There are a great many things to think about when embarking on an architectural project, therefore we offer a stage by stage personalised service to guide you through the process, tailored to suit your project and budget.
Creating a home is an emotional and revealing process. We will work with you to design the spaces where you eat, you sleep, you bathe, you dress, you relax and you entertain. Your home will be a reflection of your personality and those who live in it.
We offer a free initial consultation at your property where we can review the existing building and listen to your requirements and aspirations. Following our consultation, we will prepare a written design brief outlining your requirements and a fee proposal for our architectural services, as set out in the RIBA Work Stages below.
If you choose us as your architect, we will prepare the RIBA Domestic Professional Services Contract2020, to sign a formal appointment.
Following appointment, the project will then proceed along the defined work stages as set out by the Royal Institute of British Architects, RIBA, known as the RIBA Plan of Work. These are broadly outlined below, but more information can be found this link.
At the outset, you might be feeling unsure as to how much of a commitment you are prepared to make to the project. As the RIBA Work Stages divide a project into distinct sections, we can tailor our appointment and fee proposal to suit your requirements. Depending on your needs, we can work with you delivering the RIBA Work Stages in turn on an incremental basis, as far as is required.
We appreciate that there are many different people advertising similar services such as a ‘plan drawer’, architectural technician, architectural services, builders; therefore, why should you use an architect?
The title ‘architect’ is protected by law (Architects Act 1997), so that only those who have undergone rigorous training (not less than seven years), and are fully qualified through sitting final exams, can legally use it.
All architects must be registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB), with most having RIBA membership as well. If an individual is without either credential then they may be operating unregulated, providing you with no guarantee of their ability to deliver the service you require.
Through their training, architects develop a unique ability and approach to listen and interpret a client’s needs to add value to a project to ensure that your needs are met and aspirations exceeded. Not just for today, but the design should be future proofed and be relevant for your family in the future.
They will draw how the building should be assembled. They will liaise with the neighbours, the Planning Authority and Building Control. They explain to the builder how it should be built – and check that the work is carried out accordingly.
They manage the budget, and choose the best products that are affordable. The scheme should add value to your property.
Most importantly, they are bound by the ARB Code of Conduct to act with honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness.
