Architects – both the brief and any design development or changes should be in writing

A recent case has highlighted the responsibility of architects to ensure their brief and any design development or changes are in writing.

The case involved the construction of a cinema box, the design of which, rather intriguingly was described as going from “sleek modern to wonky industrial”.

The court held that it was bad practice for an architect’s initial brief not be in writing and also for any design development or changes not to be recorded in writing either.

The following quote from the judgement is a useful reminder “ Relying on sample boards, mood boards or pinterest pictures is not sufficient for both architect and client to have clarity as to what has been designed and what was to be built”

Freeborn and another v Marcal [2019] EWHC 45