The Development of the

Architect-Client
Relationship
Module 1A

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 Renaissance

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 Parties to the Relationship
Patron Master Builder

● The landed, gentry, wealthy ● Renowned artist

(e.g. Medici of Florence, ● Individual who was responsible
Gonzaga of Mantua, Farnese in for both the design and the
Rome, Storzas in Milan) construction of a project
● From Latin Patronus (protector ● Director of works
of clients) ● "high-crafter"
● A person who gives financial or
other support to a person
● A customer, especially a regular
one

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 What’s Behind the
Relationship?

● Patronage as a means for the wealthy

to fulfil their humanist responsibilities
which is to promote the pursuit of
learning and the creation of beauty;
● Patronage as a means for economic
and social mobility
○ Communicate status to other elites
○ Advance or consolidate their
power
○ Transmit their status and power to
successive generations of the
family
○ Signal the attributes they wanted
to project
○ Exaggerate claims to
accomplishment

"File:Villa medici di belcanto,

veduta 00.JPG" by sailko is
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licensed CC BY-SA 3.0
 The Rise of the Modern Architect

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 Educational
Infrastructure

Ecole des Beaux-Arts (School of

Fine Arts; in France; 1682; Louis
XIV; Napoleon) was the first
school of architecture established
in the world. It offered for the
first time anywhere a formalized
course for becoming an architect.

"File:Verrière - Beaux Arts de

Paris.jpg" by Wiki revolution
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is licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
 Architects with a Legal
standing

Illinois was the first state in the

United States to adopt a licensing
law for architects in 1897

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 Building Regulations
protecting life and its
quality

● The New York State Tenement

House Act of 1901
○ One of the first laws to ban
construction of dark, poorly
ventilated buildings in New
York.

"New York tenements, on

Bowery" by johnomason is
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licensed under CC BY 2.0
 The Modern Client

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 Who is the Modern Client?
They need an
Facing the need
Never a thing, ethical
to deal with
but a person professional to
Change
assist them

Someone the architect deals with Stasis rarely exists in the built
in a personal relationship environment

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 What do Clients value?
Recommendation
Collaborative
from Trusted Portfolio (Product)
Skills (People)
People (Promotion)

"Portfolio website - Donal

Hickey .ie" by Sean MacEntee
is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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 What do Client Value?
Lower Fees (Price) Accessible (Place)

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 The Changes Clients Face
Change in
Globalization Mobility
Demographics

Huge untapped markets await Demographic change has shaped Effects of rising incomes on urban
architecture (e.g. starter homes, development, size of homes and
new K-12 schools, new office spaces
buildings, retirement living

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 The Changes Clients Face
Technological Change Climate Change

Technology changes as quickly as

the weather.

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 References

● Demkin, J. A. & The American Institute of Architects. (2001). The Architect’s

Handbook of Professional Practice. Wiley.

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