Deciding about design quality: design perception during a European tendering procedure

Evaluating design value at the early conceptual stage is difficult for products but even more for selecting an architect. The selection of an architect for a public building involves multiple stakeholders and judgements about designs as well as about potential partners. In the context of a European tendering procedure for a public building, design quality perceptions were analysed for underlying dimensions and comparisons made between lay and expert judgements. The findings suggest that systematic consideration of stakeholder input and expert evaluation do not preclude a holistic judgement including both rational and emotional aspects of architectural quality. Implications for models of quality perception and selection procedures are discussed.