largest

According to BD World architecture's January issue Nikken Sekkei is the world largest architectural practice. Gensler comes in second, HOK third, Aedas fourth and SOM fifth.

Honestly, these practices are largely unknown in continental Europe!

Only a few offices make good money with architecture - big corporate architects hardly exist: in last years analysis of the German office structure 81% of architectural practices haven't got more than four (!) employees.

However, the demands on architects are rising: design and manage - architects have to offer the complete package. Unfortunately design work is mostly underpaid (see the Myth of Competitions) - clients pay architects for providing construction documents, project documentation, cost controlling, tender documents, etc.

Are small practices still able to handle this?

by Christoph ,anarchitecture