What is the mood among working architects? The complicated economic situation, political crises or legal changes directly affect them. It is worth asking what they look like today.
As part of our #ReportThursday series, we present documents, reports and guides on architecture, cities and local government that are certainly worth publicizing and promoting. This week we look at the report "Architects' Mood - Spring 2024: The result of the April 2024 survey," which is a cyclical document produced by BCMM Marketing Research.
The survey conducted by BCMM is cyclical with a similar representative group, which allows us to track changes in the mood of the architectural community. The sample is 300 architects, primarily members of the Polish Chamber of Architects. The survey is conducted using the CATI method (telephone interview). The sampling is conducted randomly, based on an in-house database. How is the mood of architects changing in the context of the market?
The report is available on the BCMM website.
An increase in optimism?
Compared to the previous survey in October 2023, the optimism indicators of the market situation of the surveyed architectural offices have improved. A very good or rather good situation was shown by 54.6% of those surveyed. Fewer architectural offices indicated a very bad or rather bad situation. There was also a slight increase in the number declaring a "neither good nor bad" situation. An improvement in sentiment is evident, although it is a small increase.
sentiment survey over the past few years
© "Mood of architects - spring 2024" by BCMM - Marketing Research Ltd. companies, April 2024.
Which offices are seeing the biggest changes?
The survey divided architectural offices into two groups - those with up to 3 architects and those with 4 or more architects. In which studios do you see improvement? A noticeable positive trend can be seen primarily among offices employing up to 3 architects - this is an increase from 47% to 53%. For larger studios, there has also been an increase, although it is almost invisible. For large offices, there was a sizable drop in negative sentiment - from 16% to 9%.
Sentiment survey by office size
© "Mood of architects - spring 2024" by BCMM - Marketing Research Ltd. companies, April 2024.
Will demand change?
The next part of the survey addressed the topic of demand for architects ' services in 2024 compared to 2023. An overwhelming part of the respondents described the behavior of demand at the same level (45.3%). At the same time, a portion of respondents declared a possible increase in demand (24.3%), and a slightly smaller number believed that demand would decrease (21%).
Anticipated changes in demand for architects' services
© "Mood of architects - spring 2024" by BCMM - Marketing Research Ltd., April 2024.
Surveyed architects were also asked to predict fluctuations in prices for architectural services in 2024 compared to 2023. The most common answer given was an increase in prices (46.7%). The second most common option was "same level" (40%). A small percentage indicated a projected decrease in prices (7%).
predicted changes in prices for architects' services
© "Mood of architects - spring 2024" by BCMM - marketing research company Ltd., April 2024.
a small pebble of knowledge
The greatest value of the survey conducted by BCMM is its reproducibility - reference to the starting point makes it possible to realistically estimate changes in sentiment, and these, as the survey shows, are improving. This trend is visible mainly in smaller companies, but it is worth highlighting.
The report is available on the BCMM website.
