#Architects' rates
Minimum rates for architectural projects in Poland - what do architects think about them? Are they needed, how should they be charged and how much could they be? We asked representatives of studios, both small, medium and large, developers and lecturers. Karol Nieradka, president of the SARP Szczecin Branch and founder of the Maxberg studio, shared his opinion on the subject. In his opinion, what should be the minimum rates for architects?
The dire situation of architectural offices in Poland is a fact. In the worst position are medium and small studios, whose profitability and profitability are often on the verge of survival. At the same time, investments, especially from the residential sector, are increasing, which means there is something to design. In January 2025, more apartments were completed than a year ago, also the number of those whose construction has begun is higher (CSO data). However, the average quality of what is being built is not satisfactory. It is being built quickly, most often at a low cost, but at a record high profit. So why are architects one of the lowest-paid links in the industry?
When we discussed at this year's Budma what the quality of residential architecture in Poland depends on, the topic of architects' salaries dominated the debate. Mateusz Mastalski, a partner at the Danish studio Henning Larsen, who was present at the meeting , pointed out that in Denmark quality is due not only to tradition, good architectural education of the society or professional solidarity of architects, but also to the fact that they have more time for designing than in Poland and are better paid for their work. This correlation seems obvious.
So we continue the salary debate and ask Karol Nieradka about architects' salaries.
Karol NIERADKA - a graduate of the Faculty of Construction and Architecture at the Szczecin University of Technology. Since 2010 he has been running the maxberg Design Office in Szczecin. He has been president of the Szczecin branch of SARP for two terms.
Should there be a guaranteed minimum rate per square meter of design? Please briefly justify your answer.
This does not seem realistic to me. The cost per square meter depends on the other elements of the building, such as the underground garage, installations, common areas.
How much should be the minimum rate without tradesmen per square meter for multi-family residential architecture?
200 PLN/hour of office work.
How much should the minimum rate without tradesmen per square meter for single-family houses?
200 PLN/hour of office work (the preparation time of a single-family house in the maxberg office is a minimum of 320-400 hours of designers).
How much should the minimum rate without tradesmen per square meter for office buildings?
200 PLN/hour of office work.
How much should the minimum rate without tradesmen per square meter for buildings and public spaces?
200 PLN/hour of office work.
If the minimum rate should not be guaranteed, how to work out favorable wages for architects?
Wage rates per hour cause clients to compare the quality of documentation, the scope of the study (how much time was spent), the efficiency of the office and its organizational capabilities. The rate per meter reduces competition between offices to haggling instead of negotiation. The cheaper one will always drive out of the market the better one, which spends more time on the project.
Should architects as a professional group have trade unions to deal only with the issue of architects' salaries?
Creating another entity seems pointless when the Chamber of Architects has failed to deal with this problem for two decades.
Karol NIERADKA
architect
more: A&B 6/2025 - WARSAW,
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