Author:

Keywords:

architectural practice, client, collaboration, ethnographic fieldwork, knowledge, user experience

Abstract:

Due to the increasing complexity of architectural practice, gaining insight into future users’ perspectives presents a particular challenge for architects. Architects’ main reference point to obtain information about users is often the client. Moreover, architects indicate that a ‘good’ client is key to the project’s success. Yet, architect-client relationships can be highly diverse, depending on the project type, procedure and phase. This paper sets out to study how different architect-client dynamics mediate attention to users in the design process. An ethnographic study provides insight into the daily professional practice of three diverse architecture firms in Belgium. Based on observations of project meetings and interviews with architects and clients, we identify four types of relationships: client absence, substitution by a developer, client consultation, and (long-term) engagement. Architect-client dynamics can result in conflicting or aligned ambitions. Extracts from the fieldwork illustrate how these can hamper or stimulate attention to future users in the design process. The insights presented in this paper contribute to untangling architect-client dynamics and can be useful to improve collaboration and knowledge transfer in design practice. A constructive relationship between architects and clients can provide an opportunity for enhancing their mutual ambitions to integrate use-related qualities in the design.