A Journey of Emotions and Numbers
Over 17 years as an architect and consultant, I have managed projects of various scales, goals, and complexities across four continents.
The process of conceptualizing architecture has a common denominator: serving the function for which it was created. A beautiful building that doesn’t fulfill its purpose is simply an expensive sculpture with little utility and will eventually lose its relevance.
The method revolves around a series of steps, starting with a crucial question: What is the objective of the project?
I firmly believe that architecture is the tool that enables my clients to build or rehabilitate their assets. They rely on our expertise to do this in a functional, cost-controlled, efficient, intelligent, and sustainable way.
Designing is a process with a linearity of distinct stages, but what makes it exciting is that every case is unique and unrepeatable. Every client is different, and in the world of luxury homes and high-standard architecture, the process can reinvent itself within each stage.
This journey takes us from choosing a house, building, or plot to completing construction and handing over the finished project. For special cases, we even have teams ready to deliver a move-in-ready property, complete with a bottle of champagne in the fridge and a coffee capsule in the espresso machine.
How to Define a Project? Rational or Emotional?
From the architect's perspective, the project follows a rational path, hidden behind the creativity that adds emotion and flair step by step. However, from the client's side, this rationality often takes a back seat to emotions. Each client is unique and experiences the project differently. While it’s hard to generalize profiles and paths, there are similarities that allow us to categorize clients based on their approach to the project.
Investitors
The most rational clients are investors. For them, the project must result from a set of premises stemming from an objective briefing. The outcome should align with the financial assumptions of a meticulous business plan. Architecture serves as the medium through which all their figures balance and take shape. It is the architect's role to apply knowledge and experience to find the best solution that respects or even enhances the initial business plan.
The work with investors begins with selecting the right property and conducting a preliminary assessment of its potential to support the intended investment.
We match the proposed program and volume with applicable legislation in a feasibility study, developing a functional layout to evaluate the number of housing units or typologies that can be realized.
This phase ends with an economic feasibility study, giving the investor a concrete idea of the costs, revenues, and projected profit.
With construction and economic feasibility validated, the purchase proceeds, ensuring the property meets the investor's objectives.
After the purchase, we move to the preliminary study phase, where the new owner sees the designs for individual houses or apartments materialize. During this stage, investors refine the project with their inputs and branding preferences.
The preliminary study often includes a cost estimate to give investors the confidence to proceed to the licensing phase. Once the preliminary design, architecture, and costs are approved, the project moves into licensing, which involves preparing architectural and engineering plans for submission.
After the municipal approval of the architecture phase, the execution project begins. This stage details the building, selecting finishes for bathrooms, kitchens, windows, flooring, ceilings, carpentry, and more. The execution project streamlines construction, procurement, and cost control.
This phase concludes with a comprehensive set of documents used for budgeting, payments, and quality control during construction.
We oversee contractor consultations and work with legal advisors to ensure the client secures a favorable construction contract.
As construction progresses, the municipality issues the construction license, and we coordinate the project with the builder. At the end, we handle all necessary documentation for the occupancy license and legal registration of the property.
Investor clients typically conclude their process with us once the building is ready for commercialization. They highly value budget accuracy and adherence to timelines.
Private Clients – The End User
Private clients are the most emotional. While the process stages are similar to those for investors, the timing is more extended. Private clients are more guided by emotion in purchasing decisions, often prioritizing a good living room, terrace, location, or view over strict numbers.
Because building a home is a rare occurrence, every detail is meticulously chosen. It’s not uncommon to spend hours in a showroom examining flooring samples or sketching layout combinations.
Unlike investors, private clients often allocate extra funds for premium materials or special features. Personalization is key, with customized wardrobes, kitchens, bathrooms, and even electrical layouts tailored to their needs.
Our teams assist until the client moves in, sometimes designing furniture or arranging for a seamless transition. In some cases, we even include a “personal organizer” to optimize storage and organization before the move-in date.
Corporate Clients
Corporate clients fall between private clients and investors. These clients rely on our services to enhance their businesses—offices, stores, clinics, restaurants, hotels, etc.
They value efficiency, quick decision-making, and adherence to budgets. While practical, they often seek a "wow factor" that aligns with their brand identity and leaves a lasting impression.
Corporate projects often involve complex infrastructures and stricter safety and labor regulations. A project manager ensures timelines and budgets are met, while resolving issues promptly.
At my company, MBM Architecture and Consulting, as well as MBM Real Estate Investments, we have established a culture of partnership to meet the specific needs of each client. From the initial selection of the property to the delivery of the final product, we provide tailored and customized solutions for every project.
Architecture must work and respond to the needs of the client. This is our mission, and we strive to achieve it with excellence and precision.
BY Salvador Morais
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