I don't think architects are a disappearing breed. Quite to the contrary our services are much more critical than ever as evidenced by Mr. Wager's recent post. I have a small, residential practice very similar to his. Most of my work is from referrals by building contractors. Here in San Francisco nearly every job also requires a permit and every little town and county has its own idiosyncratic tome of byzantine rules and regulations. This situation grows more and more complex and demanding every year. I spend much more time researching and navigating planning and building codes than I do form-making. Our practice is evolving and a new market is burgeoning- that of the middle-class homeowners and builders, befuddled and exasperated with the regulatory system and Wal-mart sized supermarket of building materials and products available. They need more help than ever and we need to re-learn our craft every year to help them, no one else is going to do it. But we also must learn how to convince them of the value we bring to the project team. So, let's get on with it, we've got a lot of work to do!.
-------------------------------------------
A. Atkinson AIA
A. Gordon Atkinson, Architect
San Francisco CA
-------------------------------------------