Should I Use an Architect or a Building Designer? (An Unbiased Review)

If you’re planning a new home, renovation, or custom build, one of the first questions you’ll face is:

Should I use an architect or a building designer?

It’s a fair question and an important one because the choice can affect your budget, approvals, design quality, build outcome, and even your stress levels during construction.

This is an unbiased review, but it’s also a practical one. The truth is: both architects and building designers can create great homes. The difference usually comes down to training, registration, accountability, scope of service, documentation quality, and how risk is managed from concept through to construction.

At CBD Architects, we’re a collective of architects and building designers, so we understand both sides of the conversation. In many cases, the best outcome comes from combining strengths but for complex or high-value builds, there are strong reasons clients lean toward an architect-led approach.

The Quick Answer

Use an architect if you want:

• a fully bespoke design response to site and lifestyle

• higher complexity handled confidently (planning, structure, detailing)

• strong documentation that protects quality and reduces ambiguity

• professional accountability through formal registration

• support through tendering, builder selection, and construction

Use a building designer if you want:

• have a simple project

• concept design and approvals without extensive detailing

• a practical solution where architectural complexity is minimal

The key is not the title alone — it’s the process, documentation, and experience behind it.

What’s the Difference Between an Architect and a Building Designer?

Architects

Architects are formally trained, required to maintain and prove their professional standards each year, and typically provide end-to-end services across:

• concept design

• design development

• planning approvals

• construction documentation

• consultant coordination

• tender support

• contract administration (optional but valuable)

Architects are often involved in projects where the outcome depends on:

• site constraints

• planning complexity

• refined detailing

• high finish expectations

• long-term value and performance

Building Designers

Building designers may offer:

• concept planning

• drafting and documentation

• approvals support

• builder-ready drawings (scope varies)

Many building designers are highly experienced and can deliver excellent work, particularly for:

• straightforward homes

• additions and renovations

• smaller budgets

• projects with minimal complexity

Some building designers are exceptionally skilled but the market is broad, and the quality varies significantly.

Registration: Architects vs Building Designers (Why It Matters)

One of the clearest differences is registration and regulation.

Architects must be registered

Architects in Australia must meet strict requirements, which typically include:

• accredited university qualifications

• a minimum period of supervised industry experience

• formal examinations or registration processes

• ongoing professional obligations

They are accountable to professional standards and regulated by relevant authorities. This matters because it provides clients with:

• clear professional responsibility

• higher baseline competency expectations

• stronger accountability if things go wrong

Building designers do not require formal registration

In many cases, building designers are not required to be registered as “architects”, and the term “building designer” can cover a wide range of experience levels from highly capable professionals to low-cost drafting-only services.

This doesn’t mean building designers aren’t good it means clients need to be more careful when assessing capability, because the minimum barrier to entry is generally lower.

Practical takeaway:

If your project is complex, expensive, or high-risk, working with a registered architect reduces uncertainty.

Are Architects More Expensive?

This is one of the biggest misconceptions in residential design.

Upfront fees: often closer than people expect

In reality, architect and building designer fees can be surprisingly similar, especially when you compare:

• scope of service

• documentation detail

• consultant coordination

• time spent resolving decisions properly

A building designer may be slightly cheaper in some cases particularly if the scope is limited to concept drawings and approvals.

But cost isn’t just about the initial design fee.

The Hidden Cost: What Happens During Construction

This is where the decision becomes clearer.

The real financial risk is usually not the design fee

It’s what happens when drawings are unclear, incomplete, or under-resolved.

Common construction cost blowouts come from:

• missing details

• vague specifications

• unresolved selections

• insufficient coordination with engineering and services

• variations caused by assumptions or interpretation

• rework due to unclear intent

Even if a building designer costs less upfront, the project can become more expensive overall if the documentation leaves too much open to interpretation.

Better documentation often means fewer variations

Architectural firms typically invest heavily in:

• detailing

• coordination

• buildability review

• clear specification writing

• higher-quality drawing sets

That usually leads to:

• more accurate tender pricing

• fewer surprises on site

• better finish quality

• less conflict between client and builder

In high-value builds, this is often where architects deliver the strongest return.

Design Quality vs Design Outcome

A lot of people assume the difference is purely aesthetic “architects design nicer homes.”

That’s not the full story.

The real difference is that architects are trained to manage multiple layers at once:

• planning rules

• solar orientation

• structure and buildability

• spatial sequence and proportion

• materials and longevity

• passive design performance

• budget strategy

• construction logic

That’s why architect-designed homes often feel more “resolved” not necessarily more dramatic.

When a Building Designer Can Be the Right Choice

To keep this unbiased: there are many situations where a building designer is a smart option.

A building designer may suit you if:

• your project is straightforward

• you already know what you want

• you’re comfortable with a simpler documentation package

• your budget is tight and you need efficiency

• you’re working with a builder who will manage the details closely

And some building designers have decades of experience and deliver outstanding work.

The issue isn’t whether building designers can be good it’s whether your project can afford uncertainty.

When You Should Choose an Architect (Strategically, It’s Usually Here)

If any of the below apply, an architect-led process is strongly recommended:

You’re building a custom home

Custom design benefits from deeper concept exploration and stronger planning logic.

Your site is difficult

Sloping blocks, narrow lots, coastal exposure, overlooking constraints and view corridors all increase design complexity.

Your budget is important

If you’re investing serious money into a home, the cost of mistakes multiplies quickly.

You care about long-term value

Architect-designed homes often age better functionally and aesthetically and tend to hold value through design integrity and quality.

You want confidence through construction

Architectural involvement during documentation (and optionally contract administration) reduces ambiguity and protects outcomes.

The Best Answer: Choose a Team That Has Both

At CBD Architects, we’re a collective of architects and building designers. That means clients don’t have to choose between:

• design ambition or practicality

• creativity or buildability

• detail or efficiency

We tailor the level of service to the project.

Some clients need a streamlined approach. Others need full architectural scope, detailed documentation, and ongoing involvement during construction.

Having both skill sets within one practice allows us to guide you toward the right solution — without forcing a one-size-fits-all model.

Questions to Ask Before You Decide

Regardless of whether you choose an architect or building designer, ask:

1. Are you registered, and what professional standards apply to your work?

2. What’s included in your fee (and what’s not)?

3. How detailed are your drawings and specifications?

4. Do you coordinate consultants (engineering, energy, hydraulics, etc.)?

5. Will you support tendering and builder selection?

6. What happens during construction if questions arise?

7. Can I see built projects similar to mine?

These questions will reveal the difference quickly.

Final Thoughts: The “Unbiased” Reality

A building designer can be a great choice for the right project.

But if your home is high-value, complex, or genuinely custom, an architect often becomes the safer and more cost-effective decision overall even if the initial design fee looks higher.

Because in residential building, the real cost isn’t the design.

It’s the mistakes.

Thinking About a Custom Home or Renovation?

If you’re weighing up whether to use an architect or a building designer, we can help you make the right call based on your site, scope and budget — without pressure.

Speak with CBD Architects and we’ll guide you through the options, explain the process clearly, and recommend the best pathway for your project.