The Cost

If you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design.

— Ralf Speth

I like this quote. Of course I do. I’m an architect, after all.

But the reality behind it has very little to do with fancy materials. Most of the time, good design simply means thinking things through early enough that problems don’t show up later when they become expensive. That’s the part that’s hard to see until you’ve experienced it yourself — and by then it’s usually too late.

I’ve seen relatively small oversights during design turn into tens of thousands of dollars in construction changes later. Hell, I’ve made some of those mistakes myself over the years. Construction is unforgiving, and its lessons tend to be expensive for everyone involved. Once crews are on site, materials are ordered, and schedules are moving, even small issues become costly to fix.

That’s why I’ve always believed the architect’s role is less about “making plans” and more about reducing risk. Clarifying decisions early. Coordinating information properly. Catching conflicts before they become site problems. Helping projects move through approvals and construction with fewer surprises along the way.

It’s true — good design does cost money.

But in many cases, it costs far less than confusion, delays, redesigns, and construction rework.

If you’re planning a project and just want a second set of eyes on it, feel free to reach out. Sometimes even a short conversation early on can prevent a lot of headaches later.