British architect Emily Scullion has brought unusual transparency to a part of the profession that is often kept private: fees. The founder of Newcastle-based Emily Scullion Architects has published the prices charged by her practice, pushing a long-avoided industry topic into the open.
Her move stands out because architecture firms have traditionally been cautious about discussing what they charge. By making her practice’s pricing public, Scullion is questioning that culture and encouraging a more direct conversation about how architectural services are valued.
The decision is likely to resonate with both clients and other architects. For clients, clearer pricing can make it easier to understand costs at the start of a project. For the profession, it raises broader questions about transparency, expectations and whether open discussion of fees could help modernize how practices present their work.
While the full industry response is still taking shape, Scullion’s approach has already highlighted a sensitive issue in UK architecture. Her decision to publish fees turns a usually private business matter into a public debate about openness, trust and the economics of design services.
