Introduction

This guide outlines the key stages of a typical project, the range of services we offer as your architect, as well as details about our fees and appointment process.

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Work Stages

Our projects are developed from inception through to completion, generally following the RIBA Plan of Work, as detailed below:

Stage 1 – Preparation & Brief

We will meet you to talk you through your project with the aim of fully understanding and interpreting your brief, timescales & budget. We’ll undertake some preliminary appraisals to assess the options and feasibility of your project. This can range from a sketch design solution to a full feasibility study and will enable you to decide on the best way forward. Additionally, we will identify the need for any approvals and other consultants, most commonly a structural engineer.

Stage 2 – Concept Design 

Using the initial project brief, we will develop outline proposals and present several initial concepts for you to choose from, including some initial suggestions of finishes and design styles. We’ll discuss each design with you to understand what you like/dislike and then make any changes, as necessary, until you are fully satisfied with the design.

Stage 3 – Spatial Coordination

We will spend more time at this stage transforming ideas into something that can be built and refine internal layouts and specify key finishes and materials for the floors, walls, furniture etc. This includes coordinating the work of other consultants into the designs. Once agreed, the design proposals will then be submitted for planning approval, if required.

Stage 4 – Technical Design 

We will now prepare the technical drawings and a specification and/or a schedule of works that will be used to price the tender and construct the building. We’ll also develop detailed finishes schedules and furniture specifications for every area in the property, designing joinery, sanitary and electrical requirements as required, and then invite and appraise tenders from builders and administer the building contract on your behalf, if desired.

Stage 5 – Construction

Throughout the construction phase, we will administer your contract with the builder, carry out regular inspections, deal with queries, instruct any additional work required, monitor progress on site, keep track of costs, value the works and certify payments due to the builder. We will work closely with the contractors and the supply chain to achieve the successful implementation of our design along with the installation and commissioning of all the associated furniture, fixtures, and equipment.

Stage 6 – Handover and Close Out

When your project is ready to handover, we will inspect and value the works and issue a completion certificate. We will be available after handover and during any defects period (normally 12 months) to arrange for certifying the final payment.

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Appointment

Our appointment with you as the Client forms the contractual basis for our agreement and the scope of services we will provide, with a clear list of our tasks and duties. As standard, our appointment with you will be in the form of the RIBA Domestic Professional Services Contract 2020 : Architectural Services.

We will advise if/which other external consultants will be required to deliver your project, to be appointed client direct, with your own contractual agreement.

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Fees

As your architects we enter into contract with you to provide architectural design services for the work stages set out in that agreement, 

If the brief and budget are well defined, our fees can be provided at the start of a project. If this isn’t the case, we work on a time charge basis for the initial feasibility/concept stages until the build cost, size and complexity of the project can be better estimated. Our fees are charged either as a percentage of the contract build cost, or lump sum fixed fees by work st reason the following items are excluded and are chargeable at the hourly rates set our in the appointment.