Masters Research - Master of Philosophy (Architecture) / The widening gap between architects and clients and the associated problems in the management of their relationship have long been recognised by practitioners and researchers alike. Researchers tend to develop prescriptive models to provide some overall systematic strategy to those seeking guidance. Such models assume that the architect-client relationship can be systematically structured which is a highly optimistic, if not unrealistic view of the situation. An emerging trend has been to develop descriptive models to describe behavioural characteristics of successful and unsuccessful relationships based on observations of ‘real world’ practice. Such descriptive models indicate the significance of understanding the complexities of the social environment in which the architect-client relationship is within. This research built upon the work of past descriptive models by exploring the architect-client relationship on house projects with a focus on the client’s voice. It is positioned within an interdisciplinary approach drawing from sociological and psychological perspectives to further our understanding of this built environment industry problem. Sixty-nine percent of architects in Australia spend some of their work time on house projects and therefore improvements in this area can have significant impact on a considerably large portion of the profession. Habitus theory borrowed from sociology highlighted that the nature of architecture as a specialised activity places architects within an architectural habitus, distinguishing architects from clients who are not trained in the architectural field. An underlying premise of this study was that a mismatch between the architect and client’s habituses occurs as they enter into a relationship on the house project. This phenomenon was termed habitus shock, referring to the client’s experience of disorientation as they are confronted with an unfamiliar architectural habitus on the project. Culture shock theory was examined for its contribution to explain the process to which the client adjusts to the unfamiliar environment during habitus shock. The habitus shock model proposed that the client may achieve learning during habitus shock and it is this client learning that leads to successful relationships. Using the qualitative approach underpinned by the constructivist perspective for data collection and analysis, eight in-depth interviews were conducted across five case studies of successful architect-client relationships. The narrative inquiry approach was used to establish the extent to which habitus shock occurred and to describe the stages involved in the client’s adjustment process during habitus shock. The findings indicate that habitus shock occurred on all five case studies, which resulted in client learning, enabling clients to function with competency in the unfamiliar environment. Client learning achieved during habitus shock was directly linked to the amount of difficulty experienced. This study has refined our understanding of the architect-client relationship on house projects by exploring more deeply client behaviour and the ways in which clients successfully deal with difficulties on house projects rather than simply identifying the uncertainties and conflicts that occur on projects. The findings demonstrate that client learning during habitus shock is a characteristic of successful relationships. One of the most significant outcomes of this study is that it demonstrated the potential to facilitate client learning during habitus shock to contribute to the development of successful architect-client relationships. It also indicates the potential for further development of the model and methodology by suggesting potential areas for future research.

Masters Research - Master of Philosophy (Architecture) / The widening gap between architects and clients and the associated problems in the management of their relationship have long been recognised by practitioners and researchers alike. Researchers tend to develop prescriptive models to provide some overall systematic strategy to those seeking guidance. Such models assume that the architect-client relationship can be systematically structured which is a highly optimistic, if not unrealistic view of the situation. An emerging trend has been to develop descriptive models to describe behavioural characteristics of successful and unsuccessful relationships based on observations of ‘real world’ practice. Such descriptive models indicate the significance of understanding the complexities of the social environment in which the architect-client relationship is within. This research built upon the work of past descriptive models by exploring the architect-client relationship on house projects with a focus on the client’s voice. It is positioned within an interdisciplinary approach drawing from sociological and psychological perspectives to further our understanding of this built environment industry problem. Sixty-nine percent of architects in Australia spend some of their work time on house projects and therefore improvements in this area can have significant impact on a considerably large portion of the profession. Habitus theory borrowed from sociology highlighted that the nature of architecture as a specialised activity places architects within an architectural habitus, distinguishing architects from clients who are not trained in the architectural field. An underlying premise of this study was that a mismatch between the architect and client’s habituses occurs as they enter into a relationship on the house project. This phenomenon was termed habitus shock, referring to the client’s experience of disorientation as they are confronted with an unfamiliar architectural habitus on the project. Culture shock theory was examined for its contribution to explain the process to which the client adjusts to the unfamiliar environment during habitus shock. The habitus shock model proposed that the client may achieve learning during habitus shock and it is this client learning that leads to successful relationships. Using the qualitative approach underpinned by the constructivist perspective for data collection and analysis, eight in-depth interviews were conducted across five case studies of successful architect-client relationships. The narrative inquiry approach was used to establish the extent to which habitus shock occurred and to describe the stages involved in the client’s adjustment process during habitus shock. The findings indicate that habitus shock occurred on all five case studies, which resulted in client learning, enabling clients to function with competency in the unfamiliar environment. Client learning achieved during habitus shock was directly linked to the amount of difficulty experienced. This study has refined our understanding of the architect-client relationship on house projects by exploring more deeply client behaviour and the ways in which clients successfully deal with difficulties on house projects rather than simply identifying the uncertainties and conflicts that occur on projects. The findings demonstrate that client learning during habitus shock is a characteristic of successful relationships. One of the most significant outcomes of this study is that it demonstrated the potential to facilitate client learning during habitus shock to contribute to the development of successful architect-client relationships. It also indicates the potential for further development of the model and methodology by suggesting potential areas for future research.

Esta pesquisa tem o objetivo de investigar e compreender a relação entre o arquiteto e o cliente, focado na comunicação, considerando os caminhos que levam aos acertos, ou aos desvios, e que resultarão no nível de qualidade do serviço prestado. Justifica-se este estudo, devido à maioria dos arquitetos e urbanistas, no mercado brasileiro, atuar nas áreas de concepção e projetos, de serviços relacionados à execução de obras, e de arquitetura de interiores e se comprometer, através de suas relações com seus clientes, com o fornecimento desses serviços dentro de prazos, escopos e custos pré-estabelecidos. O método utilizado, aliado a revisão bibliográfica, são estudos de caso múltiplos, constituído de um caso-piloto e nove estudos de caso. A delimitação da pesquisa está no trabalho do profissional de arquitetura autônomo ou microempresário, que trabalha com projetos e obras, de pequeno ou médio porte, e que possui relação direta com o seu cliente. Como resultado, verificou-se que as documentações analisadas, como normas técnicas e resoluções pertinentes, nem sempre apresentam orientações e parâmetros compatíveis com o processo da execução dos serviços para obras de pequeno porte e sugestões são apresentadas, com o objetivo de contribuir e aprimorar a qualidade do serviço do profissional arquiteto e urbanista. Também neste estudo, foi possível identificar novas formas de aprimorar um conjunto de parâmetros, que unidos ao embasamento teórico científico, possibilitarão, no futuro, a proposição de uma estrutura de abordagem de todo o processo, orientado ao gerenciamento de prazos, custos e escopo, em projetos de pequeno porte. / This research aims at investigating and understanding the relationship between architects and clients, focused on communication, considering the paths that lead to the success or divergence, and that will result in the effective quality of the service provided. This study is based on the fact that the majority of architects in the Brazilian market, work with design conception, services related to the building construction and interior design and who commit themselves to supplying services within pre-established deadlines, scopes and costs, through their relations with the clients. The applied method combined with literature review, are multiple case studies, carried out with a pilot-case and nine case studies. The range of the research is the small-size firms or freelancer architects, working with small or medium-sized buildings designs, and has a direct relationship with their clients. As a result, it was found that the documentation reviewed, such as technical standards and other relevant resolutions, not always provide guidelines and parameters consistent with small buildings process of service execution. Suggestions are presented in order to contribute and improve the quality of service of the professional architect. In this study, it was also possible to identify new ways to improve a set of parameters, which attached to the theoretical scientific basis, will enable, in future, the propose a structured process approach, oriented towards success and divergence of management of cost, scope, and deadline, to the small buildings design.

Esta pesquisa tem o objetivo de investigar e compreender a relação entre o arquiteto e o cliente, focado na comunicação, considerando os caminhos que levam aos acertos, ou aos desvios, e que resultarão no nível de qualidade do serviço prestado. Justifica-se este estudo, devido à maioria dos arquitetos e urbanistas, no mercado brasileiro, atuar nas áreas de concepção e projetos, de serviços relacionados à execução de obras, e de arquitetura de interiores e se comprometer, através de suas relações com seus clientes, com o fornecimento desses serviços dentro de prazos, escopos e custos pré-estabelecidos. O método utilizado, aliado a revisão bibliográfica, são estudos de caso múltiplos, constituído de um caso-piloto e nove estudos de caso. A delimitação da pesquisa está no trabalho do profissional de arquitetura autônomo ou microempresário, que trabalha com projetos e obras, de pequeno ou médio porte, e que possui relação direta com o seu cliente. Como resultado, verificou-se que as documentações analisadas, como normas técnicas e resoluções pertinentes, nem sempre apresentam orientações e parâmetros compatíveis com o processo da execução dos serviços para obras de pequeno porte e sugestões são apresentadas, com o objetivo de contribuir e aprimorar a qualidade do serviço do profissional arquiteto e urbanista. Também neste estudo, foi possível identificar novas formas de aprimorar um conjunto de parâmetros, que unidos ao embasamento teórico científico, possibilitarão, no futuro, a proposição de uma estrutura de abordagem de todo o processo, orientado ao gerenciamento de prazos, custos e escopo, em projetos de pequeno porte. / This research aims at investigating and understanding the relationship between architects and clients, focused on communication, considering the paths that lead to the success or divergence, and that will result in the effective quality of the service provided. This study is based on the fact that the majority of architects in the Brazilian market, work with design conception, services related to the building construction and interior design and who commit themselves to supplying services within pre-established deadlines, scopes and costs, through their relations with the clients. The applied method combined with literature review, are multiple case studies, carried out with a pilot-case and nine case studies. The range of the research is the small-size firms or freelancer architects, working with small or medium-sized buildings designs, and has a direct relationship with their clients. As a result, it was found that the documentation reviewed, such as technical standards and other relevant resolutions, not always provide guidelines and parameters consistent with small buildings process of service execution. Suggestions are presented in order to contribute and improve the quality of service of the professional architect. In this study, it was also possible to identify new ways to improve a set of parameters, which attached to the theoretical scientific basis, will enable, in future, the propose a structured process approach, oriented towards success and divergence of management of cost, scope, and deadline, to the small buildings design.