2_5_DiscoverBenelux_Issue15_March2015_Q9_Scan Magazine 1 20/02/2015 15:10 Page 47
Discover Benelux | Special Theme | The Market of Construction
increasingly, they want to make a historic, existing building, their own home.”
Emotionally involved And it's this job that Kodde and his team find most exciting. “Most clients who bought a house or a plot hope to have a design ready in a matter of weeks. In reality most of our assignments take a year before people can start moving. But that's a rough estimate. Some projects take longer or even shorter, but it goes to show how much work it takes.” He continues: “Especially with private home owners. Every doorknob, every light switch is important. It makes working together with clients, especially the home owners, very close. It's our job to educate
them about decisions that have to be made. Professional clients mostly already have a global idea about what their office must look like and let us do the rest. Then we can have a free hand in much of it. With private home owners it's different. They often are very much emotionally involved, which is obvious.” Kodde adds: “That's why I think it's good for an architectural office if every step in that process is carefully considered. If working together is pleasant, acknowledge it. If clients are a bit worried about the result, try to make them at ease.”
only once in their life. Good service is therefore a key for his success. “We try to make ideas come to life. It's not always a smooth road but every time we complete an assignment, it's always amazing to see the look on the face of my clients.” He continues to work with a down-to-earth attitude, maybe another one of his successful traits. “Sometimes I tell my colleagues that we are very lucky. But it's not just luck. We all like what we do. And to be honest: we work very hard.”
Lucky
Take a look at the easily accessible website of the team of architects from Kodde Architecten.
Kodde is aware that most clients make the decision to remodel or build their house
www.koddearchitecten.nl
Issue 15 | March 2015 | 47