place | architects & design: our approach

Our approach is to provide only the help you need and want, in manageable predetermined packages.

Building a new house or extending and remodelling an existing one is the best way to create the perfect home. It can also be the most complicated purchase you will ever make; even more so than buying an existing property!

Our job is to make this a positive experience, to do what we can to make sure that the project fulfils and hopefully exceeds your expectations, that the design meets your needs and aspirations, that the costs are controlled and that it all happens on time.

The range of activities included in a full architectural service are extensive. In the following sections we set out the principle tasks that need to be completed on most projects.

getting started
- agree and write down what you want to achieve
- look at one or more properties or sites and explore their potential and limitations
- start to fill out the project plan
- choose a suitable project team
prepare a project plan
- prepare project brief including: building brief, budgets, timescales
- agree who will do what at each stage
- monitor overall project budget
- prepare and agree project development programme
- manage the project team
- assess the performance of the team
undertake surveys
- prepare or commission measured surveys
- undertake a condition survey for maintenance and repair
- purchase a utilities survey
- assess the need for specialist surveys to identify specific site restrictions e.g. asbestos, contamination, geological, arboricultural, acoustic, wildlife, flooding etc.
prepare a design
- expand the building brief
- prepare alternative designs, if appropriate
- select and develop the best option
- consult and present proposals to the planners
- prepare and make application for planning approval
- prepare an estimate of construction costs
- review construction options
detail the design
- prepare detailed building brief
- prepared detailed design drawings and specifications for pricing and construction
- make applications for building regulations approval
- prepare (with others if appropriate) detailed construction cost plan
- invite tenders or negotiate a price with a builder
- assess which quotes represent best value for money
select a builder
- identify suitable builders
- prepare document for costing and obtain competitive or negotiated tenders
- review tenders and identify cost control options
- finalise price and contractual arrangements
oversea the builder
- instruct the builder when changes are required
- monitor the performance of the builder
- certify interim payments to the builder
- sign off the completed works
- agree and certify the final account

Most people can manage some of the numerous tasks involved in getting from an idea to a finished building on their own but will find others just too daunting.

In any case we would welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular project and how we might be able to help.