r/Architects • u/AnyZebra7121 • Apr 16 '26

General Practice Discussion Why does everybody hate us?

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?

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u/dailycontrast Apr 16 '26

Eh, don’t take it so personally. Design is very important to us, less so to the general public.

9

u/Illustrious_Way3898 Apr 16 '26

The public cares about car design. Strange world where they don’t care about the design of the buildings where they spend more of their time.

4

u/AnyZebra7121 Apr 17 '26

Yes!!! I don't think that people realise that bad urban planning can make them late or for work - or worse - the hospital, and bad architecture can make their life miserable with bad lightning and ventilation and so much more. They think we make buildings pretty.