Our Process

Spatial design is an integral stage of the architecture process. It starts with an in-depth analysis of how the spaces or buildings are to be used and builds on the earlier Feasibility stage. This means that we can focus our attention on what is important to you and ensure that we efficiently arrive at an architectural design that not only meets your needs, but will also add real value, be affordable and a delight to experience.

On receiving your instruction, we will develop the agreed proposals into simple, dimensioned drawings of the existing and proposed scheme. We would then issue these to you for approval before making your planning or lawful development submission to the Local Authority.

The Approvals Process: Not all projects require approvals, and some require a number of applications and approvals not mentioned here. The two major approvals required in the majority of projects are Planning Approval and Building Control Approval, the first of which is normally dealt with at this stage.

Planning Approval: Planning authorities principally are concerned with the external appearance, the type of use, the scale of proposals and preservation and enhancement of the immediate surroundings. Your local planning authority consider all of these issues and take advice from statutory consultees, as well as inviting comments from the neighbouring property owners so that they can consider how well a design responds to its context or setting.

Our familiarity with the Planning Approval process enables us to anticipate and advise you of the issues that will be considered, saving you time and additional costs by addressing the planning issues as part of the design development process.

Detailed design is the stage where the design is refined and the technical detail and specifications are created. In the majority of cases we will work alongside a structural engineer and any other consultants who will have been appointed for your project as is necessary.

After receiving your approval of the work from the preceding stages, we produce detailed design information for submission to Building Control for Full Plans Approval.

Building Control Approval: Building control applications are considered by the local authority or privately by registered ‘approved inspectors’. They will consider how well the proposal functions technically as a solution and they are not concerned about the appearance of the proposals.

Typically our technical detail demonstrates to the Building Control Officer that:

• the design proposal provides a safe and secure building for the occupants,
• the design is accessible for persons of a wide range of physical or mental disabilities,
• the design minimises the use of energy and other resources,
• the design provides a durable and healthy environment for its occupants.

With you, we will develop and schedule the palette of interior finishes and fixtures to suit your preferences and budget constraints. This information will also form the basis for how building contractors price the work as the majority of items will have been decided at this point.

In particular through this stage of the project, we remain committed to providing the best quality solutions for a sustainable, durable, healthy and contextual design proposal and to provide you with a robust set of information that enables costing and timeframe to be agreed at the start of the construction phase.

At the start of the preconstruction phase, we will send the detailed design information to an agreed list of building contractors, giving them each the same period to prepare and return their tenders.

We then assess their returns and compare them using a numerical ratings system to inform our recommendations made to you. You may prefer to work with a building contractor you have used previously and we are able to advise you and work with you on this.

Our services for the preconstruction phase usually consist of:

• obtaining prices from a number of potentially suitable building contractors on an equal pricing basis,
• assistance with the assessment of and selection of a suitable building contractor,
• setting out the terms for the building contractor’s appointment and associated contract.

The ‘construction process’ (sometimes called the ‘construction stage’) is the physical processes of building, landscaping or refurbishing plus all the associated activities, such as demolition, site clearance, administration and so on.

Your specific requirements will be particular to the project and your experience with construction projects, if you were to tackle this stage alone with little or no experience it would be a very daunting task. We are able to provide a variety of levels of project management expertise to suit these requirements. The experience and knowledge of a good architect can ensure that risk is managed and minimised and that your project is organised in a professional and timely manner giving you full peace of mind.

Our services for the construction and close-out phase usually consist of:

• guidance through the construction phase of the project,
• monitoring the progress and quality of the construction on site,
• inspecting site safety standards and measures,
• certifying the value of completed works due for payment in stages by you to the building contractor,
• co-ordinating other professionals and consultants to oversee the project to its successful completion’
• overseeing close-out of the project: Helping agree the final account, ensuring the correct health and
  safety information has been provided, rectifying defects and, importantly, monitoring the building
  through its initial early use.

Our services during the construction phase provides you with expert advice when the unexpected occurs. With an experienced professional involved in the project there is a greater likelihood that the construction phase will finish on time and within budget.