Why you need an Architect series: Architects as "Warriors".

Client the King, should know thy War.

Project and construction is like a war.

During construction, it is required to have your full Personal Protective Equipment when you wanted to go to the site for a visit or to supervise. You, as a client, is required as well.

The danger is real; falling debris, falling from heights, hit by moving objects, slips, trips, and falls, electrocuted, etc.

although, in real war, guns and ammunition destroys properties and kills life, construction as well have risk pertaining to life, with the main goal of building structures rather than destruction ( of course, we need to demolish some existing structures, if needful).

As an architect, our good Clients are our Kings, and we are here to protect his interest by all means!

Client the King, should know thyself.

First, the Client should know his motives in starting " a war"?

Is it to build for his family, invest in his legacy, or to build and sell for profit?

Second, how much the Client need to pay to finish the endeavor?

To win the "war", it is needful that the Client and the Architect should sit first and estimate if the "Kings" resources are enough to put it into completion.

Like any war, it needs planning and estimation, and the Client-King should be financially ready to pay for it. There are data available to know how much it cost to complete a project. Preliminary Cost Estimate based on the market price, will guide the Client on how much it will cost him. This project projected cost does not include the Architect's professional fee, which is usually 10% of the total construction cost of the project.

Client the King, should know thy right hand

The Architect as the Client-king's representative is his right hand. Like a warrior in the war, the Architect has years of perfecting his craft. Typically, it takes 5 years to study in college, and 2 years diversified experience, 6-months review before he can be able to take the board exam. If he successfully passed it, he will be a registered licensed Architect (RLA).

The Architect warrior is both a Scientist and an Artist. We draw and we compute our design according to the available data, information and knowledge. The knowledge and experience we have is our HELMET. It protects our heads, leaving our eyes to see visions and beauty, nose to smell design opportunity, and mouth to share our knowledge and expertise to the world.

Our knowledge of the building and zoning laws SHIELDS us from the penalties of non-conformance. Countries, States, Cities and Municipalities have laws governing the design, zoning, erecting, inspection, operation and maintenance of the building. We protect our Clients and Customers from arrows and spears of this laws by studying and conforming accordingly. Do not build without a prior approved design from the government or face a hefty penalty.

Our integrity is our ARMOR BREASTPLATE against pride and self-interest. According to the dictionary, integrity is "firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values." An Architect should uphold the code of ethics.

Our skills and tools are our PERSONAL WEAPONS, like a SWORD, SPEAR, bow (toxa), javelin (akontia) and sling (sfendonai). With this, we can successfully design and/or implement the proposed buildings.

Our diligence is our SHIN GUARD. The Architect-Warrior should value hard work and word of honor.

The Architect, are like Doctors and Lawyers, have diverse needs. He might have a family to feed, mortgages to pay, and even need to support himself. Before the Client-King will hire him, he should know his expertise and skills, and should be ready to pay his professional fee.

Client the King, should know thy Mission

Clients should understand that good Architects are Warriors with a mission. We deserve our professional fees because we are missionaries and not mercenaries. Our missions is to protect you and your interest, by legal means. Architects are in a mission to protect our names and integrity as well! We are 15 years liable with our design (and implementation, if hired as project managers by administration), so we should be careful with our services! Illegal practice of Architecture is punishable by law and should be shunned and anathematized!

Client the King, are you ready to hire your Warrior?