Architectural Swing: Between Vision and the Struggle for Survival

The work of an architect is often associated with creativity, aesthetics, and prestige. However, behind the facade of beautiful designs and innovative solutions lies a stressful daily reality. GrowZone, a training company, conducted a survey among architects in March, which included 176 participants. The conclusions from this study are presented in this article. We’ll discover the biggest sources of stress in the profession and what changes architects expect to improve their working conditions.

The Entrepreneur with an Artistic Soul

This phrase describes most of the survey participants. One of the strongest stressors is balancing creative work with entrepreneurial duties. These tasks require completely different traits and personalities. It is challenging to reconcile an artistic view of the world with tax calculations and seeking new clients. The creative side of the job often clashes with the necessity of negotiations, marketing, and financial management. Architects must balance realizing their vision with meeting client expectations, which can lead to stress and frustration. Additionally, tight deadlines and a lack of project flow are further challenges, causing architects to work under constant pressure, which negatively impacts their mental health. Those who manage to combine both roles often create larger studios, employing several or sometimes dozens of people. However, this is not the industry's biggest challenge.

Misunderstanding and Undervaluation: Where It All Begins

The vast majority of investors, especially smaller ones, don’t understand the difference between industry standards and their own regulations. Many of the problems architects face (according to the survey, 92.5%) stem from errors on the construction side, while design mistakes occur very rarely. Of course, it would be useful to conduct a study on the other side as well. A lack of understanding of terms such as "Building supervision office," "Construction supervisor," "Construction manager," "Construction engineer," "Investor supervision," and "Design supervision" not only harms investors' interests but also adds stress for architects. As lawyers often say, "Ignorance of the law is harmful." The most common mistake made by investors, according to architects, is hiring construction crews that have their own construction manager or, worse, their own construction supervisor.

A Difficult Client Is One Who Doesn’t Understand the Boundaries of Our Service

This misunderstanding leads to the industry's biggest problem: underpricing services relative to the architect's responsibility. The uniqueness of the profession lies precisely in the responsibility for the design. A design error can lead to disaster many years after the completion of construction. Therefore, the more responsible projects an architect has completed, the greater the responsibility and stress involved. Meanwhile, the market expects cheap solutions, seeking savings even in the time allocated for designing. This is why architects feel undervalued.

The survey also revealed that architects must constantly balance the quality of their designs with their profitability, which adds another source of stress. Unexpected events during project execution, often not the architect’s fault, also impact stress levels. Difficult situations on construction sites that need to be resolved, indecisive clients, and an endless number of corrections (which clients may not necessarily want to pay for) are other daily challenges architects face.

Not Just Problems, But Solutions Too

The survey didn’t just focus on problems; it also asked for potential solutions and improvements. Architects suggested several remedies. First, simplifying procedures, formal requirements, and bureaucracy. This would not only make their work easier but also accelerate the investment process.

Another suggestion raised in the survey is tightening the regulations governing the architect profession. For example, in our western neighbors, an architect is only someone who has completed university studies and holds certifications. The consequences of such measures would not only raise the prestige of the profession but also increase salaries.

The third most commonly repeated proposal for change was increasing educational activity from professional associations aimed at educating both architects and investors.

The last question in the survey asked about work overload. The question was: "How often do you work overtime or sacrifice your free time due to tight deadlines?" 60% of respondents said several times a month, 20% once a month, 10% once a quarter, and 10% never.

Summary

In terms of mental resilience, it’s crucial for architects to develop stress management skills and take care of their mental health. Introducing changes in the industry, such as simplifying formalities, raising the professional prestige, and ensuring fair compensation, could significantly improve working conditions and reduce stress. Additionally, increasing client awareness about the architect's role and having clearer laws and regulations could contribute to better understanding and cooperation.

As we can see, the work of an architect requires not only talent and creativity but also strong mental resilience. Implementing the right changes in the industry and developing stress management skills can help architects better manage professional challenges and maintain mental health.