Architects Should Still Visit Buildings… But Do They Need to Measure Every One? Introducing: The Architectural Survey Co Location: UK Wide Architects should always experience a building before beginning the design process—it is a non-negotiable part of understanding its character, constraints and opportunities. However, by separating the architectural site visit from the measured survey, practices can protect both their early-stage mindset and profitability while gaining more accurate information from the outset. Visiting a building before beginning the design process remains fundamental to good architecture. Drawings and photographs alone cannot communicate how a space feels, how natural light moves through it or how a building relates to its surroundings. Architects need to experience the property first-hand, understand its character and begin identifying the opportunities and constraints that will ultimately shape the design. In our view, that’s a non-negotiable part of every project. What changed for our founders after more than 20 years of running an architectural practice was recognising that experiencing a building and measuring a building are two very different activities. Like many practices, measured surveys and existing drawings had simply become part of the architectural appointment. Tradition told them that a new instruction meant arranging access, travelling to site, measuring … Continue reading Architects: Shift Your Survey Mindset