Groshan Fabiola asked:


The local church is a very important place for each community of believers. The church design and construction process bears great importance, as a good church architecture that is representative of a certain community and their faith is the best way to bring God closer to believers. Aside from expressing purpose and faith, church architecture can make a powerful invitation to those who want to express their faith and repent of their sins.

Church architecture has experienced tremendous changes over the past decades. With churchgoers looking for different kinds of ministry, new church design ideas have emerged. These new forms of expression include both functionality (such as allowing access for people with disabilities) and symbolism. There are many aspects to be taken into account when considering church design and construction. Whatever your church plans may be, the insight of a good architect who has a wealth of experience in church architecture is extremely valuable. A good church architect can give you some excellent church design ideas and help you turn your church into a place that is both welcoming and inviting, as well as very representative of your individual values and theology.

The number one question that all the people involved in church design and construction ask themselves is how to find a good church architect. The market is abundant with architects whose background and expertise is extremely varied. It would be wrong to assume that an architect who has not handled a church design and construction project before would not be able to complete such as task successfully. However, an architect with considerable experience in church design is more likely to be able to provide valuable church design ideas that are most appropriate to your specific needs and requirements, as well as to your individual theology and values. Many architects have their specific design style, which may not match your ideas and intentions. Furthermore, your church plans may include specific style and size, as well as a certain budget limitation. Good architects can generally meet such specific requirements, but they don’t always manage to express your individual nuance of worship style and denomination. Therefore, it is highly advisable that you use the services of an experienced church architect who is already familiar with all the specific aspects of designing and constructing a church. As has been said before, an experienced church architect can provide some unique church design ideas, which will add value to the architecture of your church and make it a special place for your congregation.

If you are asking yourselves how to find a church architect, you should look no further. There are quite a few aspects to take into consideration when looking for an architect for your church plans, but I daresay that a church architect who has handled numerous projects of the kind is by far your best choice. His insight and unique church design ideas will prove extremely valuable whatever your church plans may include. An experienced architect’s church design ideas and expertise are all the more valuable when you want to build a new church from the ground, expand your church or convert warehouses into church facilities. These, and many other projects concerning church design and construction, are best completed with the help of a good church architect.

For more resources about Church design ideas or even about how to find a church architect please review this web page http://marshillstudio.com



Beverly

Robert asked:


ou’re simply adding on a room or two, redesigning an existing space or building a new home from the ground up, you’ll most likely need professional help. The first professional on your list should be an architect – someone to take your dreams and visions and turn them into a plan that can become, in reality, the home of your dreams. Choosing the right architect for your project takes a bit of time, research and effort on your part, but it’s the first step in ensuring that your dream home becomes reality. Try to come up with a list of what you want and need in your new living space. Do you need more storage? Do your kids want a play area? How about room for your family to grow? What activities will your new space be used for – entertaining, relaxing, working? What types of architecture already exist in your home or neighborhood? Is there a particular type of floor plan or home design you especially like – open, modern, Georgian, Victorian, environmentally friendly, northwestern? Don’t worry if you don’t have all the answers, or can’t think of everything. Your architect can help you find them and clarify everything before the final plans are drawn up. Once you have an idea in mind of what you want and need, do a little research. Check out new housing in your area to see if anything is close to what you have in mind for your home. Find out which architects are designing what you like. Consult with family and friends who have had building done. Contact your state or province’s architectural association or institute, too, to ensure that the architect you choose follows professional and ethical standards. As these are voluntary organizations, not all “good” architects will be listed, but a list from the association or institute can serve as a starting point if nothing else. Compile a list of possible choices. Contact each architect firm on your list. Briefly describe your project and then ask if they are available to take it on. If a firm says they are available, request literature outlining the firm’s qualifications and experience. If they say they can’t take on your project right now, ask for referrals for other architects who may be available. Usually, they will be happy to refer you to another firm or two that they consider reliable and competent. After you receive the literature, brochures, and whatnot from your available firms, review all of it. Look past the glitz and advertising hype to the qualifications and experiences. Read the biographies of personnel. Pay close attention to past and current projects. Contact as many of these prior clients as you can to get personal references. Most former customers will be happy to give you some sort of review, be it good or bad. Finalize your list to two or three of the best qualified, highest recommended architects and set up interviews with them. The interview is essential to the selection process. You’ll be working very closely with this individual or group of individuals for a long time. You’ll want to be comfortable with them, have a bit of chemistry. Face to face interviewing is the only way to really know if that sort of relationship can exist between you and the architect. Allow at least an hour for the interview. Some architects prefer for you to come to them. This is helpful because you will get to see where your project will be completed. Some prefer to come to you, perhaps even to the building site. This is helpful because they get to see your needs and any possible challenges they may face as they complete your project. Expect to see slides or photos of previous projects and perhaps examples of current work. Ask lots of questions. How busy is the firm? Who will handle your project? (Insist on meeting with the actual architect who will be working on your project.) What is the firm’s design philosophy? How will your project proceed? Is there a timeframe for completion? Discuss your budget and what range of services your budget will be able to cover. Ask to see an actual project, either completed or near completion. If at any time, you don’t understand something or need clarification, ask for it. If you can’t understand your architect, or if he or she can’t communicate with you on any question or concern, then it’s a good bet your working relationship will be fraught with miscommunication and misunderstanding. It might be best to eliminate all architects that make you feel intimidated, uncomfortable or that leave you confused about something they’ve tried to explain. Before requesting the interview, ascertain whether or not the firm charges for interviews. Some do. Some don’t. After the interviews are completed, make the final selection. The right architect will be the one who can provide the creative skills, personal chemistry, and technical expertise at the most reasonable cost to help you plan a project that fits your needs as well as fulfills your dreams. Once you have found your perfect architect, sit down together and finalize the terms of your agreement. Include scope of work, services provided, schedule, budget and the architect’s fees. Architects are paid in a multitude of ways – hourly, by the project, fixed rates, or by receiving a percentage of the construction costs. Fees per project vary also, depending on the size and scope of the project, the nature of your needs, and the services your project requires. Most firms have “kill fee” policies, too, to ensure that should you cancel the project at any point in the process, they receive some sort of compensation for the work they’ve done. Be sure that your architect explains exactly how his or her fees are established, and what sort of payment arrangements can be expected. Designing a building project can be fun and rewarding. It can also be a confusing, intimidating process. If at any time, you are uncomfortable with how things are going, you’ll want to discuss your concerns with your architect. You don’t want to lose all control over the project so that it is no longer the answer to your dreams. You also don’t want to be so restrictive with your poor architect that you lose the creativity along the way. Working with an architect to design your dream home should be an exciting, challenging, positive experience. Choosing the right architect can ensure that it is.

Dorothy

Need remodeling job for 1,400SF asked:


1,400 SF garage needs to be converted into living space. I will get proposals from 3 different architects. I want to know what is average share of an architect who performs from schematic designs, preparation for all documentation, and supervision of construction.

Darren

Judith Persit asked:


ure is the process by which a structure is designed and planned. Architects are professionals who are trained and expert in building planning and function. As part of this process, architects will often be asked to develop the interiors of a facility. This is not out of the question, as the form and function are part of the general task, and an architect should be on the forefront of design. As a result, one should not be surprised to be asked to help layout the offices and select furnishings. On the contrary, architects should do these as a matter of course in their designs. When planning the layout of the interior, the plans will indicate how the space shall be engaged. This is not just for simplicity, but for function as well. It is imperative that the restrooms be indicated for plumbing. In the same way, one can begin to know about which types of window treatments are called for in the building spaces. Once the needs are setup, one can begin to seek out the products, and thus the suppliers of the blinds in a project. For a proper selection of a supplier for vertical blinds, a professional will want to know the supplier well. Standard blinds may be very easy and seem simple, and more complicated specified vertical blinds may be very difficult to match, and thus more expensive than needed. Vertical blinds come in many different control systems. The controls system durability is important, but the reality is that the material hanging, the vertical blinds slats are more likely to be damaged and broken prior to any real destruction of a decent vertical blind track. Thus, the blinds supplier should offer a high quality, but not necessarily an extreme, track system. A blinds supplier should be able to easily state whether their vertical blinds, or horizontal blinds, will meet with your needs. There may be a tendency for them to simply pass a low quotation price, but when this quotation arrives, one should be prepared to explain the performance attributes of the vertical blinds tracks, as well as the characteristics of the material in the slats. The same should apply to wood blinds and mini blinds. A blinds supplier that cannot answer the technical specifications may not be a top-level supplier, so one should take care in these bids. It is, however, not appropriate to reject all bids for blinds that lack specifics. The details that you may seek might not be the same as a different project, so it is recommended for planners to request the details by listing them. At the same time, it is also incumbent on a project planner, such as an architect, to consider all bids, including those from suppliers who are new to the business. New suppliers will often be more aggressive and this aggression sometimes will result in a higher level of service and support. The same applies to considering blinds suppliers on the internet. The vertical blinds from some websites are high quality and are capable for demanding environments. Contact the site management to learn about their capabilities, and to ensure that they are decent for your needs. An architect is concerned to ensure that the project goes well for his or her part. The blinds element of the project can be very basic and easy, but an architect should be prepared to work with this element, whether planning a home addition, remodeling, or a large campus style project. Vertical blinds are a technical element, complementing a design, as can wood blinds detract from the planning.

Robert

Jim Brown asked:


If you should do home improvement whether for beautification or raising your home’s value purposes, you will depend on creativity and skills. If you have what it takes to do-it-yourself the probably you would not need any expert at all. Otherwise, you will need every good architect you find to help you to improve your home and here is why.

1. Architects are trained for beautification processes. They know how to manipulate things, add something for the overall view and they can create a building that can be pleasant which can be enjoyed by every person occupying it or the public, namely your visitors.

2. Architects want to please you and to do this they are concerned with what their client wants so they need to get your attention and squeeze from you exactly what you want. They use this knowledge to put up a plan that will meet a unique requirement of beauty and creativity.

3. Architects know how to understand every single project they have at hand. They are in every position to be involved with the work right from the start and will stick to it right to the very end. And during the process they may be able to share creative solutions for your home.

4. Architects are professionals who have the exact knowledge of affordable materials you could use for your home and they are the materials commonly seen in the market. They know how to build a plan according to the budget you have given no more, no less.

5. Architects know the codes and laws. It is what they are trained and taught to do. They have ethics to go on about your project and what permits you need to have the project be a step higher.

6. Architects know their way around. They know a lot of contractors at their disposal who are reliable and efficient. If you let your architect choose his or her own contractor then perhaps it will be a better coordinating team and having this will result in a very healthy working environment.

7. Architects know how to anticipate future requirements to design and be able to beautify your home and they are able to be flexible enough to meet you or your family’s needs.

8. Architects know how to create a pleasing and beautiful but functional environment that will suit just fine to the people who are going to stay in them. They have access to almost everything to make any location a better place to stay or live.

9. Architects are nature friendly. They will use everything in their knowledge and power to preserve the environment before and after the improvement has been made.

10. Architects know how to manage your project very well without you tailing them from everywhere. They can even provide you solutions of your home improvement problems which will make you save time and will ease any burdens or agitations in you mind.

After all is said and done, it will still be your choice that will matter. If you feel you can create a wonderful environment for your home, no one will stop you.



Phyllis

Clint Jhonson asked:


Architecture jobs seem like a good career choice. Going to work, drawing houses and getting a big paycheck. But the reality is different. Here is an insight to architects jobs, where you will find it is not about the money but about the love for your professions; and not about the ease of becoming an architect but about the beauty of it. If you are looking to get architects jobs, think again. Architecture is not at all what people think.

It requires a lot more creativity and passion than math skills; as well as that you have to be a very picky detail oriented person to be any good at it, and if you have any morals or pride in your work you will never make much money because you will work so hard to make great buildings. But it is very fulfilling if you love to solve problems and help people live in nicer spaces. If you are considering design of any kind, architecture is a good field to go into because school will teach you a lot, and with an architecture degree you can go into graphic design, industrial design, interior design, theatre set design and more! Architecture jobs can be found in many related fields, but it takes a lot of talent and skills to get them.

Architecture is rated as one of the worst professions based on how much school you need, how much responsibility you take on and how much you get paid. For instance, someone with a degree in Architectural engineering makes $150/ hr + when practicing engineering, and about $45/hr when practicing architecture. This is why professionals often advice people who want to get architecture jobs to get a structural engineering degree and then play with architecture when they are bored with engineering.

It has been a longstanding joke amongst architects that if you are looking for a good paying career architecture is not one of them. Truth be told, all architecture jobs are all about love. In fact, if you love what you do, money will come to reward you. Architecture is such a noble profession with such a great impact on society. As for the tools you need as a starter, get good books on architectural drafting, don’t jump right away to AutoCAD. It is better to get a firm foundation in learning the fundamentals of understanding space and dimension from actually drawing. That is why you should start with books and get advice from other professionals in the industry.

Loving your job is one of the most important aspects of a career. But out in the real world, most people find it difficult to find something they love doing that pays enough. As most people have to give up and do something that makes a livable wage, architects jobs appear extremely appealing for many talented students.



Yvonne

Max Walker asked:


Since the dawn of time, humans have constructed dwellings and created new environments. We call such building process as Architecture. Architecture is the imaginative blend of art and science used in the design of environments for people. In the world of architecture, architect is the word we use to describe the artists and engineers who design buildings and other structures.

The word “architect” is in fact coming from Latin architectus, which in turn derives from Greek arkhitekton (arkhi, chief + tekton, builder). Architect is the key person involving in the planning, design, and oversight of a building’s construction. In other words, architect translates a user’s requirement into a built environment. However, it was only in the twentieth century that architects were required to pass tests and be licensed. Today, the word “architect” refers to a licensed professional.

It is advisable to begin early if you are interested in a career as an architect. You can start by learning to observe buildings, spaces and their relationships. Be more sensitive to the effect of texture, color, shape and light. Try to feel the spaces and places when you are in particular buildings. Look for rhythm and pattern, simplicity and ornament, old and new in your own environment such as your home, school and community. At the same time, you can analyse and think about the design values expressed in such environment.

To develop your interest in architecture, do not hesitate to visit the design studios of architecture school. Participate in their summer program to get deep insight of architecture course might helps too. Besides, take changes to tour the offices of a local architecture firm to gain a broad understanding of the nature of an architect’s work and the values of the profession. Talk to the architects, they are far more than happy to share their experience and knowledge with you. Read as many books and magazines as possible on architecture to witness the latest architectural design trend to date.

In the US, you must meet three requirements to become a licensed architect, education, experience and professional exam. First, you must earn a professional degree in architecture from an accredited higher-education architecture program. After graduation, you will need to complete a period of practical training or internship by working under the supervision of a licensed architect. Then only you are qualified to take the nine-part Architect Registration Exam (ARE). Upon passing all divisions of the ARE, you are officially a “licensed” architect to provide architectural services. The entire path could easily take you eight to ten years to complete.

What makes the profession worth practising? Problem-solving, decision-making, team leadership and creativity are key elements in making architecture. For architect, such intellectual stimulation and technical challenges lead to the tremendous excitement that comes from seeing a design idea become a physical reality. So, if you believe this profession suits you very much, go for it! Good Luck!



Joan

Variant asked:


What is the best type of architect? One that charges by the hour, charges 15% of your total build and project manages it, or one that charges a flat fee? Also, if you selected flat fee as your answer, how much of a flat fee is reasonable (in your mind, not from the architects you know) to charge? 500 pounds, 1000 pounds, 5000 pounds, other.

Donna