Article 11, Entering the Lions Den June 1, 2014

Client architect relationship for this famous house was not such 

a good one but the world is better off for it.

Here we go again, exploring architecture's darkest reaches, fears, and elation's. This article will explore the relationship between architect and client and the complexities in entering such a relationship, well not really but a good shallow attempt will be made. There are always two sides to every story but I will avoid them all since (except maybe my own here and there) they are as numerous as the stars but not as pretty. Instead I will look at the concerns and nightmares from each side and how best to understand them. When entering the dreaded dance of client architect collaboration, architects have their specific concerns and grievances just as the client rightly has theirs but no one really bothers to show their cards initially, which if they did, would probably avoid most of the contentious conflict that later develops. It's kind of like dating; you always put your best foot forward, never showing your flaws. Who are we kidding, most of the time both client and architect put on an Oscar award winning act of civility and regard for the other at the start. Where the relationship goes from there and how long does a person take to turn into a werewolf all depends on a number of actions, decisions, conditions and levels of psychosis from both parties.

Which one is the werewolf, the client or architect?

 For the most part, the architect client relationship will fall in the scale between apprehension and satisfaction. Don't expect a love affair during or after the project. "Well Jones (or insert name here), lovely how much money I'm spending, I'm just so happy..." or " I love my architect and I love my project!"  To that I say Bravo, we need more of you in the world! So I will briefly highlight some concerns of the architect and client, mind you I'm not discussing projects that have gone so bad as to enter into the legal arena or are about to. Nor am I discussing projects with a team, (like building a skyscraper or a stadium etc.) No let's stick to the easy stuff, "mano a mano". The everyday needling and griping between two people that can drive a person to drink, seek counseling. I'm talking about, "make me happy damn it!"

The architects worst nightmare as far as clients go, is the so called, "Toxic client".  It's an architect's biggest fear when for the next year or so that the project takes to get built he or she is saddled with an irrational, emotionally disturbed, untruthful, manipulative, unjust/unfair, narcissistic, sadistic  psychopathic client that only Lithium or Prozac can help. Now you may be thinking,  why even take on a job for such people like that in the first place? Are you that hard up for money? Are you just not good at reading people? Are you a masochist? Or do you like hair raising confrontation? Well some architects knowingly enter a relationship that they fear will be difficult I suppose for the need of money or I love this one, "this project will be great for my portfolio", (yes but not for your mental health) and they enter the lions den. I suppose knowing what you are about to get involved in if you so choose is one thing, that's not a problem, the problem comes when an architect unwittingly gets sucked into a toxic job or emotionally disturbed clients who mask their true identity. The not so clever clients fortunately show who they are right form the start. I said at the start of the article I was not going to trade war stories but I can't resist this one. I was called to a job by a female in a well to do area, Westhampton Beach, Long Island, who was renovating (I believe now flipping a house) and politely showed me around the house and pointed out all the things that she wanted changed or improved (give me a roof deck to view the ocean etc, etc) and things seemed to be going fine. I was elated, this was my first potential commission since I left my office job and fortunate enough (so I thought) that my former boss recommended to me what seemed to be a nice commission and client. As we were walking the outside of the house a Mercedes Benz came screeching into the driveway at high speed and a tall, tanned, open shirt complete with chest hair, no non sense big man gets out of the car and starts yelling for his wife to "get down here" in a very heavy New York accent (I'm from New York and even I thought this one was bad). She introduces me to the man as her husband and he barely acknowledges me then proceeds to ask his wife "what did you tell him"  (wow I did not know espionage would be involved in architecture) to which she explained. At that moment a string of profanities exited his mouth and ended the conversation by telling his wife to stick to the "f"ing plan followed by some more expletives, said good bye (I don't remember if he even said good bye to me) and tore off in his flashy car. This is a true story, no exaggerating, no lies. I said good bye to my female cowboy hat wearing client not to be. (in New York, you don't often see people wearing cowboy hats) I shook her hand and said I would be in touch as a big smile filled my face, disaster averted. (OK I know many of you will say, wussy, those guys you turn down are the best paying and misunderstood people and you did not have the B-lls to deal with it. Yes the same guys that flip houses on the cheap or who clear cut forests to put up sub-divisions and car washes?) Yes you are right I have no stomach for that. Needless to say I called her back telling her I could not do the job. In this rare case fortunately for me the husband was not a clever man and showed his true colors right away, thank god. I wish all people were that transparent. Let's be honest some architects have no problems handling a rough around the edges client as described above; as they say, one man's man wine is another man's poison.  However if you are sort of normal and like to live therapy free or not visiting the bar every night before you come home from work then you may try to avoid these chaps (and for all of you who have intestinal fortitude and are willing to put up with being cursed at be prepared to extract cash with a crow bar from these people-trust me) So, no more war stories but architects pick your clients wisely...better to be a little financially worse off then be owed and stressed out on top of it. But of course this is not the case with all clients and I must stress I used an example of a "potential"  toxic client that I avoided. I failed to mention, nor do I want to mention the ugliness of some toxic clients in which you will get into screaming matches with, play mind games with and or just have to deal with the nastiness that arises with the less sensible among us. No architect can avoid all of them and you may even welcome one here and there just to keep you on your toes. OK, enough let's get a taste of the clients point of view.

The client also has many concerns just as important if not more so than the architect. They are trusting their home, money to a process they are not too familiar with.  If the client is renovating their house that place of all places closest to their heart, there will be a lot of emotion attached to it. They are nervous from the start, they don't want their "sanctuary" compromised, who can blame them? They also have a myriad of other worries like getting  ripped off (over charged),  shoddy work, incompetent contractors or architects for that matter: in a nut shell they will protect their home (or investment) whether it seems irrational, overreacting or toxic to the architect.  Added to these worries, the client also has "great expectations", rational or irrational about how the project should go, look, cost, how long it should take etc. We are building their dreams and they expect nothing less; architect deliver on that!. When you add all this up, understandably this has the potential to be a very touchy situation, if not a powder keg awaiting a spark to set it off. If you look at the reality of this situation, the client is basically trusting a bunch of strangers, from the architect down to all the contractors to deliver on their dreams. This is a potential perilous situation for anyone and they too don't want to get strapped to an architect that makes this process more difficult than it needs to be or construction that takes longer than it needs to disrupting their quality of life longer than it has to. Now they are seeking someone in the form of an architect who will ease those construction process fears and possibly provide emotional  "construction therapy" and reassurance that all will be well. The client also does not want to be talked down to and have to deal with a big ego while they live in a construction zone (may as well call it a war zone) not knowing if things will come together or not. Most clients when entering a project are already stressed out; they are about to embark on an unknown journey and don't know what to expect with all the potential surprises that lay ahead while spending lot's of hard earned money. So right off the bat you have a client if not on the outside, most likely on the inside, is edgy and  nervous right from the start. So the formation of the architect client relationship starts off on rocky ground. Not all clients are as I describe above and some seem to know how to ride out the storm no matter what happens but I find this is the exception not the rule. How the relationship goes between client architect can be a roller coaster ride or limo ride depending on a bunch of innumerable factors, realistic, unrealistic, rational, irrational levels of expectations.

So as I said initially in the article no trading war stories. From my experience and what I have seen in the past what seems irrational to one side will seem rational to the other. There is usually no clear cut right or wrong side but many interpretations when it comes to disagreements.  I have no suggestions with how to resolve the myriad of problems that can arise throughout the client architect relationship. What can I offer? Let's go back to my past articles. In an ideal situation where both client and architect are getting both exactly what they want there could be no disagreement or difficulty that cannot be overcome. That is the pinnacle of a successful relationship. When the project is the fulfillment of the architects dreams and the clients dreams, that is the perfect match. Problems will arise but the will and spirit to solve them will be more effective. I will make a corny analogy, as you know architect denied is famous for that. Imagine your project is like climbing a mountain and the goal, like climbing any mountain,  is to get to the top or completing your dream project to expectation. Now imagine climbing that mountain with a partner, as often time is the case in reality, would it make any sense to kick your partner in the gut as you are try to climb the mountain especially while you are tethered? Would you tie yourself to someone who does not want to climb the same mountain as you? That would be very foolish but that is exactly what you are doing when things get that contentious. I won't go as far to say that architect is a Sherpa and the client is well, the Sherpa's client but maybe it's something like that. Now if we take this one step further and the Sherpa has to carry the client on his back up the mountain you are both fighting a loosing battle.
 

So my ultimate advice. Sherpa's, accept a client that is willing to climb that mountain and not try to kick you down the mountain, or ask you to carry them on your back, question if you have ever climbed a mountain before and deny you the oxygen you need to complete the job. Accept no amount of money to carry the entire expedition up the mountain, you will collapse and die. Most importantly pick someone that wants to climb the same mountain as you do and has the same resolve, effort, and means to accomplish the task. Client pick your Sherpa well. Point to the mountain you want to climb, be honest, tell them your not a good climber if that is the case and pick someone who will agree to the same mountain climb. Pick someone who knows the way, the best path, the hidden dangers, and who can "guide" but not carry you to the top of your mountain. Time to plant that flag.

Hillary and Tenzing, a successful relationship.