Architect (Arquitecto)
1. Private
You’ll need a spanish architect to prepare a project plan (proyecto) if you’re going down the legal route for your building in Spain; either new build, extending or renovating. (I explain the difference between ‘legal’ and ‘illegal’ under Planning Permission. Believe me, it’s not that simple.)
Don’t do what I did – take on an architect on recommendation from friends only to discover later that he was a highways engineer!#?! (To be fair he did get the job done – well most of it – but he had to use a ‘proper’ architect to do all the donkey work who, by the way, I never met.)
If you’re unsure, check they’re registered with the provincial Architect’s College.
They’re all called Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de…Granada, Seville, Madrid…whatever, and they’ve all got websites.
My advice would be to ensure that the terms and conditions of your contract with the architect clearly stipulate that full payment will only be made when you havereceived ALL your licences.
2. Public
Round here every Town Hall (Ayuntamiento) has its own architect. Depending on the size of the Town Hall’s district they will be part-time or full-time.
For instance in the two villages nearby (one of 900 inhabitants, the other of 3000) they are both one-day-a-weekers, and couldn’t be more different in terms of attitude. In the larger village the guy is friendly, helpful, and – a real bonus – speaks excellent english. In the smaller village he’s the opposite.
Whatever they’re like, you really ought to get to see these people before you buy in their patch if you are planning to do any building or renovation work.