An architect will only rarely be told "money is no object". Even if they do, they will try to plan an economically optimised building purely on the basis of common sense. In most cases, this means a project that is cost-efficient in its construction and subsequent operation. If you look at these two factors, there are a few simple rules that can save construction costs if they are followed. A fast and efficient construction process is ensured by using as many of the same components as possible, e.g. the same window sizes and a standardised construction grid. Prefabricated elements and modules can also save a lot of time and money. It is also important to pay attention to the compactness of the building structure and to use ancillary areas sparingly. This includes the optimisation of building services and access areas, but above all an excavation-friendly design in the basement. In this context, there are some important ratios that need to be taken into account: - Usable area / gross floor area - Window area / external wall area - Garage area / parking spaces - Gross room volume / usable area - Exterior wall area / usable area

Economic efficiency in operation is a second key component of economic planning. This begins with the orientation of the building and thus the determination of the climatic conditions within the building. The future operating costs are influenced by the well thought-out positioning of wall openings in combination with shading measures and technical room temperature control. The choice of energy source and the use of intelligent metering and control systems as well as consumers mean a higher investment at the beginning, but this is recouped after some time through reduced operating costs. The same applies to service water management. In addition to these two factors, others play a role that can be described more in terms of the circular economy and are aimed, for example, at easy dismantling. The use and installation of the materials are important here. In principle, 85-90% of the construction costs are attributable to the construction costs. It is therefore clear that only a small proportion is spent on planning. However, it is precisely this 10-15% that determines the subsequent construction costs. One euro spent wisely in the planning phase can perhaps save 10 euros later in the execution phase.