Your architect is the most important hire in your Spanish building project. They design your home, obtain your permits, supervise your construction, and serve as your representative in a system you may not fully understand. Choosing the wrong architect means delays, cost overruns, and a home that does not match your vision. Here is what to evaluate.
Check registration with the Colegio de Arquitectos
For regulated Spanish project duties, verify the proposed architect's qualifications, current Colegio status where applicable, authority to perform the stated role, professional insurance arrangements, and exact contractual responsibility. Ask for the relevant details and confirm them directly with the Colegio or other responsible body; do not infer statutory authority from a portfolio, title, or foreign qualification alone.
Experience with your project type and region
An architect who has built 50 apartments in Barcelona may not be the right fit for a luxury villa in Marbella. Look for demonstrated experience with your specific project type (detached villa, renovation, multi-unit) and in your specific region (each municipality has different planning rules). Ask to see completed projects, speak to previous clients, and visit built work if possible. Pay particular attention to projects built for international or Ukrainian clients — this shows the architect understands the cross-cultural communication and expectations involved.
Language and communication style
If you do not speak fluent Spanish, architectural communication must be designed as carefully as the house. A misunderstood window, stair, finish, or payment stage can become a real cost. Olena Solodovnik communicates in Ukrainian, Russian, and English, while Spanish architects manage the official documentation and municipal communication. This keeps client decisions understandable without weakening the local professional structure.
Red flags to watch for
Pause and verify if a proposal asks for a large advance without contractual safeguards, leaves scope or deliverables vague, avoids questions about qualifications and the responsible local team, guarantees an approval date, cannot explain insurance arrangements where relevant, or resists independent legal or technical advice. Ask for written evidence and compare appointments on the same scope before signing.