Thats not how I envisaged it?

We sometimes come to a point on a project, usually mid build, where a client sees an element of a project built, and…its not what they expected. This, as you can imagine, can cause some anxiety and stress for both the client and the architect. The architect is concerned that the vision has not been understood, questions whether things were properly communicated, and in some cases can’t understand why the client doesn’t share the excitement that they have for particular elements of the build.

The client on the other hand sees something that they feel they are seeing for the first time, and they don’t have the luxury of being inside the architects head to see the image of the finished product.

Architects have several tools at their disposal to communicate ideas to clients including computer modelling, actual material samples, photographs to demonstrate the idea, or even built precendents they can refer clients to see. However, notwithstanding all of this, visualisation can be a very difficult thing.

This is no body’s fault of course, it is simply a product of designing a bespoke detailed outcome. Sometimes you need to see the work actually built before you gain a full and proper sense of the intent, especially if it is out of the ordinary.

We always encourage our clients, as anxious as it can be sometimes, to trust the process, and wait for the building to be finished when all decisions can be more easily understood and all elements seen as a complete vision.

Our lovely brick screen which will add significantly to the quality of the space it bounds, and the narrative to the street, constructed as designed, is slightly more open than the clients expected. The good news is there are supporting design elements yet to be constructed along with additional supporting elements that can be easily implemented to address the clients concerns if need be that we are all happy with, that maintain the design intent. Either way we believe the end result is going to be fantastic and we all can’t wait to see it!

Tip of the week. Ask your architect as many questions as you need during the design process, no question is ever silly. Ask for pictures, models, material samples, whatever you believe you need to help you understand the vision they are working toward for you.

Image of our partly completed brick feature wall and screen adjacent. It is going to look great when the sun shines :)