Most people meet an architect once, at the biggest spend of their life, and are expected to know what the role involves. This is the plain version.

What an architect is

An architect is a registered professional who designs buildings and oversees how they are built. In Australia, “architect” is a protected title: someone using it holds an accredited qualification, has completed supervised practice and passed registration. Architects are also bound by continuing professional development, insurance and a code of conduct. Further detail is in our guide to how registration and schooling work in Australia.

That matters practically. When you engage an architect you are engaging someone accountable for their design decisions.

What an architect actually does

The role is far wider than drawing. At each stage of a project:

• Feasibility. Before anything is committed — what your site can support, what approvals might apply, roughly what things cost and whether the brief is realistic. This is the cheapest part of a project and the one that saves the most.
• Concept design. Orientation, layout, and how the building relates to the street, the garden and the climate. Most of a home’s comfort and running cost is decided here.
• Design development. Materials, structure and detailing, coordinated so the pieces agree with each other.
• Documentation. The drawings and specifications a builder prices and builds from. Thin documentation is where variation claims come from.
• Approvals. Preparing and managing the planning and building application, including the residential building codes in Western Australia.
• Tendering and construction support. Comparing builder quotes, answering questions on site and checking that what is built matches what was designed.

An architect is also usually the person who assembles the team — structural, civil and energy consultants — and keeps them working to one plan.

What an architect does not do

Worth being blunt about:

• They are not the builder. The architect designs and advises; a licensed builder constructs.
• They are not a decorator. Interior finishes can be part of the scope, but selecting cushions is not the service.
• They are not always your project manager. Some practices offer contract administration and site inspection; others don’t. Confirm the scope before you engage.
• They cannot promise a price. Architects can design to a budget and manage cost, but building prices come from builders.

How this works with your builder

The most common arrangement is: design and documentation by the architect, construction by a builder under a separate contract, with the architect administering that contract. Other models exist, including design-and-construct and builder-designed homes with an architect engaged for review.

None is automatically better. What matters is that the drawings are detailed enough to price, and that someone independent is checking the work. That is also why an architectural approach suits constrained blocks where standard plans struggle.

Do you need an architect?

Not always. On a straightforward block with a standard brief, a project builder can be the better value. An architect earns their fee where the site is difficult, the brief is specific, approvals are complicated, the building is heritage or public, or performance and longevity matter more than floor area.

If you have a plan already, having it reviewed is a legitimate and inexpensive starting point.

What it costs, honestly

Fees are usually a fixed sum, an hourly rate, or a percentage of the construction cost, and the right model depends on the project. Any figure quoted before someone has seen your site and your brief is a guess. Ask what is included at each stage — that matters more than the headline number.

Working with us in Perth and regional WA

We design homes, community and commercial buildings, heritage work and landscape-led projects. Our base is in Perth and we take on projects across the metro area and the hills, and we work with clients throughout regional Western Australia. Our guide to client stages, statutory requirements and budgets sets out what the process looks like from your side.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an architect and a building designer? Both can design a house. An architect is registered, has completed accredited training and supervised practice, and is accountable to a statutory board. Building designers are not regulated in the same way. On difficult sites or complex approvals the difference shows.

Do I need an architect for a renovation? For structural work, heritage buildings or a constrained existing house, yes — the design work is where the difficulty sits. Our guide to why a kitchen renovation is an architectural project explains one everyday example.

When should I first contact an architect? Before you buy, if possible. Feasibility on the actual site is the cheapest advice in the project.

Can an architect save me money? Often they spend it better rather than spend less of it. Good orientation, sensible structure and thorough documentation reduce rework, variations and running costs over the life of the building.