A high percentage, 90% or more, of the houses built in the United States are not designed by an architect. Builders and developers that have expertise in efficiency of building make the design decisions. These homes do not look at quality of life, value added to the occupants, energy efficiency, or even the land they are sitting on. These houses don’t maximize the potential for natural light or think through how a particular family might live in the spaces created.
A house designed by an architect can significantly improve the daily lives of those living in the home. First is the functional layout of the house, which, when working with an architect, will go through careful consideration. The client is asked many questions about how they live and how they want to live. This is a time to dream of what could happen if the house you live in facilitated the life you want. Think about getting a home that captures the view of a sunrise while you comfortably sit and sip your morning coffee. What about when all the family comes together to celebrate and the home is sized to adapt, making a large group feel welcome and comfortable where daily the spaces are just right for your small family.
Architects will also focus on the aesthetic appeal of the whole home, details within the home, and help coordinate space to space. Thinking through bringing in natural light and ventilation will make the home warm and inviting. Of course, there is also the focus on building science that helps with indoor air quality and energy-efficiency. With an architect you will get the right spaces in the right places for how you imagine your dream life. The architect will balance budget concerns with quality goals. They will look at the land and how the house should sit in that space and make the home as future flexible as possible.
In a home designed by an architect there will be little things that you might overlook that make life easier. Window in the right place and right size, HVAC system that cleans the air you breath, and a kitchen that allows for gathering. The home will be a lifetime home and not just your new home.
