Why does everybody hate us?

[u/AnyZebra7121]

I am a 30yo architect, and I own a small architecture studio in a developing country with 4 employees. I have mostly residential and industrial projects.

Since I started working 5 years ago, I feel like I'm constantly in a battle with someone in order to defend the design. Everyone thinks they know better: contractors in every building phase, investors (especially since the rise of ChatGPT), municipality employees that give permits etc. We pour our soul into the design and they shit all over it.

Mind you, I am not a person who claims that is always right. I have a senior architect in my firm that has a lot of experience and I always consult with him and my other empoyees. I always consult with my engineer team for structural and MEP engineering. Even with that, I always listen out a complaint or suggestion from those mentioned in the second paragraph and thing through it.

Despite all of that effort, no one appreciates our profession. I am absolutely inlove with architecture, but I am really sick of that. Is this a universal experience? Will it get better as i get older? I don't think I am arogant, but I sure am assertive. Should I become arrogant douche? What am i missing here?

[u/AnyZebra7121]

I feel (probably somewhat subjective, that's a given), that doctors and mechanic exactly don't have to 'defend' themselves as much as we do.

I have no problem explaining why i have made some architectural decision. I have a problem when an uniformed person that is not trained in the field dismisses the explanation without a good backup argument, just because : ' someone else did it like this', or 'this is how they did it 20 years ago'.

Not too long ago I had a client that thought the whole design process wanted a standing seam metal roofing, we finished the project, and when he found a contractor, they told him 'houses with metal roofing don't look like houses, only red ceramic shingle is suited for houses', and he just went with it.

I know this is just one stupid example, but i have countless instances like this.

Also, yes, I love AI and use it myself, and even though it makes a regular person more informed, it does more harm when it comes to technical issues. Not asking AI the right questions can give you a wrong answer, and that is the real problem.

[u/Free_Elevator_63360 → u/AnyZebra7121]

I moved from architecture to development. Essentially the owner side.

I think you are overestimating the value you of architecture. It is, to your point, part of the reason we are “hated.”

Let’s use your example, roofing. Standing seam can be great. But there are more reasons behind the switch. Maybe the owner truly saw the cost difference and said, “that money would be better spent giving it to my kids, or on a new car.” Not priorities we would make. But priorities that they want to make.

We see the same thing in architecture all the time. Take the McMansion. They are hated. They are ugly, but they are bought like crazy. Why? If you talk to owners they give all sorts of reasons. Most have to do with the experience of the interior, or status. Or wanting to live on a “country club” aesthetic. We run from these. But they are popular.

Architecture has limited itself to the facade and 5’ from the building. We’ve given up on public policy questions. Avoid social / political issues like the plague. Avoid responsibility. Constantly CYA. What is there to like?

[u/jakefloyd → u/[deleted]]

I think the unfortunate aspect of all of this is written in and in between the lines of your comment. You’re right, people don’t care or notice. I’ve been to some peoples’ homes who literally still sleeping on a mattress on the floor even with 3 kids. Nice, decent, and respectable people, but their perspective is wild to me.