How much does villa design cost in Jordan? How architect fees are calculated
Three ways architects in Jordan price villa design, what each package contains, what raises the fee, and why the cheapest drawings cost more on site.
Arch Mohannad Al-Sharif · Published · 6 min read
3D visualization of a contemporary stone villa with a front pool and mountain view, designed by Arch Mohannad Al-Sharif
How villa design fees are calculated in Jordan
The first question I get from almost every plot owner is the same: how much does villa design cost? The honest answer is that the number depends on three things: the built area, the scope of work, and the pricing model the office uses. This article explains the common pricing models in Jordan, what each package contains, what pushes the fee up, and how to compare two quotes fairly. You will not find prices here, because any number quoted before seeing the site plan and agreeing a scope is a guess.
Three pricing models for villa design in Jordan
Architects in Jordan use three ways to calculate fees, and one office may combine more than one depending on the project.
1. Price per square meter of built area. This is the most common model for villas. The architect adds up the floor areas (basement, ground floor, first floor, roof level) and multiplies the total by an agreed rate per square meter. Owners understand it quickly. Its weakness is that it does not distinguish between a simple villa and a highly detailed one of the same size.
2. Lump sum per package. The office sets a fixed amount for a defined scope: a preliminary layout only, a full design, or a construction set. This suits projects that are clear from the start, and it needs a contract that states exactly what the amount covers and what counts as extra work.
3. Percentage of construction cost. The fee is a percentage of the estimated construction cost. This model is used more for large and commercial projects and for supervision contracts, and it needs a preliminary quantity estimate so the number is clear to both sides.
What a villa design package includes
The word design on its own is not enough to compare two quotes. Ask what the package contains.
A preliminary design covers the plot and zoning study, the room layout on every floor, and one or two rounds of revision until the layout fits how the family lives.
A full design adds scaled floor plans, the four elevations, sections, material choices and, in most offices, exterior 3D visualization.
A construction set is the file the contractor builds from: construction drawings with architectural details, door and window schedules, stair and facade details, and coordination with the structural and MEP engineers.
Construction supervision means regular site visits and checking the contractor's work against the drawings, and it is usually priced separately.
The most expensive package is not automatically the right one. An owner building a family home to live in for decades needs a complete construction set. Someone who only wants a first idea to show a partner may stop at the preliminary design and continue later.
What raises architect fees for a villa
Specific factors push the fee up, and you have the right to know them before signing:
- Size. A large villa takes longer than a small one, although the rate per square meter usually drops as the area grows.
- Style complexity. A classic villa with columns, cornices and arches needs far more detail drawing than a modern villa with clear volumes.
- Number of revisions. Every contract states how many revision rounds are included. Anything beyond that is extra work.
- 3D visualization. The number of exterior and interior views and the level of detail.
- Interior design. Furniture layout, false ceilings, interior lighting and kitchen design are separate services in most quotes.
- The plot itself. A steep or irregular plot needs a longer study than a flat rectangular one.
The Jordan Engineers Association minimum fee
The Jordan Engineers Association has a system of minimum fees for engineering work, and it varies by project type, area and scope. I do not quote numbers here because the system is updated from time to time, and the final reference is the Association itself and the licensed engineering office that submits the permit file. What matters to you as an owner: a quote that sits clearly below the minimum usually means something will be missing from the file.
Why the cheapest drawings cost more during construction
In my work I see the same pattern repeat: an owner saves on design, then loses several times that amount on site. The reasons are clear.
Drawings without details leave the contractor to decide, and his decision suits his speed, not your house. Architectural drawings that do not match the structural ones mean columns in the wrong place, or demolishing and recasting concrete. Missing door, window and finish schedules open the door to change orders at high prices. A facade without stone cutting details is built the way the stone mason understands it, not the way you imagined it.
Design is a small share of the total building cost, but it is the share that decides everything after it.
How to compare two villa design quotes
Do not compare the final number alone. Put the two quotes side by side and check:
- Which area did each office calculate? Some count the roof level, garage and terraces, some do not.
- What exactly is in the file? Number of elevations, sections, details, opening schedules.
- Is 3D visualization included, and with how many views?
- How many revision rounds are included?
- Is coordination with the structural and MEP engineers included, or paid separately?
- Are permit drawings and follow-up on municipality comments included?
- What is the expected timeline for each stage?
- What is the delivery format: PDF only, or AutoCAD files as well?
A quote with all of these items written down is far easier to compare than a quote with one number and one line.
What to prepare before asking for a quote
Have your site plan ready (the document that shows your plot and its zoning), decide the number of bedrooms and floors you want and your preferred style, and know whether you want design only or the construction set and supervision as well. With this information any architect can send you a clear written quote.
If you own a plot and are thinking about a villa, send the site plan and the scope you have in mind, and I will reply with a written quote after a first needs session.
Frequently asked questions
How much does villa design cost in Jordan?
There is no fixed number. Fees depend on the built area, the scope (preliminary layout, full design, construction set, supervision) and the office's pricing model, and you receive them as a written quote after the site plan is studied.
Do architect fees include the structural and MEP drawings?
In most quotes, no. Structural and MEP design is done by specialist engineers and the architect coordinates with them. Ask whether coordination is included or whether their fees are paid separately.
Can I order only the preliminary design and continue later?
Yes. Many offices offer the preliminary design as a standalone package, and once approved you can move to the full design and then the construction set under a new contract or an addendum.