Avoid These Mistakes When Starting a Renovation! Valuable Lessons from Construction Project Planning

We’re back with a new edition, and this time I’ll once again dive into the topic of domestic architecture—but now through a critical lens focused on the planning process!

In recent days, I’ve been reflecting a lot on how families confront their spatial needs within their homes. And I’m not talking about those houses we see in architecture magazines—homes with generous plots, flexible budgets, and creative freedom to shape the project however we want.

I’m talking about real homes. The ones we find every day in our cities, on streets shaped by urban planning. Homes that—because they’re designed as products to meet a basic need like housing—have become increasingly expensive, complicated, and ultimately problematic in themselves. These mass-produced homes, identical to one another, fail to adapt to the unique needs of their occupants.

In this article, I’ll be discussing this issue using a dose of constructive criticism and a touch of dark humor, to describe how different types of clients come to our studio facing the same set of problems: expanding, renovating, converting, adapting—or a combination of all of these.

However, for various reasons we’ll explain, the way these changes are planned often doesn’t guarantee that the project will be successful or even completed properly.

Let me be clear: I write from our own beliefs, values, and professional experience. And I fully respect those who offer very different services or sales strategies—so long as they do so ethically and not purely for financial gain.

Let’s begin with the most common type of potential client:

I. The ones who already started and realized renovating isn’t that simple:This is the most common situation in our countries. People begin at the end—buying materials and hiring workers to quickly build whatever is sketched on a piece of graph paper. The "kitchen" (often spelled phonetically in Spanish as cosina) is usually right in the middle—between a rear bedroom with no window and a living room with large windows facing the driveway.We all know how this ends: oversized builds that take up most of the lot, with a series of rooms connected by one long hallway—that’s the default outcome.

II. Those who just want the sketch or the signature to start building their idea:

Also known as the “how much for the plan?” or “what’s your rate per square meter of construction?” crowd.

These are typically people who base their decision on price or speed—how fast they can get the drawings—and tend to see their house more as a symbol of something, rather than a space for real living.

With this type of client, we need to approach the situation with a lot of empathy, since much of the problem stems from a lack of awareness and information. This means we must communicate effectively, putting ourselves in their shoes.

III. The ones with a shark/developer mindset:

Most people improve their homes with the intention of living better, but there are also those who see it as a financial opportunity—either by renting it out or selling at a higher price than what they paid. In theory, this sounds great (real estate can be very profitable), but when there’s no clear understanding of the target market, no proper budgeting, and no financial or resource-based analysis, these projects often end up pleasing the owner more than the end user.

In the real estate world, we call this a “white elephant.”

IV. The ones who just want to see what the facade could look like:Most likely, they’ll ask for a render—but of what, exactly? Something they saw in a magazine or on Pinterest, even if the dimensions and budget don’t fit the reference.In my experience, this only ends up enhancing the curb appeal of the house using finishes, colors, and decorative elements—and often it’s executed by a skilled bricklayer with artistic flair.

V. The ones who haven’t realized the problem isn’t the house—it’s them:

These are the hoarders, the chronically disorganized, whose homes mirror the chaotic lifestyle they lead. Sad as it is, there are still many people who think architects only provide aesthetic value and can cover up deeper issues with finishes, furniture, accessories, or decorations.

In these cases, the need for design and space is just one part of the equation—what they really need is a visit from Marie Kondo.

VI. Projects that would require unethical, illegal, or dangerous actions:

More often than you'd think, people come to us with an idea they want to build—but making it happen would require us to take actions that harm others, the environment, or even the clients themselves.

Examples include trying to build apartment units on a single-family residential lot, stacking four levels on top of a structurally unsafe, deteriorated house where neither zoning regulations nor urban infrastructure would support the business idea they have in mind.

We’ve even had cases where someone wanted to cut down a dozen fully grown, endangered trees to make room for their house.

VII. Projects that are simply unfeasible or not worth pursuing:

One example is attempting to self-build a home with poor-quality labor, on a site with so many underlying issues that the investment required outweighs any real benefit.

In these cases, the most sensible and cost-effective solution is to demolish everything and start from scratch.

In conclusion, proper planning and a thoughtful consideration of the inhabitants' specific needs are essential to the success of any architectural project.

It is crucial to face challenges with empathy, avoid quick and superficial fixes, and prioritize ethics, legality, and safety at every stage.

Architecture must go beyond aesthetics—it should be a tool to improve people's quality of life and their environment. By focusing on responsible planning, we can transform ordinary houses into functional homes tailored to the real needs of their occupants.

Let us remember that building a livable and conscious environment is a shared responsibility. Let's continue shaping a better future through architecture, always valuing the importance of ethical and well-thought-out planning.

Thank you for joining us in this reflection—see you in the next edition!