[AMA] Residential Architect in Victoria

LLauraL on 29/08/2021 - 16:20

Hello everyone,

I am a Victorian registered architect in my 30s, having my own practice for almost 4 years. Ask me anything.

A little bit about me:
I am also a mum of 2 boys under 10 years old, a scout leader and a networking enthusiast.

My husband and I immigrated to Australia at the end of 2012 when we started everything from scratch.

Before starting my own practice, I managed 2 businesses for someone else and worked ~60h/week.
I experienced the process of recruiting employees, but also the less pleasant side, dealing with difficult behaviours and performance management.

I experienced bullying and burnout, which led me to explore different personal development avenues.

DISCLAIMER: Any opinions I express are personal and not professional advice.

Introduce Yourself

closed Comments

  • Ghost47 on 29/08/2021 - 16:24

    What do you think of the Pole House in Victoria?

    What is your favourite piece of residential architecture in Melbourne?

    • LauraL on 29/08/2021 - 17:20
      +4

      This house reminded me of my Uni years, when we were taught that slopy sites should be dealt with in 2 ways: you either follow the slope of the land and 'hide' your architecture amongst nature (e.g. stepped levels) or have it 'floating' above the site, as if not daring to touch it.
      I guess from that point of view, it meets the intent of my teachers.

      I believe that architecture is not about the building, but about the feelings and habits it creates or changes. If I look at the pictures on this website, there are 2 immediate thoughts that come to mind: 1. my fear of heights will definitely be challenged and 2. when you have that view, a lot of other aspects become secondary.
      Then, my pragmatic mind would go to: 1. I wonder if those are triple glazed and 2. How often would those windows need to be cleaned? :)

      I do not have a favourite piece of residential architecture. It is hard to pick one really.
      I like the ones that are discrete yet have cute details that attract as you explore them. An example I was researching into for a project of mine is the Downside Up House in Albert Park (by WALA). I like the Owl Woods Passive House and the work that Talina does. I love some of the details that Tecture explore….

    • Gnilgorf on 31/08/2021 - 15:16

      Wandering through the forums, and happened to see this which made me chuckle.
      Like the OP, I too am a Victorian Architect, but also happen to know the architect behind the Pole House.

      Hearing them talk about the nuances of designing that particular project, you could feel the passion and energy flowing, which is refreshing to say the least.
      The clients put a lot of trust in them, and as a result they were able to create an experience which is so much more then a typical beach house.

      I've never heard someone talk so energetically about balustrade glass fixings…

      To the OP. Sorry to hear you experienced bullying and burnout. I've heard some nightmare stories of working with some firms…which are less than ideal, and had a few friends burn out and even switch careers.

      All the best with your own practice! Who knows may bump into you as professional peers one day.

      • LauraL on 02/09/2021 - 12:29

        :) @Gnilgorf, thank you. I have not seen that video, might look for it.

        This year in particular I have seen quite a shift in our industry in relation to architects being open to share experiences and help each other out.
        It is refreshing and perhaps one of the good outcomes of what we are all going through.

  • kanmen on 29/08/2021 - 16:34
    +1

    This is more about town planning- but how do you think we can reconcile the divide between appropriate development and affordable housing, especially in the outer suburbs? How can we make affordable housing both appropriate and also aesthetically pleasing/relevant to a neighbourhoods character?

    • jjjaar on 29/08/2021 - 16:40
      +1

      Oh good question.

      Gonna piggy back on that…

      Why are new developments, specifically dual occs or townhouses, so ugly and look nothing like the surrounding buildings, but instead look like office blocks?

      Is it because whoever designs them are lazy and just copy paste their previous projects (they’re identical and all over the place), or do the designers genuinely think they look good?

      Do the designers have a say in this or is it the client pushing the agenda?

      Do the clients care that it doesn’t look anything like the neighbouring buildings / that neighbours won’t like it?

      • LauraL on 29/08/2021 - 18:30

        In my 14 years of working in this field, I got to learn that ugly and beautiful are extremely subjective.

        Having said that, there is a general consensus around what the human eye perceives as being 'more beautiful'. In this category, we can talk about proportion, balance, symmetry, detail,etc.

        I do, unfortunately, agree that many of the buildings we see going up are not the best version they could possibly be even for the same budget.

        There are many factors behind this result: the time the designer allocates based on the value of the project (e.g. finding the shortest way to achieve an acceptable outcome); the knowledge or experience of the designer (I have seen cases where a person with no formal training drafts something based on an example provided by the client and then a builder or a registered draftsperson submits it under their registration).

        The clients are sometimes pushing the agenda and other times both parties are going for the short-cut they know best.

        I am lucky that the majority of my clients care about the neighbourhood, but I have seen clients who also want to stand out and find it to be their right.
        I am not saying they do not have a certain point and need there, but I also believe there are ways you can achieve both.

        Whether the neighbours like it or not is, again, something very subjective. One's interpretation of 'fitting in the neighbourhood' can be very different from someone else's. I had cases where the neighbours did not consider any development of more than 1 dwelling acceptable or fitting in, while Council's goals for the area were clearly different.

        We are emotional beings and feeling like this is natural. The challenge is wanting to go deeper and understand why we feel in a certain way, what triggers that and how can we achieve a solution that satisfies most of our fears and desires.

    • p1 ama on 29/08/2021 - 17:00
      +4

      I'm not a town planner, but I've done research into housing issues back when I was a public sector economist.

      Basically, what you're discussing is how to reverse gentrification, which is extremely difficult. I'm not sure what state you're from, but I'll use examples from VIC because that's where I grew up.

      When I was young, say 20 - 30 years ago, you had a lot of areas around 5 km from the CBD that had a lot of old Victorian-era houses, lots of public housing, lots of grungy culture…etc. I wouldn't say they were poor, but they were "legacy". However, over time, people who lived in those public housing estates moved towards the outer suburbs and rich, young professionals started moving into these inner city areas primarily because they were close to the city and over time have gentrified the areas, broadly pushed the poor people out and turned them into really cool, hip, cultural places which are overall very safe, desirable and great to live.

      Many of the people who bought into these areas did so not just because of their proximity to the city, but because of the relatively low density housing you get in some of these areas (interestingly even lower than many new estates popping up today). In a sense, it's become the ideal area for a certain crowd of successful people - close to the city, nice heritage architecture, good restaurants and cafes…etc. and increasing the density of these areas will only make things more busy, drive down the cost of housing in those areas and make them less desirable to live.

      It might be unsaid, but my hunch from talking to a lot of these people, is that new developments there will "destroy the heritage" of the place, which IMO is a bit ironic given the heritage was lost when they gentrified it. However, this is really just code-word for the people they pushed out will come back if housing is more affordable there. A lot of them might not think it directly, but they want to be able to feel safe walking their dog at night and sitting outside at their local cafe.

      So basically we have the current catch-22. Poorer people are being pushed outwards into areas that have less opportunity, are less convenient from an infrastructure and transport point of view, and just have less amenities. Young families also tend to move to those areas, however, the issue with young professional families is that once they start making $200K+ p.a., they will no longer be living there, so they have little incentive to actually make the area better. Instead, they would rather save their cash and move to the hip, trendy new areas where all their professional mates are.

      I'm an economist, not an architect, so I can't speak to the "aesthetically pleasing" part - but this is a bit of background on why the "affordable housing" issue is so complex and why we see what we do today. Realistically, my judgement (and unpopular opinion) is that a lot of these issues would be easily resolved if people were more willing to move away from Melbourne and Sydney - but that's a discussion for another time.

      • Mechz on 29/08/2021 - 17:09
        -8

        Ah so everyone who's poor is also a criminal. Gotchya.

        • p1 ama on 29/08/2021 - 17:12
          +7

          This is the issue with discussing these issues - I'm pointing out the facts. You get some smartass who comes along and makes a statement which they think is profound but just prima facie stupid. I never once referenced crime or criminals in my analysis.

          I also never said that what has happened is good or bad, it is an observable fact that many inner city areas have seen a drastic change in demographics over the past decade which has changed their appeal and culture.

          This is also not just "my opinion" - this is all well-studied. Why don't you educate yourself before making such uninformed comments - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentrification

        • Heaps for Cheaps on 29/08/2021 - 17:17
          +3

          Mental Gymnastics Achievement Unlocked.

      • LauraL on 02/09/2021 - 13:16

        There is truth in the above and there are sentences that can be misunderstood. I would invite anyone reading it to just take it as a brainstorm of ideas and events, without attaching a personal opinion or judgement of any sort.

        The housing situation anywhere in the world is such a complex one! It is so hard, if not impossible, to find a solution for all problems and with any solution there is another problem caused that we cannot foresee initially. We can only try to analyse as much as we can beforehand and do scenario analysis, risk analysis, research similar situations and their implications, try our best. We, as humans, can only try our best. There will never be a perfect solution, but I find it interesting to explore different ideas around cause-effect situations.

        Thank you for sharing.

    • LauraL on 02/09/2021 - 12:43

      @Kanmen, I think this question could be a very complex one and just wanted to understand a bit more before I answer. What would 'appropriate development' refer to in your view?

      • kanmen on 02/09/2021 - 13:45

        Thanks for your answers above and agree that it's subjective until it falls within the remit of planning controls. I am referring to 'appropriate development' in the context of the outer suburbs where I live in Victoria. I live in one of the fastest growing municipalities in the state. We have massive infrastructure issues on our roads and public transport and yet one every corner block of my street there is are 2-3 townhouses with a 1 car garage so often our streets are packed of cars. They also have very little open areas or canopy cover besides the nature strip. So for me appropriate is one that is not congested, sustainable, but also not so 'uniform' looking. These kind of developments also help drive the cost of housing higher as it is more affordable, so high in demand because there is such a need for affordable housing.

        I think the newer model of 'affordable housing' are the 8.5m frontage single story houses side by side, of which I've had to buy into to be able to get into the market. Not entirely thrilled about it, but it will do.

  • [Deactivated] on 29/08/2021 - 16:34

    Who's your favorite architect?

    • LauraL on 29/08/2021 - 17:26
      +3

      Don't think I have one. Similar to this, I never seemed to be able to answer the questions of who I look up to.
      I look up to and admire so many architects for different reasons, there is no single one that I could say is above the others.

      Some because of their details (Tecture), others because of their inclination for passive housing (Talina Edwards), others because of how they approach the culture of their practice (Mihaly Slocombe), others because of the human aspect behind the work (Sonia Sarangi from the Red and Black Atelier), others because they have the courage to move away from the typical way of doing architecture and find another way to improve the built environment (Amelia Lee - the Undercover Architect). These are just a few examples.

  • Heaps for Cheaps on 29/08/2021 - 16:38
    +1

    Looking back, can you spot what triggered your burnout and what did you do to get back into the game?

    • LauraL on 29/08/2021 - 17:10
      +3

      I thought and read quite a bit about this.

      I think that at the end of the day, it was probably my ego.
      I thought that I can handle more than the average person, that I need less sleep, that my motivation can replace the me-time that I did not really allow for.
      I am a bit of a people pleaser, so always placed the needs of my children, my husband, my work before even allocating time to understand my needs. The typical case.

      Believing so much in what I was doing for work, I forgot to stop after the 40 hours per week and often ended up at 50-60.
      I think I wanted to prove something to myself and did not have the patience to wait to achieve the goals, wanted them overnight.
      I was running a marathon but behaving as if I was running a sprint.

      The lack of balance triggered my burnout.

      The first time this happened in Australia, I eventually left one of the companies I was working for. Kept only a part time job out of the 2 and took some time to reconsider what I want to do.
      The second time this happened while having my business, employees, clients, that I could not really take a break from.

      I started reaching out to other architects to find out what they went through and how they managed, I talked about it and that helped a lot.
      I was honest with my clients, friends, even my kids when I needed time for rest, even if it was during the week when I was expected to be working or homeschooling.

      I started gifting myself something every fortnight, a soul gift. I learnt how to let my husband know when I need time just by myself, no kids, no chores. Just me and some quiet time.
      I started walking. Long walks. This became my thing. I started with 18km and now am at 56km.

      Everyone seems to find their own way of managing stress, anxiety, sometimes it is a matter of trying new things, testing out.

  • [Deactivated] on 29/08/2021 - 16:39

    How important is architecture in manging mental health and general wellbeing, especially we the extended lockdowns in Melbourne?

    • LauraL on 29/08/2021 - 18:09

      Critical I would say and I wish more architects would see it from this perspective first and foremost.

      Even before lockdown, we still spent so much of our time indoors, that it is inevitable for the spaces we inhabit to not influence us.
      The Well Building Institute refers to lots of scientific research that is at the base of their Well Building Standard - exactly on this topic.

  • p1 ama on 29/08/2021 - 16:48

    What do you think is the future of residential architecture in the modern world, is it becoming something that only the rich can afford (a la designer clothes…etc.) whilst the mass market moves towards volume builders and set designs?

    • LauraL on 29/08/2021 - 18:14
      +1

      Very interesting question and one that is on my mind quite often.
      This is what I notice is happening, with very few architects practicing somewhere in the middle, because it is very hard to find the sweet spot where you do qualitative work, meet all the ever more demanding compliance requirements, have affordable prices and don't go bankrupt.

      I met a couple of architects who are developing an alternative to volume builders, in the form of architecturally designed homes that can be replicated on other sites. Typologies they can sell and adapt on a particular site for a rather small fee. The benefit of mass production over a new prototype every time is very much reflected in the cost.

      If we want to survive as a profession, we need to, in my opinion, be more innovative about the way we provide our services, not only about the materials we use, so that architecture can really be for everyone.

  • garetz on 29/08/2021 - 16:51
    +1

    I read "accidental architect" then reread it and was disappointed.

    • LauraL on 29/08/2021 - 17:00
      +1

      While this is probably not the type of accidental architect you refer to, I actually ended up in architecture by accident. :)

      I wanted to be a psychologist until the start of my year 12, when my driving instructor (a psychologist by training) told me that I would starve in that profession in my home country.
      I had to start my thinking from scratch. I only knew that I loved being around people and the feeling of being able to leave something behind.

      After making a list of professions I could consider, I started analysing if they are good options. The first one on my list was ''architect' and after seeing a Uni professor for a test, he said that I could be very good at it. So I stayed.
      …

      P.S. I hope you find the discussion thread you are looking for.

  • [Deactivated] on 29/08/2021 - 17:05
    +1

    What are some of the best cars you have seen from your clients?

    • LauraL on 29/08/2021 - 17:12

      This question made me smile.

      I actually am one of those people who do not pay attention to cars. I know, that is bad for a person who should be detail-oriented.
      I only notice if it is the same car we have or had in the past.

      My clients are not what majority perceive as rich clients, if that answers the question. They are the average families or single people looking to improve their life.
      No fancy stories to tell here.

  • kerfuffle on 29/08/2021 - 17:20

    Why did you not join OzBargain earlier?

    • LauraL on 29/08/2021 - 17:22
      +2

      :) My husband encouraged me to join specifically for this forum. He is using it more than me.

      I had a gift on my list to dedicate 2h of my time to someone who might find it useful, so here I am, trying to gift myself that.

  • Philthy on 29/08/2021 - 17:35
    +1

    what are some examples of your work?

    • LauraL on 29/08/2021 - 17:55

      I chose to only work in the residential space, because I believe that our homes have the biggest impact on our wellbeing. Our work includes alterations and additions, new homes, multi-unit developments, facade redesigns, consultation, checking land prior to purchase.

      • Philthy on 30/08/2021 - 02:41

        do you have a website?

  • Melb69 on 29/08/2021 - 17:36

    I am terrible with time management. How do you work out the hours you need for the stages of prelim design, townplanning, & building permit construction docs. Do you keep your hours as most director's I know don't keep thier times. How do you keep a project proffitable? Any tricks or tips. Also do you keep minutes of your meetings. Every ditector I have known never really takes notes in meetings, so I don't know how they can recall say the client specific briefs or requirements.

    • LauraL on 29/08/2021 - 18:04
      +2

      When I was by myself, I used to excel at this. In time, as I measured the time I spend on each task (using Toggl now), I knew on average how much each stage would take me based on the past experience on that typology of project.
      It is slightly more difficult now as I have 2 employees and their initial estimation seems to be more on the 'what I would like to', not actually realistic. We now keep track of their as well and I keep adjusting the estimations for the new projects based on past experience as well.

      I am the one in the team who keeps track in more detail of my time.
      I monitor if the % of time spent per month on technical and non-technical items (the project itself or admin/management etc. tasks) and compare with my target. My target is now 60% technical - 40% non-technical (that is also what I include in the calculations when I prepare my budget) - used to be 80%-20% when I started.
      The larger the team, the more admin you end up doing.
      In my previous workplace, we had a team of between 10-20 people and I used to spend 50-60% of my time just on admin. At some point, that changed to 80% admin/management time.

      Toggl (or any similar software) would help you monitor how you are tracking regarding time allocated and time spent.
      I believe it can also send a notification to the team members when they reach a certain stage of the project (%), to keep them accountable.

      I keep notes from the meetings, not really more official minutes. I put them in writing in an email when they are more important.
      There is usually 2 of us at any meeting and one makes sure they take notes or both of us do, to try to not miss anything.

      The briefs - we always take notes on that. I take my own notes, as I have a specific way of circling what I find important, draw diagrams, etc.

  • silverrat23 on 29/08/2021 - 17:44

    What software/s do you use in your practice?

    • LauraL on 29/08/2021 - 17:56
      +1

      Very old school here, I wish we shifted to something else, but did not manage to yet.
      Autocad and Sketch-up.
      Xero for book-keeping, Toggl for time recording.
      Excel for my different management tables I created in time that suit my needs. :)

  • JIMB0 on 29/08/2021 - 18:35
    +2

    Why do so many houses not optimise their position and layout to have more north facing windows?

    • LauraL on 29/08/2021 - 19:08
      +3

      Many of the homes being built are volume builder typical layouts that are designed having no consideration for the solar orientation.

      Others are like that because something else is prioritised (I had clients who placed size in front of the solar access. We parted ways).
      Others are simply because the people involved do not understand the full implications of solar orientation.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/08/2021 - 21:31

      Great question!

  • jeeg on 29/08/2021 - 19:07

    What sort of salary does an Architect get fresh out of uni? how about after 5 and 10 years?

    • LauraL on 31/08/2021 - 07:30
      +2

      I am not sure I am up to date with this one, but what I know is that smaller companies often go by the Modern Award and larger companies usually pay a bit more, as they can afford it. It is not always the case, though.
      I pay by the Award at the moment.

      I would say that the number of years of experience is not the only relevant factor - what matters more is what you can do, how independent you are, etc.

      When I was first employed in Australia (Dec 2012) at a building design practice, I had a salary of 50k + super which was a decent salary at that time.
      I have seen ads now for 55-65k for under 3 years of experience and 100-120+ at larger practices for Architects in the 5-10 years mark.

      • jeeg on 31/08/2021 - 16:50

        that is quite a decent salary. thanks for replying.

  • nfr on 29/08/2021 - 19:26
    +1

    I've heard many horror stories about building a new house. It just sounds like too stressful. Does a residential architect make the experience easier?

    • LauraL on 29/08/2021 - 20:07

      I heard lots of horror stories, too. They do travel more often than successful stories.

      Choosing the team carefully is one of the most important steps in a successful outcome.
      Not all architects are a good fit for a client. Like any relationship, there will be some people you get along better with and some you don't.

      If there is a discrepancy in values or misunderstanding of goals/brief, then the process is not that easy.
      The good part is that some situations can be mended if there is the will to communicate.

      Definitely having someone on your team that knows the process better than you makes the process easier than trying to navigate it yourself.

  • MrThing on 29/08/2021 - 22:11
    +3

    what are your standard fees?

    what is the standard way architects prefer to charge? percentage of build, lump sum, etc?

    what can an architect give me, that a building designer may not be able to?

    what is the biggest mistake people make when they want to do a renovation?

    • LauraL on 31/08/2021 - 07:44
      +3

      I prefer to propose a lump sum fee agreement to my clients, just because I would love that certainty if I was one.
      I put together a spreadsheet with the tasks involved in the project, estimate the time we will need, who from the team could do each task and multiply with their hourly rate.

      I love to offer options to my clients also - the extent of services they choose to engage us for.
      That has its risk for the profession, so not many architects like it and they have a good reason not to.
      We often go over the time estimated and adjust with the next fee proposal, but almost never charge variations unless they are variations in brief from the client.

      Generally, architects prefer to charge % of the construction cost. That % may differ depending on the size and complexity of the project. Sometimes a small extension requires more work than a new building. The average on the market I believe is 10% for a project in the range of 500k-1mil, but don't take this as a rule, just something I heard amongs peers.

      Architects have more years of study and higher liability, which makes them usually have a broader understanding of the complexities of 'designing' a building and also pay more attention/care more about what they do and the final result. This, however, does not always translate in better results. I have seen both sides of the coin.

      In my experience working with a building designer is that generally they would prioritise efficiency and accuracy in drawings over other aspects and that is mainly because they usually charge less than architects. It is not always the case, as I have seen architects charging less than building designers.

      If you are looking for more guidance and advice, I would say that you have better chances at getting that with an architect.

      A few of the biggest mistakes I see people make when it comes to a renovation are:
      - not determine their goals early on - what do you really want to achieve, not only how you believe you can achieve that (think 'a feeling of more spaciousness' or 'a separate space for the kids to play in' rather than 'we need a second living room' )
      - not determine a strict budget early on and not communicating that to their designer/architect or builder. I think it is critical that the entire team works towards that budget and are clear on the possibilities
      - believe they can do more with their budget than they can and keep on adding scope because they get too excited about the process without understanding the cost implications
      - make significant changes during construction
      - start by choosing the cheapest team (e.g. designer/architect/builder).
      - only include the areas of a new extension in their budget calculations, even if they are 'touching up' almost the entire house.

      For all these mistakes, there is also the flip of the best things people make when they want to do a renovation.
      I love a quote from Michele Obama “Don’t ever make decisions based on fear. Make decisions based on hope and possibility. Make decisions based on what should happen, not what shouldn’t.”

      • MrThing on 31/08/2021 - 08:12

        hmm good advice.

        so going to an architect with a pretty detailed "needs / wants" list and possible proposals for how you want the layout to look, as well as a budget straight up will make the architects job easier and less "mucking around" getting designs / proposals the client is not interested in?

        I have been told its best to live in the house you want to reno for a year before renoing, what is your view? can this be overcome with clients who know exactly what they want and are very firm in their opinion / understand the constraints of the house they want to reno - as opposed to flakey people who every time you meet have a new "idea" they want incorporated in the design?

        • LauraL on 02/09/2021 - 12:38

          Each architect works differently, it is good to understand how the ones you 'interview' do and if that matches what works for you.

          I personally prefer to go through a list of questions that help me understand the clients better and them explore their needs.
          If they do that beforehand, it can help the architect determine if they are a good fit from their perspective.
          Having layouts presented to me are not always helpful, as it sometimes constraints the creative process, but sometimes they are helpful to reflect some aspects that might be difficult to explain in words.

          I think that reference images with a note of what in the image resonated helps as well translate the needs/likes.

          Some of the questions I ask my clients and I invite anyone to have a think of before starting any project:
          - Where did each of you grow up?

          • Who lives in your house and who might be living in it in the future?

          • Are there any places or experiences that you have good memories of (as a family or individually)?

          • How would you describe your personality and any background that shapes your thought process (e.g. are you more creative or inclined to problem-solving)?

          • What are your work and hobbies that impact the way you live and spend your time?

          • What are your family/couple/individual core values/ideals?

          • What works and what does not work in your current house?

          • Choose a new experience/emotion or change in outcome that you would like to achieve through this project (e.g. connection to the outside; easier to maintain; more light)

          • What keeps you up at night? What is your greatest fear in relation to the process or the outcome?

          • Is there any hidden wish that you kept on placing at the bottom of the priority list but feels of emotional importance to you?

          • Imagine a scenario in which we decide to not continue our collaboration. What would be the main reason for that?

          Living in the house before renovating can help gain more insight into how it functions through the seasons, as the feelings you have associated with it may change in time. It just provides more information.
          I think that there is no hard rule here, you just work with the info you have, but it helps especially from a thermal comfort and light perspective to have that experience.
          My experience is that even when you are sure you know exactly what you want, it is good to be open-minded about how to achieve that, as there might be aspects that can be improved with the ideas to better or easier achieve the same/similar outcome.
          Of course, it helps when the clients are more clear on what they want, as it avoids going back and forth with the revisions.

          Let me know if you believe this answers your questions or if you would like to explore any further.

  • wittyusername on 30/08/2021 - 07:54
    +3

    What considerations would you recommend to someone building a new place - especially in regards to reducing energy consumption - that the average lay person may not consider?

    • LauraL on 31/08/2021 - 07:52

      There is an awesome Facebook group - My efficient electric home I believe is called - that has so many tips and tricks that it is hard for me to summarise here. I have no association with the group, just that I read posts when I can.

      The most important aspect would probably be working with people who understand and prioritise energy efficiency.
      Try to read about passive housing principles - while you may not include the measures to achieve that standard, understanding the principles will help understand the basics of energy efficiency: having the right solar orientation for the rooms, the right protection for the northern and western glazing, continuous insulation, airtightness, condensation management measures, etc.

      Invest in good quality windows and window frames - go thermally broken if you go for aluminium double glazed. The importance of the frame is heavily underestimated.
      Go for higher than 6 stars if you can - 7 stars will be made mandatory in Victoria next year I believe and 8 stars in 3 years. Work with a good energy rater who can suggest the best measures to achieve these.

  • geowest on 30/08/2021 - 10:50

    How do architects design energy efficient houses in new estates (with small, narrow lots where there is not much set back left)?

    • LauraL on 02/09/2021 - 12:41
      +1

      On some lots it can be really tough, but there are ways to improve the situation even where the solar orientation is not ideal.
      In Australia, the most difficult to design on are the lots with the street facing north and backyard facing south in my view.

      The way around it is to think of the spaces in 3d rather than 2d. Consider double voids, split levels, play with the height to allow for clerestory windows, play with the roof to allow for appropriate shading. It is more tricky, but the positive is that sometimes it leads to more exciting design outcomes, more elements of surprise than a north facing lot would usually trigger.

  • dimitryp on 30/08/2021 - 11:16

    Whats the usual process of working with an architect and then a builder for a large residential renovation project, e.g. 2nd storey on house?
    Which parts does the architect do for you, and which does the builder do? Will architects give you a reasonable estimate for costs of works?
    Who gets council approval done? Does the architect work with the builder throughout the project or do they "roll off" once design is approved and hand over to builder?
    Is an architect always beneficial for large works or can the builder recomment & design also?
    Interested in the nitty-gritty of how a project gets completed with the help of an architect.

    thank!

    • LauraL on 02/09/2021 - 13:03
      +1

      A full service agreement between the client and an architect covers a few design stages, coordination of approvals, as well as assistance with the tender process (selection of builder) and contract administration (they administer the building contract, determining when certain stages are achieved, approving or not variations of cost and time, making sure that they notify each party of the contract of their responsibilities and if they are met as per the contract. They are paid by the client but need to be independent in their assessments here).

      Majority of the architects I know will prefer a full service agreement, because it avoids grey areas around liability and also they have more control over making sure what gets built being in line with the design intent and work done to date.

      A partial services agreement can stop anywhere the architect and client decide. Quite often this happens when the architect coordinates everything up and inclusive of the building permit and then the rest is taken over by the builder.
      I have seen cases where the builder takes over after the town planning stage for example and then subcontracts the building documentation to a draftsperson. Usually this happens when the 'deal' is presented as a money saving opportunity. Indeed, it can save money, but also it can lose the information the architect knows around why certain things were decided as they were. Mistakes can be made when it comes to decisions regarding changes.

      The builder can also be involved as a paid consultant during the building permit documentation stage to assist with certain decisions (quite often regarding the structure, where their input can really improve the cost efficiency of the project).

      In short, there are different ways of approaching the situation, though the most frequent in the market is architect-client up to tender - tender - builder comes into the picture. Architect managed through the process.

      We personally prefer to work with builder input as early as possible or suitable for the projects. Renovations particularly benefit from that to manage the budget.

      It is good to ask these questions from the people you approach and see how they prefer to work and what you think better suits you.

      'Reasonable estimate for costs of works' can be quite subjective. Quite a lot of architects will only work with the client also engaging a quantity surveyor to work alongside them to advise on cost. We do have an understanding of costs, but we cannot be up to date with all the changes in the market (now quite many and often) as a builder or QS might be, as this is what they do every day. We know what we are exposed to or what we enquire about.
      Architects, in time, develop an understanding of an average price their projects end up at depending on the level of detail and finishes they prefer to design. You will hear majority advise of $3,500-$5,500/sqm. That is a lot for some people and here we go back to the question regarding the profession becoming one for the wealthy only to afford.

      There are architects who also work with less 'special' details and still achieve something nice and effective, that can improve the lives of their clients.
      Their projects may also fall into the $2,300-$3,000/sqm mark.
      Renovations as a rule end up higher than a new built /sqm, but that is not the best way of calculating, as a 10sqm renovations may involve so many trades and so many implications on the structure that multiplying a figure by the sqm would really not be accurate.

      Council approvals are usually obtained either by the architect, building designer or town planner.

      Some builders offer design and construct options, where they partner or subcontract - usually a registered draftsperson for cost and control purposes - to do the design.
      I personally believe that each profession and person has strong skills and a client gets the best outcome by using the person with the right skills for the right job.
      That means that there would be less builders very talented at finding design solutions than architects and less architects knowing the prices and sometimes technical intricacies that a builder does. There are exceptions, of course.

      Let me know if you would like any of these further explored.

      • dimitryp on 11/09/2021 - 12:46

        thank you so much for your detailed answer, much appreciated!

  • tik tok on 30/08/2021 - 11:59

    What do you think of all the building cracks that appear in Aussie houses? I have always wondered, as a civilisation how is it possible that we haven't mastered the art of building homes that will not crack. But then there are several heritage listed buildings in Asia and not a single crack anywhere in them. Mates houses in Bali and not a single crack in them. What do they do differently?

    Do you think the ground moves more in Australia? Is there a better way to build a home in Australia that will last and will not develop cracks?

    • LauraL on 02/09/2021 - 13:12

      I would lie if I said that I have done enough research and have enough knowledge to give a comprehensive accurate answer here.

      I find that climate change is impacting things quite fast here and from some points of view, Australia is quite a lot behind Europe for example when it comes to the understanding of thermal efficiency, thermal breaks, condensation, etc.
      There was a boom in construction and usually when speed is placed at the top of priorities, prices of land are high and everyone wants to make money, corners are cut = people go for the min. that achieves current standards. These standards get updated in 2 years time, but the building is there and signs of what was overlooked appear.

      To give you an example, the flood regulations and requirements change so often now and Councils have become more conservative because of that.
      Clients sometimes do not like the restrictions, but they have a reasoning behind them.

      The differences in temperature between seasons and night and day have increased. That changes the way the wall and roof systems perform. There are soo many condensation related issues!

      There was a discussion around the lack of proper accreditation and insurance for some trades that creates issues in the industry. There was an entire audit done recently to look at problems and identify solutions. The problem is also that the ones who come up with legislative/regulatory suggestions are not always the ones who actually know the right solution from experience, so there can be the wrong measure put in place.

      No, don't have a single answer and I don't think there is just one.
      All I can say is that I still see people not like what is happening and when it comes to them making decisions that can impact the overall industry and neighbourhoods (see cutting trees, maximizing built area, choosing cheaper construction systems), they still go for the higher financial gain or short term gain of any sort. We are so very human in our mistakes and choices.

      • tik tok on 02/09/2021 - 15:48

        I am sorry, as an architect, you are saying you are not quite sure why houses in Australia have more building cracks than houses else where (nearest being Indone/Asia)? I also note that temperature/seasons/blah/blah changes are nearly the same world over and I don't think one or two degree in/decrease in temperature can affect brick/wood construction. I might be wrong though.

        • LauraL on 06/09/2021 - 13:26
          +1

          I have not visited Bali or heritage-listed buildings in Asia to be able to provide a general comment on those and I prefer to not offer an opinion that is not informed.

          As for the cracks in Australia, as an architect, I cannot make a general statement that would involve a proper audit of the majority of the houses and multiple reasons why these occur. I also cannot make structural comments, as that is not my specialty. I can only state potential reasons.
          Also, the term crack can refer to different types of cracks that occur and they each have their own cause. Some are structural, some are aesthetic, some are due to not allowing for construction joints, others are due to land movements and so on.

          I find that quite often it is expected of us to advise on anything related to buildings and it is true that we get exposed to quite a few aspects, but one person cannot possibly know what a builder knows, structural engineer, civil engineer, energy consultant, mechanical engineer, geotechnical engineer, etc.

          I know why the house we are currently renting has cracks and that is due to the land movement.
          As I mentioned before, I cannot make a general comment on all the houses in Australia and did not go through an audit on this specific item to be able to determine the most appropriate answer.

  • Sam7 on 30/08/2021 - 12:03

    How was the registration process when you moved to Australia? any advice?
    I am a registered Architect in three different countries and got rejected when applied to AACA !

    • LauraL on 31/08/2021 - 07:47
      +1

      I got my registration before they changed the system, I understand it is sightly easier now, as back then we had to have examples of work from Uni for the second stage.
      Did my first part for the skilled migrant visa, then second part while here, when we had to present work from uni, go to an interview, etc.
      The third part was the one similar to anyone who graduates here: logbook demonstrating min. 2 years of experience with min. 1 in Australia, exam, interview.

      The Uni I graduated is one of the ones that get easily recognised as being equivalent to the studies here, so I guess I was lucky in that sense.
      What stage of the process did you get rejected at?

      • Sam7 on 01/09/2021 - 07:46

        Uni degree assessment process took over a year with many returned requests. In the end, they didn't accept it despite official registration overseas and over 10 years of experience. It was frustrating but I am going to try again and take the experience recognization path this time. Thank you for the reply, any tips might help along the way ?

        • LauraL on 01/09/2021 - 09:58
          +1

          I heard it is easier now since they changed to accept the experience.
          I suggest presenting as many examples as possible that are local experiences if you have any local.

          I know some people who decided to get the registered draftsperson recognition as an alternative if they found the architectural process too hard. You can still practice and do the same projects independent of what title you are allowed to use and it is really up to you if you approach projects as an architect or draftsperson only.
          I know it is not the same, I know that after so many years of study and experience (I was the last generation with 6 full time years of Uni) you want to be able to call yourself an architect. Sometimes we just need to see beyond that if needed.

          Best of luck!

  • psdillon on 30/08/2021 - 13:12

    What are your thoughts on all of the architects on YouTube with very high-end videography of walkthroughs of their creations, while the architect gushes various superlatives about their creative process? Many Singaporean and Malaysian architects are doing this, but also Australian architects. It seems so un-Australian to take one's self so seriously.

    What are your thoughts on this trend, and have you created any walkthroughs videos yourself?

    • LauraL on 02/09/2021 - 12:26
      +1

      Interesting question and my answer will be quite subjective.

      I believe there is a public for those, people need beauty in their lives and aspirations.
      I have not done a walkthrough yet. If it would be a video related to any of my work, it would probably be about people, how the work impacted them, rather than the project itself.

      I do find that sometimes we as architects forget the human component and focus too much on the aspirational part, the theoretical part, the art component and lose track of the reality of day to day life. I would like to think that I am different in that way and have definitely seen architects approach things in a more casual way, using less pretentious language.

      If you target an audience that craves that, then you offer what you call the high-end videography.
      Variety is good, I think there should be a bit of everything out there, so that each person can watch what suits their preferences.

      • psdillon on 14/09/2021 - 11:29

        Thankyou for replying. You have a great perspective in recognising there is a target audience for everything.

        Personally, when watching those Youtube videos, once the beauty of the design is established, I'd be more impressed if the architects demonstrated knowledge of trends, materials, costs, acoustics and thermal design.

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