Who is an Architect?

An Architect (practicing in Nigeria) is one who is registered under the ARCON laws of the Federation of Nigeria with the license to provide Architectural services. They cater to providing the “shelter” needs of human basic necessities of life.

What services can an Architect provide?

An Architect provides services within his interest and knowledge ranging from
?Architectural building design.
?Working/Construction drawing.
?Project Development.
?Project Management.
?Interior Designs.
?3D Animation… just to name the basic.

Why do you need an Architect for your building designs?

An Architect cares about the building design and construction like a mother cares for a child. He is not merely focused on making money as opposed to ensuring strict adherence to following his drawings and replicating them on site.

Every other personnel on site is out to make money without recourse to the design. The Architect is the only one who diligently follows the construction to ensure the client’s satisfaction.

An Architect ensures his building designs are to standard and abide by the building code. He educates the clients on the statutory rights he has to his properties.

An Architect creates sustainable designs with an emphasis on the client’s interests on budget and benefit.

An Architect should also be consulted in the choice and location of the plot of land you wish to buy. A lot of clients dabble into pain because of this. I have a Facebook friend whose land location required him not to have windows on 3 sides of the plot. It was a major challenge.

How can you design a house that allows only windows in the front and that’s because the client didn’t know about the conditions facing the property and the supposed neighbours?

Before You Pay a Draftsman for a building design.

While it may look cheap and affordable at the moment, there are basic psychologies associated with building designs that a draftsman does not have.
At the end of the day, you wonder why your building interior feels so hot, or why the windows are too small, or why the doors are small and short and you keep hitting your head at the door post and you literally have to chamfer yourself to pass through the door because the door swing meets a chamfered wall or why you have to spend money running your AC to help cool the interior of your building even during extremely cold weather.
Don’t forget the proper electrical wiring plan that was not done, because there was no furniture layout, so you have to create a long line of electrical cords to get to where you hung your TV.
In this era of prepaid and postpaid meters, you can’t turn off the electric bulb in that dark lobby space to conserve bills. You literally walk through a kitchen to access your toilet which means no privacy for you when your visitors need to use the toilet.
Talk about that toilet under the staircase and you wonder why the toilet bowl had to be positioned that way.
That’s the kind of design 10k gets you. Draftsmen do not understand what you actually need in your home or office.
Yea. They can even buy a drawing online and give you as your design. You are thrilled with the 3D presentation. It looks so beautiful on the outside. You eventually find out, it does not meet your usage needs.
Is this the problem you are experiencing now? While some can be corrected, others cannot.

Do you know a registered Architect in your circle? If no, contact us.