A talk on "How Architectural firms Succeed?"
ARCHI TIMES Report
Institute of Architects, Pakistan Lahore Chapter with its Executive Committee and Chairman Ar. Azhar N. Syed and Convener Ar. Maliha S. Vahla has organized the Monthly Lecture Series Program for the year 2011 and 2012. The first lecture of the series was successfully held at Alhamra Arts Council. A talk by four Architects and a discussion forum on the topic "How Architectural Firms Succeed?" The speakers were Ar. Ejaz Ahed, Ar. Kalim A. Siddiqui and, Ar. Rashid Rasheed and Ar. Saad Mehmood. The talk was hosted by Prof. Pervaiz Vandal.
The Architect speakers made a 20 minutes presentation each, one after the other. Ar. Ejaz Ahed was the first speaker followed by Ar. Rashid Rasheed and Ar. Saad Mehmood who jointly presented and lastly by Ar. Kalim A. Siddiqui. It was a good experience to hear from three different schools of thought. Rashid and Saad being from the younger lot have kicked off a business start with a partnership right after graduation. They shared their story of such an early take - off and how they were able to survive through. They took the audience trough some of their recent projects and how they were able to get more projects through one successfully completed project and satisfied client. They mentioned how they would take up any project be it a as small as a design of fireplace or a bathroom, in the beging and today they have reached the level to become choosy in taking up only those projects that interest them and are worth spending time on and also generate revenue for the firm to survive.
Ar. Ejaz Ahed told his story and how most of the Architects in his fathers' time were much like "Darbari Architects" patronized by people who mattered, in a time when a lay man not really understood Architecture as a serious profession. He inherited a flourishing office from his father and describes success as "a journey" and "not a destination". He talked very poetically showering his intellect and went on talking about how one should keep on trying to succeed and set goals higher every time one is able to achieve a particular goal. And there is no limit to how much you succeed and there is no threshold to measure success where you stand and say "yes now I am successful" because it should be taken as a continuous journey of improvising. This according to Ejaz Ahed, is what keeps one going and one do not stagnate at a certain point.
Ar. Kalim A. Siddiqui supported his talk by an impressive video presentation showing the portfolio and strength of his firm. He went through the story of how he was able to set up this huge office that he owns today and his father and uncle being his mentors and his wife being the woman behind his success.
He gave some very useful tips of written documentation techniques and how it helps to gain the credibility in the eyes of the client. How documentation plays a role in projecting serious attitude of a firm and eliminating all kinds of ambiguities between the client and the consultant. He also addressed the subject of how to gain the loyalty of employees and long term relationship with clients. He focused on maintaining a formal attitude during work and informal attitude in an informal encounter.
This was followed by a good 45 minute discussion where some very interesting questions were asked about how to gauge how much consultancy fee to charge. Prof. Pervaiz Vandal mentioned how intuitive thinking helps in deciding what projects to take up and helps decide how much one can charge from a particular client judging the paying capacity of the client. He also mentioned how a balance is to be kept; appropriate Architecture is to be produced and bread and butter is also to be earned from it. There is a very thin line and a lot of tendency to just fall on either side of the fence.
The discussion was followed by a shield distribution ceremony. Shields were awarded, by Ar. Kamil Khan Mumtaz, to the host and the speaker of the session.
The audience appreciated this effort of Lahore Chapter, IAP, on coming up with such an interesting debate much relevant to the professional practice.