#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. Matthew Kuo Stolarski, co-founder of the Association of Interior Architects and the KUOO Architects 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 Matthew Kuo Stolarski about architects' salaries.
Mateusz KUO STOLARSKI - architect. Minimalist. Graduate of the Faculty of Construction, Architecture and Environmental Engineering at the Technical University of Lodz, majoring in Architecture and Urban Planning. For his 2004 diploma project, he was awarded first prize in the Concrete Architecture Diploma of the Year competition and honorable mention in the Zbyszek Zawistowski SARP Diploma of the Year competition. He is a long-time member of the Association of Polish Architects (SARP), where he served, among other things, as vice-president of the board of directors of the association's Łódź branch. He is also a founding member of the Society of Interior Architects (SAW). Since 2006, he has been running his own architectural studio Tamizo Architects, which since 2023, as a result of merging with the studio of his wife Katarzyna Kuo Stolarska, changed its name to KUOO TAMIZO ARCHITECTS. In addition to architecture, he is passionate about photography, industrial design, graphic design and typography.
Should there be a guaranteed minimum rate per square meter of design? Please briefly justify your answer.
Yes, a minimum rate is a good idea, but not necessarily per square meter. In the current market situation it is probably necessary, otherwise it will be difficult to change the situation. What, thanks to, among other things, our actions, has already succeeded in part in the interior design market(rates are now about three times higher than in architecture), among architects for the moment is impossible to achieve. The blame lies with older generations of architects who are unable to implement a new way of thinking. The market has become so accustomed to the behavior of the entire architectural community that it is hard to reverse the trend. In turn, younger generations, existing in the same environment, develop the same habits as older colleagues and the machine goes on.
In the meantime: price comparison 1995 and 2024:
- m² apartment in the center of Sopot
3500 PLN - 23500 PLN (570%) - 1 hectare of agricultural land
500 PLN - 50,000 PLN (9900%) - Parsley root (kg)
0.90 PLN - 17 PLN (1800%) - loaf of bread
0.60 PLN - 8 PLN (1200%) - minimum wage
260 PLN - 4242 PLN (1500%) - sq. m. proj. of multi-branch construction
60-100 PLN - 100-200 PLN (87%) - How many loaves could an architect buy for designing 1 m² of a building?
167 - 12,5
(Quoted from screenshots of one of the lectures at the convention of the Pomeranian District Chamber of Architects devoted just to architects' salaries; from a lecture by Jakub Drohomirecki).
So much for the topic.
How much should the minimum rate without professionals be per square meter for multifamily residential architecture?
Below I describe the case best worked out by us, because this is what we deal with most often. I think we would need about 2 hours for a square meter of a building, so the rate should be a minimum of 400 PLN/m².
What should be the minimum rate without tradesmen per square meter for single-family houses?
A minimum of 600 PLN/m², optimally 900 PLN/m². This is a conversion from an hourly rate. The cost of running our entire studio is currently 180 PLN/hour. For the studio to be profitable, the hourly rate for the client should be a minimum of 250 PLN/h, and preferably 300 or more. We spend on average (the whole process) 3 hours on a square meter of a project (architecture alone without interiors), it is easy to calculate that with a rate of 600 PLN/m² we are close to adding to the business (practically no reserve here).
What should be the minimum rate without tradesmen per square meter for office buildings?
Here I estimate time at 1.5 h/m² - hourly rate min. 300 PLN.
How much should the minimum rate without tradesmen per square meter be for buildings and public spaces?
Here I estimate the time at 2.5 h/m² - hourly rate min. 500 PLN.
If the minimum rate should not be guaranteed, how to work out favorable wages for architects?
A rate per hour, a rate as a percentage of the cost of the investment, but also at a decent level.
Should architects as a professional group have trade unions to deal only with the issue of architects' salaries?
It doesn't matter, we already have so many groups, associations, chambers, duplicating entities makes no sense. It is more important that we ourselves watch our budgets and not add to the business.
Matthew KUO STOLARSKI
architect
more: A&B 6/2025 - WARSAW,
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