The American Institute of Architects held its annual national conference last week in Orlando, Fla. Although session content was primarily geared to non-residential work, there were nearly two-dozen programs and events with housing content to choose from. Residential Design magazine was there to lead the Custom Residential Architects Network Forum session on successful collaboration between residential architects and custom homebuilders.
Editor-in-Chief S. Claire Conroy moderated the panel of architects and builders, which included Luis Jauregui, FAIA, Jauregui Architects, Austin, Texas; Linda Pellegrini, President, Pelligrini Homes, Orlando, Fla.; Chuck Swartz, FAIA, Reader and Swartz Architects, Winchester, Va.; Takashi Yanai, FAIA, Managing Partner, ERYC Architects, Culver City, Calif.
Discussion touched on how the nature of residential design and construction has changed over the last decade. Architects and builders are busier than anytime since the recession, and both are grappling with the problems of subcontractor availability, supply chain delays, and client expectations that are sometimes unmoored from reality. Television home shows, they said, contributes to the latter issue.
Distance is also playing a role in many projects these days, with either architects or clients sometimes working and residing in different cities, states, and even countries. No matter what their origin, unexpected problems are really just part of the process, something team members must prepare clients for. Panelists agreed that when the going gets tough that the pro team should present a united front to the client, based on an attitude of problem solving rather than finger pointing.
Members of both disciplines expressed their distain for the bid approach for project delivery and advocated bringing the team together at the earliest stages of project planning to ensure the best outcome. Both architects and builders said they make it a point to refer their clients to a shortlist of pros they know can perform to a high standard.
Above all, they stressed, constant communication is the key to successful relationships with clients and other team members. Email, site photography, drone video and photography, web and teleconferencing were all cited as important tools to augment face-to-face meetings, when possible.
CRAN’s own symposium takes place from September 16 through 19 in Miami. The content is exclusively custom residential and will focus on the design challenges of climate change and rising waters. –Residential Design Staff