@escapeartist said:
........Perhaps the second question may be more philosophical with regards to an architect's motivations, but if your client handed you a portfolio of North U.K. sod-roofed cottages as references would you present an earth-bermed Frank Lloyd Wright?
Thanks for posting the pictures. As for the above question, I suppose it would depend on how hungry I am. If you are not a builder, I suggest that you go to one that has a turn key operation with Architects on staff.
While you are the Client, the Architect is additionally responsible to the City and State to provide a viable, legal solution. Are your request doable in your location in terms of building codes, etc.? Will your request require R&D not covered by standard fees? If not are you willing to pay for the R&D? The typical architects is typically ill equipped to pursue R&D, and depend on their association with manufactures to advance the state of the art. I can't speak for others, but my work is more about art, within the parameters of what I know about build-ability.
What Box says below is also correct. In addition each Architect has his own area of expertise, are you talking to ones that are knowledgeable about your notions?