BENJAMIN FERCHER
Master Builder. Consultant. Realist
Vienna & worldwide (Portugal, Cyprus, South America, Asia)
Building Projects Don't Fail on Site.
They Fail Before You Sign.
I've spent 15 years building and consulting on projects across climates and continents.
Here's what I've learned: Most expensive mistakes happen before construction starts - wrong location, wrong building method, wrong contractor, wrong budget.
I step in before decisions become irreversible. Before you sign the contract. Not when it's already expensive.
My focus: Natural materials (wood, clay, stone), low-tech systems that work without constant maintenance, and buildings that function without energy dependence.
WHAT I STAND FOR
Material Honesty
Wood, clay, stone, lime. Physics over chemistry. Materials that breathe, regulate moisture naturally, and last generations.
Low-Tech First
Simple systems that work without specialists. Maintenance-free instead of update-dependent. Thermal mass instead of 24/7 HVAC
Climate-Appropriate
What works in Austria fails in Portugal. Building physics aren't negotiable - vapor pressure, thermal mass, and climate dictate what survives.
Energy Independence
Autarky as insurance against price shocks. Buildings that function passively, not as energy-dependent life-support systems.
HOW WE WORK TOGETHER
GO / NO-GO AUDIT
750 € | 14 days
Before you sign anything. This is where we start - always.
When you need it:
- Before buying land
- Before signing with a contractor
- Before approving architectural plans
- Before committing to financing
What you get:
- Location & context analysis
- Building method plausibility check (does it work in this climate?)
- Budget reality check (wish vs. actual costs)
- Permit feasibility assessment
- Risk analysis of critical decision points
Output:
- Written PDF analysis
- 60-minute video call (online)
You'll know if your project is viable as planned, or if you're about to sign a mistake.
CURATION
Strategy & Substance.
2.500 €
When the project makes sense and needs execution strategy.
Usually follows a positive GO/NO-GO audit (exceptions case-by-case).
What you get:
- Material & building method strategy (wood, clay, stone)
- Low-tech systems concept (heating, water, autarky)
- Detail solutions for critical interfaces
- Contractor recommendations
Output:
- 2 strategy sessions (90 min each, online)
- Comprehensive PDF dossier (material matrix, technical logic, decision framework)
OWNER'S REP
from 1.800 € / month
Your advocate on the construction site.
What you get:
- Bid & change order review (before you approve costs)
- Quality control via photo/video analysis
- Ongoing technical decisions
- Regular online coordination
- Optional: on-site visits (travel costs extra)
I don't plan. I don't build. I control - and stay 100% on your side.