Architects are famed for their resistance to new and exciting technologies. Reyner Banham, in his “Architecture of the Well-Tempered Environment” stated that architects didnt start integrating air conditioning systems in to housing projects until 40 years after they were invented.
More recently, architects took around 20 years to completely abandon hand drawn “blueprints” in favour of CAD or Computer Aided Design. By 1984 few were taking advantage of the cutting edge systems of the day, namely, Autocad, Archicad and ARC+ . Unbelievably many architects still preferred hand drawn plans, even for projects as complex as Skyscrapers, right up until 1998!
Why are architects so reluctant to embrace new technology?  Is it, perhaps, that they consider themselves the link between the concrete, the logical and the tangible on one side and the artistic, the dreamy and the spiritual on the other?. Architects make dreams come true. An idea thats been developing over many years becomes something real, something people work in and live in. Learning about new software, however helpful it may be, is quite frankly low on the list of priorities.
Yet, Architects are bound by deadlines, budgets, clients and regulations. They need to save time to save money and that’s where we can help.
Polantis was created in 2008 and has 24,000 registered Architects and AEC professionals. We digitise products from leading manufacturers so our users can insert them directly in to their CAD drawings. We are across all CAD formats and we have dozens of clients including Armstrong, Villeroy and Boch and Ikea.
Polantis is leading a revolution in AEC design. Its similar to the one that transformed the world of engineering some 15 years ago. Engineers embraced the solution provided by Cadenas and made it an industry standard. The message to manufacturers was this «if you do not have ready-made format CAD objects that are exact reproductions of your products then we’ll work with someone who does.» The result? within few years, millions of engineers registered at Cadenas, enjoying millions of CAD objects for free, saving themselves thousands of man-years of useless work.
We want Architects to help us help them. We are pressuring AEC manufacturers to abandon paper catalogues in favour of ready made CAD objects that architects can insert directly in to their designs. It saves architects thousands of lost hours not to mention mountains of  paper. You can help us by registering at polantis.com and enjoy unlimited use of our service for free

For first part click here

If you wish to sell to architects you should probably first know a little about their work flow and when is the right time to approach them and offer your services or products.

Instruments for architectural geodesy drafting from "Catalogue modèle de l'architecte 1913" (Paris, France)

What is it that they do?

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“Now regard this pure white sheet of paper! It is ready for recording the logic of the plan. T-square, triangle, scale – seductive invitation lying upon the spotless surface. Temptation!

“Boy! Go tell Black Kelly to make a blaze there in the work-room fireplace! Ask Brown Sadie if it’s too late to have Baked Bermudas for supper! Then go ask your Mother – I shall hear her in here – To play something – Bach prefered, or Beethoven if she prefers.”

Now comes to brood – to suffer doubt, hesitate yet burn with eagerness. To test bearings and prove ground already assumed by putting all together in definite scale on paper. Preferably small scale study at first. then larger. Finally still larger scale detail studies of parts.”

Frank Lloyd Wright – An Autobiography- P. 156 – (Published 1932)

Replace the T-Square, triangle and scale by CAD software, telemeter and a digital camera and you pretty much have the same methods today. Practicing architecture is all about proportions and scales, Architects start with an idea, a concept and they just keep on “zooming in” until the full picture comes to full effect in their imagination and of course, on their plans.

There are many methods, concepts, and “schools” to CREATE architecture, but what remains almost the same is that “coming and going” process; those constant cycles of analysis and synthesis. That, and the very final outcome: A universally readable drawing with strict rules – the execution plan.

How exactly do they do it?

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Here are the most common phases of architectural work:

1. Getting and analyzing the program. After the contract between an architect and its client is established the architect takes the time to carefully study the program allocated. If it’s a public building, the program is usually crafted by specially trained architects and engineers providing a huge amount of norms, technical sheets and regulations to follow. In other cases, the architect builds the program along with his clients (for smaller projects usually, like private houses, cult facilities etc.)

2. First draft: 1/500 – 1/200 scale. Once the program is well defined and known to the designing team, the first drafting starts. Now methods vary: Some architects “attack” the 2D plans, sections and elevations that in due time will be transformed into the final execution plans and some start with 3D construction of volumes that will gradually become the spaces and  shapes of the built project. In this very early stage few architects turn to go over manufacturers catalogs.

3. First validation by client: 1/200 – 1/100 scale. This is where things start to “get hot”… The first validation of a project’s design is always a bit stressful for the designing team. This is where the architect needs to “re-seduce” the client in some sort. In most architecture practices, this is done with plain, traditional 2D plans sections and elevations and… lots of verbal explanations. Then there are those who are more “technique savvy” – In order to make sure the client properly understands the project they use computer generated imagery like this:

CGI of a mezannine (image3d.pro 2009 - Click to enlarge)

Or more complex “X-Ray” constructive views like that:

X-Ray constructive axonometric view of the mezannine (image3d.pro 2009 - Click to enlarge)

Over the past few years, we’ve been witnessing a genuine increase both in the performance of 3D CAD software and in the skill and talent of young architects. Computer generated imagery is becoming more and more abundant in today’s architectural design market. This is also partly due to the fact that clients tend to demand this kind of high-end service more frequently. Those images could be easily sent by email to friends and family for them to give their opinion.

4. Second client validation and construction permit: 1/100 – 1/50 scale. No architect dares to hope that his client will be 100% satisfied of his initial design. Often, there are many modifications and changes, but the path is clearer and the team is reassured once the concept has been accepted. Now is the time to get “down to business” The design team’s work now, is to get the project approved by the authorities for construction. In most western countries, the construction permit drawings are handed in 1/50 scale with an “in-site” integration of the building (CGI again…) Like the following example:

In-site CGI insertion (image3d.pro 2009 - click to enlarge)

Although in the first client validation phase, CGI is not mandatory, most competent authorities demand one, so that they could make an idea of the project’s integration impact on its surrounding environment.

5. Executation plans: Detailed 1/50 scale and some parts in 1/20 or 1/10. Finally! The project was approved by both client and the authorities now comes the final part of architectural designing where “all hell breaks loose” – This is usually where our poor design team discovers that the plumbing doesn’t perfectly fit with the foundations and that the window they chose for the hallway is no longer manufactured because the draftsman used an outdated catalog from 1988… The plans are sent back and forth to the contractors and engineers for review and there is much rejoice. It’s during this phase that most of the materials and architectural elements are specified. In some places, plans are not enough and architects actually write down – for every room and corridor  – a full detailed textual description of all of the amounts and materials. At this point, the client tends to develop nostalgic feelings towards his initial budget and the days his local bank manger actually smiled at him…

6. Construction. Oh dear, now we actually have to build all that??

IMPORTANT NOTE: These 6 phases are generalized. There are lots of variations. The process I described fits the description of building for a private client. Building for governmental or other institutions is somewhat different then the described above. I’ll be happy to detail it in the comments or future posts if there’ll be a demand.

Where do YOU come in?

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Well, it depends what you are manufacturing:

• If it’s software for architects you probably want to find a time somewhere before phase 3 and after phase 5 – Architects will be much more receptive to new technologies when they are not on a tight deadline.
• If it’s design furniture, your golden hour is during phase 2 when the architect aims to seduce his client.
• If you’re a manufacturer of moldings doors, windows, flooring, or any other parametric object – It’s probably best to intervene during the 5th phase. Actually, if architects know of you – they’re most likely to contact you themselves.

Usually architects work on several projects at the same time, and their phases do not overlap, how can you make sure you are reaching the designing team at the appropriate moment? Who should be your contact person? How do you find him or her?  – All that and much more – in the following chapters. If you’re not already, now is the time to stay tuned.

In the following series of posts I’ll be reviewing the most efficient techniques to sell to and “sell through” architects.

Architect at work from "Catalogue modèle de l'architecte 1913" (Paris, France)

Why sell to architects?

According to our estimations there are about 1.3 million active architects working in the building industry at any given time.  Worldwide. You can safely double that figure if you want to include interior architects, decorators, office space planners, booth builders and other design related professionals. Those are key actors holding a “few” dozen billion dollar market.

Architects are decision makers. They are specifiers of building related goods as doctors prescribe medicine. And while pharmaceutical companies understood the later long time ago, most of the building related manufacturers didn’t seem to quite “get it” about architects. Yet.

The main reason behind that lack of comprehension is probably due to a profound misunderstanding of the architect’s work and role as a “prescriber of goods”. Here are, briefly, some points to take under account:

• Most architects don’t care much which chair or window they’ll prescribe within a similar budgetary limit or need. For example, if an architect gets to chose between a skylight window manufactured by company A and a similar product by company B (similar in general aspect, size and price) he or she will most likely choose arbitrarily the first one to “fall into their hands”. The reason for that is – time. The lack of – to be precise.
• Most of today’s architects don’t keep a well referenced, well organized  materials and product library at their offices. They get your beautiful well designed glossy and heavy catalog by UPS or your country’s postal service and just stack it somewhere in the darkest corner of their practice. The reason for that is, well, time.
• Most of today’s catalogs made by manufactures don’t suit architects needs. Catalogs without measurements, catalogs in which the object is in a non-neutral context (ex: an armchair pictured in a hotel’s lobby) – The architect needs to do the mental exercise of  extracting the object off the current context and imagining it inside his own design… To cite two of the most common problems of paper catalogs.
• 99% of today’s architects use at least one kind of CAD software. Making paper catalogs quite frustrating to them while making 3CT quite appealing.
• Specifying is a mere small fraction in the work process of an architect. In fact, only big architectural firms have real dedicated specifying teams. Most architecture firms are 5-10 employees strong and specifying is left to the very end of the design process.
• Most architects have few “fetish” objects they specify every time. As it’s very hard and sometimes even impossible for architects to keep up-to-date with all of the new products.

So how can you overcome all those points and how can you make sure you understand the relevant needs and related technology? In the upcoming posts, i will provide you with a complete overview, set of rules and guidance so you could start working and selling to architects in no time. Stay tuned.

Mohamed Al Mufti

Momo

Perhaps the most vivid memory i have of Mohamed Al Mufti (We used to call him ‘Momo’) is the day he finished reading the French version of Ayn Rand’s epic “The Fountainhead” (French title:  “La Source vive”).  It was late night on “The Bronx” A locally famous Studio 14 (“Atelier 14″)  mezzanine of The ENSA-V. After reading the very last words of the Novel, Momo solenly declared that “Every Architect that respects himself should read that”. I did. Not because he said so, it was an old friend of mine who had sent it to me 2 years later as a birthday present. When i read it, (Being still an Architecture student at the time) i understood why Momo liked it so much. Momo was, and still is, a man with a well defined set of values. Quite like Howard Roark.

Perspectives for the "New Amienoises houses" competition

Perspectives

Momo was a skillful “pre-CGI era” architectural perspective artist. The perspectives he could draft rapidly with a pencil and some crayons could take even the most mediocre of designs and make it look appealing and brilliant. People knew that, and his perspectives would appear on many Diploma projects. His style is so distinguishable that the professors used to approach the panels and say “that’s a Momo, Right?” His images were his trademark.

Les closeaux primary school rehabilitation at Rungis - France

Style

There are many currents and trends in architecture today. But the only viable style is quality. I always felt “Levi’s” slogan “Quality never goes out of style” should have been the architecture world motto. I definately think Mohamed Al Mufti’s architecture is fullfilng just that premise. Architects and architecture critics tend to “over verbalize” designs. I think this architecture speaks very well for itself.

Niort (France) Private family house

Mohamed Al Mufti has Offices in Paris and in Damascus. Visit his newly created site to see some more of his work and Art.

"Equilibre 18" Oil on Canvas 100 X 80 cm

Short but necessary introduction

Almost everything that you see around you, from the computer (or cell phone) in front of your eyes to the garbage cans in the streets – is designed with the help of a CAD Program. The thing is, there are dozens of different CAD Programs, and the ones used to design the chair you’re on, are not the ones used to design the house or office  you’re in.

What we do

- Is quite simple – we take whatever the manufacturer of an architecture related product gives us – be it a 2D sketch, a 3D model of some weird-never-heard-of CAD program or a simple photo – And we convert it in up to 15 different CAD file formats that are currently used by architects + we make a nice PDF technical sheet out of it. This PDF sheet is very important for architects who wish to create costum-made catalogs for their projects – For example, it allows the architect to show his clients exactly what elements he has chosen to furnish a room or a whole project. This makes the buying of the said elements once the project is executed – very easy.

What architects do on our site

All the architect has to do is, choose one or several objects that he desires, choose the file format of the CAD program he uses and download the object (FOR FREE).

Now the VIRTUAL COPY of a REAL product BECOMES PART OF the architect’s CAD software. When the architect plans or designs, he simply takes that object and places it in his drawings. If he or she are talented, it’ll probably look something like this:

Night view of a Villa

Everything you see in this Computer generated picture, except for the structure itself (the concrete, the stairs, the ceiling and the floors) are 3D objects available at our Free 3D objects catalog.

What manufactures and clients gain

So, this is exactly where the manufacturer MAKES PROFIT. Why? Because the architect brings an image such as this to its client and the client will most likely “fall” for it. It is the architect’s job (well, one of them…) to know and propose the most adequate and most aestetic architectural elements and furniture to its client’s project. We at Polantis, aim to create the most extensive 3D and 2D catalog on earth for the use of architects  and for the benefit of both clients and manufacturers.