Architectural mediators : a study of the relationship between architects and developers

Abstract

This thesis contains basic understanding of the roles of the architect and the developer in t he American real estate industry. The thesis concluded that roles the architect and the developer play in the development process are close related t o their incentives for entering the business, their motivation in work and the skills they possess. These elements al l together form the architect I s and the developer I s perceptions of their roles. Based on their own perception, both the architect and the developer redefine their performance in their actual practice. As a result, the actual roles played by most developers and architects are o f ten inconsistent with what is presumed by the real estate industry. In other words, there are discrepancies existing between the expectation and performance. The thesis proposes that the architect ural mediator, as one form of mediators, can facilitate between the developer and the architect in the development process and brings mutual benefits to both part i es. Architectural mediators in this thesis refer t o those architects who work for developer s and are actively involved in the decision making process and the management of the development process. A case study i s provided as one example of how such an architectural mediator functions in the development process.