Sustainable Options for Your Project
What are some of the sustainable, healthy and ethical options that can be used on my project?
Partial Services: ‘I want the drawings but I’ll look after the construction myself’
Clients sometimes approach us saying ‘I want the drawings but I’ll look after the construction myself’ as though the role of the architect after the development approval is negligible. Sometimes, after getting the development consent, they decide to move ahead without …
How to survive your renovation project
You sometimes wonder why we put ourselves through such trouble: we’ve all heard the stories about the family without a bathroom for weeks, using the neighbours’ shower, having to use a builder’s portaloo; without a kitchen, eating out for weeks …
Principles of Sustainable Design
On eco-friendly architecture Sustainability considers the impact of our life on the well-being of the environment. Sustainability has been defined as: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability is …
Cost Planning for Residential Projects
Every project needs a clear budget, and every project has to be designed to meet the financial expectations of the client, otherwise the project will not progress far beyond being a nice idea. At the beginning of a project the …
9 Misconceptions about Architect Services during the Construction Stage
Sometimes I meet clients who only want to engage the architect for the design stage, who do not know that full architect services include follow-up on site. In other cases clients choose not to have the architect involved during the …
Architects fees – how do architects charge?
Architects fees can be tailored to suit your project. The fee is usually structured in one of three ways: as a percentage of the total construction cost; as a fixed fee with a stipulated sum; or as a reflection of …
Renovation design – Alterations & Additions
Every project is an alteration or a renovation of some kind. Even a new building can be seen as the alteration of an existing context by the addition of something new. In the case of renovation design the addition always …
The Development Application Process
People often ask about the Development Application process, having heard stories about appalling council delays. As part of our commitment to making the development process quicker, cheaper and as easy as possible for homeowners, builders and developers, the following may help as …
What do architects do?
Architects create a framework for people’s lives through the design of the buildings that people live in and work in. Design is mainly a mental activity – it is about understanding light, space, structure and order. The work of the …
Why should you hire an architect for your project?
Here are four answers to that question: So it is right first time The design process is based on fulfilling your needs within your budget. It is focused on creating better results for the future, not just on resolving problems for short …
‘How much is it for a set of plans?’
Sometimes we are asked ‘how much is it for a set of plans?’ but of course there is no straightforward answer. The simplest answer is that architects provide a service rather than a product like some drawings: are they drawings of a …
8 common renovating mistakes
A lot of people make these renovating mistakes. They are in no particular order, but they are all to be avoided. 1. Don’t start renovating too early – make sure you have a master plan Many people start small-scale renovations …
Do I have to use an architect – can’t I just go straight to a builder?
Going straight to a builder means you miss out on the important design stage. It sounds obvious but builders specialise in building things, architects specialise in designing spaces for a user. The architect is more interested in the customer experience. …
Won’t an architect’s involvement drive up the cost of my project?
Architects fees pay for extensive forethought about a project before any concrete is poured. By thinking through and drawing the design in detail, an architect can identify potential trouble spots where special attention may be required, thus minimising surprises and …