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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/35524

Title

Habitus and second birth: the development of a model for architect-client relationships in house designs based upon culture shock theory

Author/Creator

Chen, Jessica;  London, Kerry

Institution

The University of Newcastle. Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment, School of Architecture and Built Environment

Description

The architect-client relationship in the house design process has long been recognised as problematic and complex. The diverse backgrounds and worldviews of architects and their clients can often lead to gaps between expectations and realization. Problems arising from gaps between expectations and realisation can include potential loss of fees, time delay and dissatisfied parties. Within the disciplines of environmental psychology, sociology and architecture it has been identified that architects and clients attribute different interpretations of the built environment. Numerous models have been developed to indicate ways to achieve better architect-client relationships. These models take on a highly optimistic, if not unrealistic view of the situation. It is argued that there is a significant lack of positive models to describe and explain the architect-client relationship through empirical evidence to assist in the understanding of how architects and clients actually behave in real world environments. This research will consider theory from sociology and in particular borrow the concept of habitus to explore the architect-client relationship in the house design process. This theoretical paper aims to develop a model for architect-client relationships, which seeks to explain and describe how and why architects and clients develop different interpretations of architecture and more specifically identify the extent to which such interpretations can change. The conceptual model developed in this paper relies upon culture shock theory to inform potential patterns of change to the habitus. This paper also seeks to develop a research question for future empirical testing. This research has relevance to other more complex architect-client relationships; however, the model is firstly developed for the simplified residential architect-client relationships and will be tested through future empirical fieldwork. It is proposed that the underlying problem of conflicting worldviews is typical to all client-architect relationships regardless of project types; although the model described in this paper would need specific adaptation for broader applicability. The nature of the client-architect relationship and the problem of conflicting worldviews have implications in procurement strategies and the associated exposure to risks. It is proposed that built environment professionals’ ability to effectively negotiate between client needs and project requirements and manage conflicts during the procurement of projects is central towards ensuring ultimate project feasibility given the increasingly sophisticated multidisciplinary collaborations involved within the design and construction processes.

Relation

Symposium: Building Across Borders Built Environment Procurement CIB WO92 Procurement Systems. Symposium: Building Across Borders Built Environment Procurement CIB WO92 Procurement Systems. Proceedings (Hunter Valley, NSW 23-26 September, 2007) p. 135-148

Relation

http://www.cibworld.nl/site/databases/publications.html

Date

2007

Publisher

University of Newcastle

Keyword(s)

architect-client relationships;  habitus;  interdisciplinarity;  sociological theory

Resource Type

conference paper

Identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/35524

Identifier

ISBN:9781920701834

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"Habitus and second birth: the development of a model for architect-client relationships in house designs based upon culture shock theory"

 

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