PRESENTASI

High-level questions architects

should ask clients
Start with these basic, yet high-level questions to
get a general direction for the project. Pair them
with the Deeper questions mentioned at the end.

NAMA KELOMPOK : Start Presentation

1. VERDYANSYAH YUGO SAPUTRA
2. ARNOLDUS JANSEN JALU
1. What kind of project do you want to design?

Ask about the kind of project your client

wants to work on—building a house, multi-
storey, or office, renovating a house or a
section of the house, room additions,
landscaping designing, and remodelling.

This question will help define the rest of the

questionnaire. Questions to ask remodeling
clients will be different than an interior
design client interview questions.

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2. What’s your short and long-term plan for
this place?

Check if the client plans to use the

place for themselves or sell it off
after sometime or immediately.
Ask questions about the present
and future users of the property. If
they are a growing family, then
they might have specific future
needs to consider. Propose using
materials and design that will
create value for them in short and
long-term.
Universitas
Borcelle

3.Do you have any sustainability or energy goals

for the project?

Understand the goals of the client in terms of

sustainability and energy efficiency. Propose
materials and energy-saving design features
and show the expected contribution of those
features to the client’s goal. Create a plan for
You can explain proposed energy-saving materials
how and when the goals of the client can be
and features that meet the client's desired energy
efficiency and goals. Also explain the expected achieved.
contribution of each proposal. Provide an overview
of plans to achieve the client's goals for poverty
and energy efficiency. All of this will help clarify
your approach to sustainable architecture projects.
4.What’s your budget?

Ask your client what budget they have for

the designing and construction of the
project. Clarify what deviation from the
estimated budget may occur. Be realistic
and ensure that both you and the client are
prepared for the actual spend.
5.What’s your timeline?
"Ask the client about the project timeframe. Discuss their
01 needs and estimate the time required, as well as talk about
possible delays.

Basic questions to ask clients when designing a

02 building: Who is the user of the space? How do they
want to use it? This question is important for
designing the basic framework of the design."
 6.Who will use the facility?
Ask your client about the people who will
use the space—family of adults or adults
and children, office staff, or public. This
information will help you plan the right
features and rooms.

7. How do you plan to use

indoor and outdoor spaces?
Ask the client about how they plan to use
different rooms and sections of their
house. Ask about the activities they
undertake. Design a house or office to
enable those activities, both outdoor and
indoor.
 9. Will the space be used for
entertaining?
Ask if the place will be used to entertain people, and if the
client would want to include a game room, bar, guest
room, outdoor sitting, living room, dining room, kitchen,
etc. Check about the capacity of each room and see if
there is scope to accommodate that.

8. How much time do you spend on indoor

and outdoor activities?

The time spent in different sections

of the house will guide you on who
much space and budget you can
allot to each room and area. Your
client will have to truthfully reflect on
this question to help you plan better.
 10. What level of privacy do
you desire?
Ask about the number of people who will use the
facility and the privacy requirement of each person.
Design the space so that the users get the desired
privacy and common areas, ensuring the
functionality of each place isn’t compromised.

11. Will anyone with any disability

use this place?
If a person with a disability will be using the place on
a regular basis, then it will be ideal for you to
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incorporate accessible design features. Ask the client
about this in advance to create effective designs.
12. How much time can you contribute
during the designing and construction
phase?

Check with the client how much time they are

willing to spend on approving the designs and
coordinating about the various questions you
might have during the construction of the
project. Clarifying their availability will help
plan communication better.
 13. What level of involvement do you want the
designing and construction of the project?

Check the type of updates the client might

need, the type of involvement they wish to have
in different design and construction decisions.
They will help you understand when to contact
them and when to take a call on your own.

14. Do you want you to procure

the material?
Ask the client if they want to procure the material
or if they would need your assistance. In the latter
case, how would they like to be involved in the
process of choosing and paying for the materials?
Share your design inputs and material preference in
either case.
15. Do you want you to hire and manage the
contractors?
Also, ask the client if they want you to take the
responsibility of choosing and hiring contractors or if
they’d like to do their own recruitment. In case they
recruit the contractors, do they want you to
coordinate with them during construction or not?

16. What design formats do you

prefer?
Share the design format you generally work
with—Drawings, Digital 2d or 3d designs, or
Physical 3d models. Check which format your
client will be able to understand better and
visualize the structure better with.
 17. Do you need assistance in getting
design permits?
Check if your design needs any special
permits in the area, and if so, check if the
client would be able to help obtain those
permits, if needed.

18. How would you like to pay?

Some clients prefer paying in predetermined
installments or a lump sum amount. Also, share with the
client your fee structure—a percentage of the project’s
cost or a fixed fee. Clarify if the client would like to keep a
credit card on file or make a direct deposit.
 19. What’s the best way to communicate
with you?
To ensure that the communication between you and your client
goes smoothly throughout the project, check what their
preferred mode of communication is—email, call, or text
messages. Check what’s the best time or day to contact them in
a week, and how often would they like to connect to get
updates and share thoughts on the progress of the project.

20. What kind of architecture

do you prefer?
One of the first Architecture design interview
questions should be about the type of architecture
that appeals to your client. Show them various
design styles or samples to choose from, so that you
understand what direction to take with your design.
21. Do you have any design and material ideas to
share?
Ask your client if they’d like to share any pictures
from Pinterest, magazines, etc. that they might
have saved as reference for this property. Ask
them to point out the features they like the most
in each picture and why.

22. Are any design features

important to you?

Ask if your client has any preference to include

or exclude certain features. These can be related
to the aesthetics, a certain room, functionality of
the place, energy efficiency, interaction with the
environment, etc.
23. Do you have landscaping
requirements?
Ask your client if they want you to design the
landscape surrounding their house. Landscape
design client interview questions help you
include such designs in your drawings to begin
with. In case you need to hire a landscape
artist, you can include that cost in the budget.

24. What kind of rooms/spaces do you want--bedrooms,

dining, family, drawing, kitchen, garage, etc?

Ask the client about the kind of rooms and

spaces they’d like to have. If it’s a house, then
besides bedrooms, kitchen, dining and living
rooms, do they have space and requirements
for other rooms like a study, family room, rec
room, and indoor pool.
25. How many bedrooms do you
want?
For designing a house, ask about the number
of bedrooms they want and who they will be
used by, so that you can design appropriate
sizes and functional features.

26. How many bathrooms do you want?

Ask about the number of bathrooms your

client requires. Do they want all full bathrooms
or do they wish to have a powder room near
the living room and recreation room.
27. What kind of kitchen do you
like?
Different clients have different cooking and
entertainment needs and habits. Ask your
client if they like a big,open, airy, and lit
kitchen, if they want a wood burning oven, or if
they prefer a small kitchen as they hardly cook.

28. Do you want a loft or upper floors?

Different clients have different needs and

budget for the present and future. Ask if your
client needs a loft or a second floor with rooms.
Discuss with them the long-term usability of
the upper floor.
 29. Do you want a study or work-from-home space?

If your client works from home, check if they’d

like you to design a study or work corner. Such
consideration for their lifestyle will help them
see that you care.

30. What storage needs do you

have?
Some people prefer a lot of storage space for
clothes, kitchen items, tools, and other items.
Discuss the type of storage need your client has,
also asking about the space they’d like to dedicate
to storage areas.
 31. How many covered parking spaces do
you need?
Your client may have a specific requirement
for covered parking spaces. Confirm their
need to be able to plan the design better.

32. Do you need a fireplace?

Check with the client if they need a working fireplace in
the house--electric or live. Discuss with them the most
practical and feasible option which they can use for a
long time.
 33. How much natural light do you prefer?

Different people prefer different amounts of light in

various rooms of the house. Ask your client about what
they prefer, so that you can design features that allow in
desirable amounts of light.

34. Are there any known challenges

for the site?
Check with the client if they are aware of any
known challenges of the terrain and the existing
structure. The client can also put you in touch
with previous owners or local property builders
to get more information.
35. What’s your Vision for the project?
The vision represents the paradigms you want
the house or property to stand for and
represent. Understand your client’s vision or
help them develop one, no matter how deep,
simple or straightforward it is. If they want to
sell the property, the vision might be as simple
as making the place Efficient or Aesthetically
pleasing. Knowing their vision will help you
step into your client’s shoes while making all
the design decisions.
thankyou
High-level questions architects should
ask clients