Profile of the architect

Job profiles

What is an architect?

Are allowed to make use of the titles of architect, interior designer, landscape architect or town planner in a Land of Germany, people who are registered into the list of architects of the Land mentioned below, and are consequently member of the Chamber of Architects. The architect is legally required to practise his profession paying conscientiously attention to legal regulations.

What does the architect do?

The architect is an ideas man, an advisor, a technical designer and a manager. As the coordinator of the project, he reconciles the desires of his client with the building regulations and construction specifications, local statutes, while taking into account the financial side. The work of the architect begins sooner as the drawing of the plans. The architect works out possible solutions after the successful evaluation of the site, sounds out the possibilities granted by the building regulations, and makes the desires of his client materialize. He requires engineers and experts' reports (for instance on stability, insulation, soundproofing), and obtains, if required, neighbours' agreement. The architect makes the request of planning permission to the authorities and makes his project meet the modification of regulations as well as to the changing desires of his client. The works to be completed by the different firms as well as the estimated costs are to be written down and handed to the client who will finally allocates the contracts. The step of the construction is planed, coordinated and managed. Dates, construction periods and deadlines are settled for every firm taking part into the construction of the building. Finally the architect gathers information all along the construction and ensures that works are completed as planned and described in the contracts.

How does the architect work?

The architect is a self-employed worker and can adequately act in his client's own best interest. He works economically and saving costs. The architect's fees can be calculated easily. They are actually based on the price list laid down in the Honorarium Code for Architects and Engineers ("Honorarordnung für Architekten und Ingenieure" – HOAI) in force in Germany. A written agreement defining the rights and obligations of each part must always be concluded between the architect and his client before the beginning of any project.

What is the architect responsible for?

He must answer for any of his planning or supervision mistake. The architect in charge of a project must be able to produce evidence at any time that a sufficient public liability insurance has been taken out.

What are the main tasks for architects?

Beside planning and construction, architects are specialists in other fields and can provide a large spectre of skills to help you make your building project come true, for both private people and public entities.