Client and architect relationship

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This note is primarily directed to the issues faced in one-off residential projects; however, the guidance can apply to all project types and sizes. The success of a building project is largely dependent on the relationship and respect between client, architect, project team and builder. 

While there is much attention to the manner in which the architect manages the project and handles the client, there is little said about what is needed from the client, how they should be guided and the way they should conduct themselves in order to get the best outcome. Good communication is critical and ensuring that the client has a comprehensive understanding of the role and responsibility of the architect is fundamental to project success. It is clear that in many situations the architect and client are simply not suited to working together and this mismatch should be resolved sooner rather than later.

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