Both are important for any project to be successfully achieved, first we should understand the difference in job profile of both contractor and architect.
| ARCHITECT | CONTRACTOR | |
| 1 | Architects are from design-oriented background with training in understanding design and creating user experience | Contractors usually are from a background of civil engineering (structural engineering) or project management, with better control over manpower management |
| 2 | Understand materials, their applications, economics, aesthetics, physical and chemical properties | Good with material sourcing, purchase, logistics and arranging skilled manpower for its application |
| 3 | Services – planning, space management, virtual visualization, material selection, working details (trained to make their designs real) | Services – raw material sourcing, skilled manpower sourcing and management, local limitations and advantages, manpower cost management |
| 4 | Understands design principles, colour theory, design philosophy, human sensory perception, visualization and virtual imaginations of design and experience that comes with it | Understanding local available machinery , cost of machinery and operating manpower. Can read and understand drawings. |
| 5 | Understanding user’s requirement and curation of user’s experience with planning and designing of lighting, electrical, functionality, ventilation. for example: architect can mould designs according to requirements, can be vernacular, classical or modern with hi-tech automation. | No design creation background |
| 6 | Design co-ordination with contractor, structural engineer, mechanical, Electrical, plumbing consultants for execution and functioning as per design created. | Can arrange manpower ( electrician , plumber , ac , camera, mason etc) but cannot instruct them or guide them unless he has received all detailed drawings in advance from the architect . |
| 7 | Optimization of project cost using design, construction techniques, usability, material selection | Cannot optimize project cost without clear designs and exact scope of work with material detail |
From the above table we can conclude, Architects are more responsible for ideation and design creation and contractors are responsible for build and execution at site.
If you hire a contractor for both design and build, the end result might not be very efficient for both. so, it is ideally recommended to hire an architect first, create the designs, know exactly what to build and how much to build and then hire a contractor.
What happens if you don’t hire an architect first and hire a contractor first ?
1. Architects create the overall / entire vision for the project , without a clear vision , achiving good quality result are difficult
2. Demolition and rework , material wastage , delay in deliverables , increase in labour cost resulting in decrease in efficiency of the project .
3. Architects are trained to understand (user’s) human phycology and implement their philosophy in design . For example : architects take elements from your childhood home town stories and implement certain elements in your new home project , contractors might not be trained to think in this direction .
4. Poor space planning , poor circulation planning , poor lighting & ventilation , less privacy and despite of bigger site -inefficient room sizes
5. Understanding and application of local building by laws , national bylaws , building standards , setback requirements , local restrictions , far regulations, safety standards .
6. Hiring contractor first can work for small renovation and repair works or only when you have a fully completed set to drawings prepared by a professional
