tedious, but is vital later on in the essay.

Stage 1: Definition and appraisal:

5% of the fee

The architect meets with the client and together, the scope of the project is defined. All parameters, requirements, necessities’, all the “I can’t afford, but would really like” s, dreams, aspirations, budget, and payment are considered. A brief, which forms part a legal document between the architect and client is defined, so that the architect can’t get away with putting in the 4 bedrooms, when 5 where required. Conversely, the client can’t suddenly query the architect as to why the each bedroom doesn’t have its own bathroom when it was not defined within the brief.

I guess people generally say, “so what if I want to add it in at a later stage, I’m paying right?” well yes and no. The architect gets paid a percentage of the building cost. So the building will cost the same to build with some extra features or not (this of course depends on the scope of the request), but your extra request will mean a few more days at the drawing board. So technically, you aren’t paying for it and the architect at the end of the day is doing it for free. Unfair? Absolutely, but that is my gripe with the payment system, but that is not what the article is about. My point is this, if you want a happy architect and client to love the building experience, a well defined, clear and practical brief is required.

In addition to the brief, the architect at this stage would advise the client on other consultants that are required for the proposed project; engineers, lighting experts, or any other consultant deemed necessary for the project to be a success.

Stage 2: Design Concept:

15% if the fee

In this stage, after some time of thought and planning, the architect shows the client what he was thinking. Depending on the architect, there can be little sketches, where a squiggle represents a tree, or full blown 3D renderings used to suck the client in. As I’m sure you can imagine, those renderings do cost money, so putting in such effort and expense at this stage, versus the potential gain from the project is usually weighed up.

By this stage of the project, and architect should be advising the client about the technical and functional characteristics for the project, an estimated cost, along with the anticipated programme for the entire project.


Stage 3: Design Development:

15% of the fee

This is the stage that everyone is eager to see. In stage 3, the building starts to become a planned reality. The construction of the building is defined. Coordination from the architect to gather all the information from the chosen consultants and apply the information into the drawings. The drawings are reviewed with the relevant authorities, as building carry many laws with them.

It is important to note that although this stage is where the building starts to “take shape” on paper, it is still in the design stage. Many new and exciting design possibilities come about through choice of construction method and materiality of the building.

Stage 4: Technical Documentation

40% of the fee

Here the plans are sent to the local authorities for approval. They are checked against many parameters. Regulations from fire, light, ventilation, Floor area ratios, to efficiency of soiled water removal are analysed. Now I figure that all that sounds quite technical, but truth be told, these are topics among many that are in place to ensure that the building works along national building regulations and helps ensure that the building is safe for use. Another small point of interest is that spelling errors, or text that is too small to read may result in plans not being approved.

Once the building is designed, or at least is at a stage where the overall design is complete. The architect begins to draw up the plans of how the building is to be constructed. Down to every last detail, the building is explained so that firstly, quotes can be obtained from contractors and the building can be evaluated against the initial budget.

The documentation provided by the architect in this stage allows the contractor to know exactly how the build the building. Detail drawings are given to show the exact method of connection between materials and elements. Deviation from the information provided from the architect to the contractor, or a lack of information from the architect’s side, may result in anything from legal battles to prosecution of manslaughter.


Stage 5: Contract administration and inspection

25% of the fee

Here the client has a choice. They can choose to run the project themselves, or appoint the architect to be the legal representative in all contractual work between contractors and the client. I know of many architects that will not accept a project unless they will be hired for this stage, as many issues may arise while the building process takes place, and would prefer to have some sort of control over that to prevent legal issues later.

With the completed documentation from stage 4, the architect may tender the construction to contractors and act as the appointed agent between the contractor and the client.

The architect will mike site inspections to ensure that the building is being built in accordance to the documentation provided.

Those are the 5 stages of building in terms of the architect. I guess that started getting quite technical and “unnecessary”, but you will soon see where I am going with all of this.

Back to my opening agenda: “Starting with the foundations”. As you can see, building only happens in the last stage of the mentioned five stages. A building comes about through a lot of planning and discussing. Interaction between professionals of other disciplines are required to reach a optimal design solution that is intended to be built. So does it make any sense to say that the project will start from the foundation level? No! Without prior planning, how do you know where the foundations have to be laid? Did you plan to build one storey, or ten storeys? What soil are you building on? Are simple raft foundations enough for your support, or are more complicated systems required? Assuming that you knew all these answers, foundations only happen after the site is cleared, levelled, compacted and prepared.

Another crack found in this colloquial saying is this. Foundations take 28 days to cure. That is the length that the concrete will take to harden. Once that is done you start your walls and slabs. The thing that gets me about everyone who are laying foundations in their own lives, is that it takes too long. I have friends that have been stuck in this stage for years. Never moving forward, but always pulling down what they think is a solid building. They lay the foundation to only realise later after much hard work and expense has been dedicated to a good cause, they realise that they actually need the wall to be built half a meter in and the placement of their unplanned foundation is actually unsuited to their intention. Along with this analogy of the architectural building process, the reason for this is very simple. They never started with a thorough brief. They didn’t sit down in the beginning to understand the scope of what was intended to be the goal, the finished product, the ultimate building. If one simply understands where they are intended on going with what ever the endeavour may be. Detailed plans will tell you exactly where the foundations must go, what type of foundation they must be, and you know roughly how long it will take before you can start building your walls and slabs.

So stop laying foundations, and start at stage one – the brief. Define where you want to go with your project. Write down all your dreams and aspirations. This will be your “legal documents” for you to keep your bearings in tact. Projects can easily be side tracked. So define your intention up front. You may think that this is a simple and quick process, but let me remind you that you will pay an architect 5% of the fee just for this document. So in monetary terms, if you are paying an architect R100 000 in total, R5000 is what you will pay for a brief. To the best of your ability define all aspects of what you will need for your project. As mentioned above, you can start adding in additional points that should have been included into the brief initially, but you will ultimately slow the progress, enjoyment and development of your project down to a rate that is usually seen as unproductive, and may result in an unfinished product.

Your consultants. Although we all think we do, nobody knows everything! We all have deficiencies in aspects of our lives. The smart thing to do is ask someone who is strong in the point that you lack for guidance and assistance, thus optimising your strengths, with those who surround you. Returning to our analogy, you need to look at engineers, lighting consultants, fire experts, and so on.

What is an engineer? They provide the logical/mathematical reasoning behind the architect’s intentions. A love hate relationship exists between architects and engineers, hardly ever seeing eye to eye, they fight the inner battle of dreams verse reality. A good architect can design within practical limits, while a good engineer can find reason and logic within a dreamlike problem. Your engineer should be someone who will guide you in technical aspects of your journey. How to achieve your goal on a realistic level.

Your lighting consultant: We all know the effects that bad lighting has on us. A badly lit stage at a fantastic play can ruin the performance. A badly lit office can cause headaches for the employees. Ultimate light can damage, just stare into the sun for a few minutes and you will notice the lack of sight (SIDE POINT: I’m not advocating anyone to stare into the sun so see my point). Your lighting consultant is someone who provides your inspiration. But they do so on a level that suits your particular project. They way up the intentions found in your brief and advise you on the best solution to reach your goal.

Your fire consultant: Fires are never planned, they are usually destructive, and happen at the most unsuitable time. You need someone who will set up the “in case” measures. Someone that can steer you away from potential problems in dangerous situation. Your fire consultant sees the danger zones in your grand scheme. They are not there to warm you of your potential risks and downfalls, but rather advise you on how to survive you unforeseen fire should it occur.

So who are these people in the grand scheme of things?

Your engineer would be your Mashpiah, your source of guidance in all your endeavours. Someone who looks out for the logical way for you to reach your goal, while you may be in your dreamlike state. Your Mashpiah will often tell you that this will not suffice for your intended goal. To reach your goal, your ego needs to be checked in at the door, and understand that he are coming from a point of practicality, knowledge and logic.

Your light consultant is not necessarily a person, but a way of thinking. Torah allows one to understand particular situations in a clearer and illuminated way. Too much revelation of light can cause problems. To achieve the optimum balance of harmony, one must not only indulge in one aspect of Torah, but balance learning in all aspects of Torah.

Your fire consultant is Halacha. Following Halacha, steers you clear of all your unforeseen danger zones. Its known that a large amount of Halacha is so that we can create a fence around the Law from the Torah. This fence is like the sprinkler system, or the fire escape. When you start getting too close to a point of danger, these elements are put in place by the people who know best to prevent you from being burnt.

Do you know the difference between G-d and an architect? G-d doesn’t think He is an architect. In your journey to reach any goal, G-d is the architect. The entity that sits at the top of the planning team and through consultation, on what ever level you see fit, will advise, and aid you to draw your plans to reach your ultimate goal.