Architect-Client Relationship

When we talk about architecture as a professional activity we do recognise the contribution of different people in the designing process and successful completion of a project. But out of all the relationships among the professionals, a successful Architect –Client relationship plays the most crucial part. Assuming that this relationship can be structured, the researchers have been developing models for a systematic strategy to address the problems and gaps in management of this relationship.

In this research, I want to acknowledge the psychological and sociological perspective of this relationship and enhance our understanding of the problems of this relationship. A considerable percentage of architects in India work on house projects from

The research need, aim, question, objectives and an outline of the overall research design are summarised. The chapter concludes by outlining the overall structure of the dissertation.

1.1 The Nature of Architecture as a Profession

To understand the significance of role of client and critical impact of architect- client relationship in the design process, one needs to first understand the nature of architecture as a professional activity. Architecture has been described as a combination of art as well as craftsmanship, social science as well as engineering. According to architect Renzo Piano architecture happens when all the resources participate makes it a ‘dangerous activity’ that is in constant limbo. Resources like concrete or wood or metal, history and geography, mathematics and natural sciences, anthropology and ecology, aesthetics and technology, climate and society (Piano 1997:

The Architect working on a project is not only responsible for the design but is also expected to work as a link between different parties in involved in the process, most importantly the client and others for successful outcomes and to achieve client’s satisfaction in a project. With so many factors affecting the process, Architects find it difficult to explain the nature of their professional activities and their deliverables for successful project (Bali, 2009).

Also, success can be viewed in different ways whereby what one perceives as a successful project outcome may be viewed quite differently by the next. A client’s judgement of a success may often be different to the architect. Professionally there here has been a consistent identification of differences in the beliefs and values between the architect and client concerning the built environment (Bali, 2009). Such differences in views between the architect and client are critical consideration in the management of relationships since it can ultimately results in gaps between expectations and