This is a question you may well be asking yourself as you approach the start of your project. It is an important question to ask, as the decision to appoint an Architect is potentially one of the biggest to make and could determine the outcome of your project. It is important to understand what value an Architect will bring to your endeavour and how they will help you to achieve your vision.​

A good Architect will bring such value to your project that their expertise and design skills will pay for themselves by helping you to focus the budget on key design areas, whilst guiding you along the most efficient path through the planning and construction process. An Architect’s input can be an invaluable asset, key to the success of your project.​

A good architect actually pays for themselves - more than once. You will reap the reward and the building will be hugely better and deliver much better value for it." - Kevin McCloud, Grand Designs​​​

How to choose an Architect

​The most important thing to remember when deciding to appoint an Architect is that you must be confident you will be able to maintain a good relationship with them. It will be your Architect’s responsibility to guide you through the design and construction processes, as well as the statutory environment, and you will be placing a considerable amount of trust in their skills and knowledge.

​You will likely be working very closely with your Architect, and it is vital that you feel comfortable with them and have confidence in their ability to understand your requirements and answer your questions clearly.​​​​

What to look out for when choosing an Architect...

​Firstly, it is important to understand what it means to be an Architect. The title of Architect is protected under Section 20 of the Architects Act 1997, which means that only individuals who have successfully achieved the educational and professional requirements set out by the relevant governing bodies can call themselves an Architect. 

Anyone can call themselves an architectural designer and it is not a protected title, which means that these individuals may not be regulated by any governing bodies and aren’t required to abide by the strict codes of professional conduct which are intended to ensure quality standards are maintained.

Architects are required by law to register with the Architects Registration Board (ARB), and with this comes the right to use the title ‘Architect’. The ARB is an independent statutory regulator that regulates the architects’ profession in the UK and is the body responsible for ensuring standards are maintained. It is important to ensure that your Architect is a registered member of the ARB and you can search the register here.

As well as being registered with the ARB, many Architects will also be a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Membership of the RIBA is voluntary for Architects practising in the UK, and as well as being a resource helping Architects carry out their work effectively, the institute also adds another layer of professional standards, on top of those already required by the ARB. The RIBA Code of Professional Conduct sets to standards based on honesty, integrity and competence, as well as a focus on concern for others and for the environment.