Design Success

Tom Niemeier, A.I.A., owner of SPACE LLC, shares his unique perspective with SLHL.

Text: Edited by Vicki Pickle
Photos: Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton
April 2009

“The best projects begin with an engaged client who is excited about the design process.”


DESIGNER SKETCH:
Hometown:  St. Louis, Missouri

“The best projects begin with an engaged client who is excited about the design process.”


DESIGNER SKETCH:
Hometown:  St. Louis, Missouri

Background: Married to Shelley, and with two children, Alex (7) and Ben (2), resides in Webster Groves in renovated century home; Owner of SPACE, LLC Architectural Design Studio and Space Constructors, LLC (General Contracting); Registered Architect; Member - American Institute of Architects; Maplewood Chamber of Commerce Board Member

Education: Kansas State University, Bachelor of Interior Architecture; College of Architecture, Copenhagen, Denmark, Overseas Studies, 1984

Inspiration: I am a fan of any well-designed product. I find a lot of inspiration in nature with color, patterns, shadows and textures. And art has always inspired me with its freedom of expression.

Favorite vacation spots: I tend to gravitate to the West Coast for my vacations or “Big City” destinations like Chicago or New York.

www.space-stl.com or www.spaccestl.com

ARCHITECT Q+A

What can I do to give my project the greatest chance for success?
Any successful project requires a team of people who enjoy working together and have a common goal.  The most important team players for residential projects are the architect, interior designer, contractor and most importantly...you!  It is important to get the team together early on to establish budget, design scope and roles of team members. Working together through the design process should protect you from the project coming in over budget, or design expectations not being realized.

It seems that architects' fees vary widely.  How can I be assured that I will get all I need from my architect but not pay too much?
The answer depends on your expectations for the architect. If your project is straightforward, and you simply need a set of permit documents, you can find architects that are willing to do this for a modest fee. If you need some creative problem solving, have a complex design and will be bidding to several contractors, you will need more comprehensive architectural services.

If your project does not have such an apparent solution, or if you desire a more creative approach to problem solving, choose your architect carefully. You should feel a sense of trust, confidence in their abilities, and you should experience an easy and comfortable communication level. The design proposal should clearly describe the scope of work and provide details on deliverables and what is excluded from their fees. As with any business, time is money, and for a detailed set of plans, the architect could require hundreds of hours to complete the drawings. Do not underestimate the value of a complete and thorough set of design documents, which forms the basis for a smooth construction process and realization of your dreams.

I have a (home) floor plan that I found in a magazine that I love. Will it be possible to use the floor plan as it is?
The best architectural projects relate to the site and surrounding context. While it can be very helpful to the architect when clients have an idea of their specifications, some of the inherent qualities the site may offer – such as views, shade, access and topography – should be considered. Often, a house plan serves as an organization tool and can be manipulated to use the site's features advantageously.

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