The Architectural Design Process
Working with an Architect- Part 2
STEP 3 – Fee Proposal
Once the brief is explained, your architect will be able to understand the amount of design work required to realise your project and quote accordingly. Usually, fee proposals are based on an educated guess of how many hours the tasks are going to take and multiply the expected time by the hourly rates applied to the resources who can undertake the tasks. This calculation is based on previous experiences on similar projects, which is why it is helpful to appoint an architect who has sufficient experience, or you might be hit with additional fees as the original fee was not quite right to start with. A one-man band can offer you a very good price to start with, but it is very likely that he is a lot less experienced than a well-established architectural practice, so choose your architect carefully. The advice is always to approach a couple of professionals to be able to compare the fees and the services available. Don’t just look at the numbers – make sure you are clear on what it is that your money is buying. It is very likely that the more expensive architect can offer additional services, such as 3D models or even Virtual Reality architecture, and that would justify a higher fee. To find out more about virtual architecture, you can read the following blog:
https://axisarchitecture.co.uk/vr-the-future-of-architectural-design/
STEP 4 – Chosen your Architect
You have now received your fee proposals from a couple of architects, you have studied and
understood the fee breakdown and you have made your choice, maybe after asking some questions
to clarify the fee. You now know what each architect offers, and you will also have a gut feeling as to who you want to work with. Very well, you are ready to start, so you will need to give your architect written instructions. Good and well organised architectural practices will ask you to sign a contract and if they are RIBA Architects, chances are that they will ask you to sign a ‘RIBA Domestic Professional Services Contract 2020: Architectural Services’. Make sure you request their terms & conditions, so you are aware of what you are signing in full.
STEP 5 – Starting the Architectural Design Process (RIBA Stage 1)
With the Contract in place, your Architect can now get the ball rolling. The first stage is RIBA Stage 1
where the project brief is finalised, including the Project Outcomes; Sustainability Outcomes; Quality Aspirations; etc. Your architect will need to get existing plans and elevations to be able to start. It is probable that this was included in your services and your Architect is ready to undertake a full survey and produce all the information in house. For more extensive projects, you might need to appoint a surveyor to get hold of a topographical drawing and your Architect will be able to provide you with a quote and coordinate with the consultant, helping you make the process as easy as possible
To undertake the survey, your surveyor / architect will need access to every room, loft, garage,
garden in your property. You will not need to be present as long as you can provide access. Don’t
worry if your house is messy – as long as it’s not a mountain of stuff, most surveyors / architects will
be able to take the dimensions with a little electronic device with a laser point called DISTO. This
allows them to take dimensions in a matter of seconds.
