Image: D. Laird
Often the hardest part of an architect’s job happens before drawing has even begun. Take it from Philip Griffiths, long-time architect and recently appointed Western Australian Chapter President of the Australian Institute of Architects.
‘The first question, mainly on domestic architecture, is “Why should I employ an architect?”’ Few other professionals face this interrogration of the value of their very existence at the beginning of a client relationship but many potential clients wonder why they should not go straight to a builder. Griffiths said introducing clients to the value of architectures is often an ‘instructive exercise’. Sometimes it’s a difficult conversation.