Most people have never worked with an architect. In fact, the proportion of the adult population in the UK that has commissioned or directly worked with an architect is likely just a few percent. For those who are looking for an architect to design or extend their new home, the lack of experience can cause an understandable anxiety. Not knowing what comes next, what to expect, can make anyone pause, uncertain about whether to proceed.
With this blog post, alongside my ‘Designing Your Project Together’ page and the free downloadable guide ‘From Brief to Building’ (and further posts planned), I am aiming to answer your questions, so you know what the journey from first contact to completion contains. It’s more straightforward than you think.
You may have identified a need for more space, or the spaces in your house don’t flow quite right. You may have a plot of land and dream about a new home to be built on it. Whatever prompts you to take the first step the initial stage is a conversation, not an interrogation. I’ll ask you to fill out a questionnaire to better grasp what it is you’re looking for. Questions include what you want to achieve, your budget, and your sustainability ambitions. After that I will look to book in an initial consultation, during which I’ll look at your home or site to understand the possibilities and constraints. We’ll discuss how you live your life – do you all gather for breakfast, do you need somewhere in the afternoon sun for a quiet cup of tea, how indoors / outdoors are you?
Within a couple of weeks after the consultation I will provide you with a report that sums up our conversation, design options we discussed, sketches we created. I will also provide you with a fee proposal should you decide to go any further and a timeline for the whole process.
From there, the initial design stages begin with information gathering – analysing the site, looking at planning constraints, getting the house or site surveyed, and developing the brief into a foundation that is deliverable within your budget and feasible on your site. On this basis I’ll develop two or three design options exploring different approaches to the brief, with sketches, drawings, visuals, and / or study models to explain it.
This part of the process is iterative – I will show you options, you respond, and the design gets refined for a further review. You will have necessary input on massing, the flow between spaces, and see your ideas take shape. You’ll make decisions on layouts, room sizes, and the general feel of the project. Here is where the biggest changes can be made at the lowest cost. Sustainability aims, whether that’s achieving Passivhaus standards or simply creating a more energy-efficient home, are best incorporated from the start, not bolted on later. Along the way the various goals of the project will click together, resulting in a single concept to move forward and be developed into a design to be submitted for planning permission if it’s needed.
It may be that we decide to discuss the project with the planning department before the submission, where the design may be considered contentious or it is a sensitive site. We can then take their feedback on board and incorporate it where suitable.
From starting the project proper through to submitting the planning application can take anywhere from ten weeks to twenty-four. This is quite a wide range and depends on the project’s complexity, but I will give an indication of how long I believe it will take with the fee proposal.
The planning process exists to ensure private development and the wider public interest are balanced, to protect amenity and character, and to manage the cumulative effect on infrastructure. Hopefully the application will move through the process without any drama, but it may be that the planning authority need more information or would like changes to the design. I’ll lead these discussions with them, keeping you informed of any comments and their implications. If need be, I will undertake revisions to the design.
The planning process should take eight to thirteen weeks, depending on the type of application, but it is possible that it takes much longer.
Once we’ve received planning permission and celebrated, the technical design starts. This takes the design and looks at what the elements are, what materials are used, how they fit together. Wall build-ups, insulation specifications, window details, airtightness strategies for Passivhaus certification. It is the information that a builder needs to build. There is less need for your input during this stage, unless you are looking to self-build and would like input on how it is to be put together.
A common misconception is that an architect’s job ends once the drawings are approved. In reality, once construction starts I conduct regular site visits – monthly at minimum, more often if needed – to check progress and solve problems as they arise. Some issues can be resolved on site; others I’ll work through back at the office.
The building contract sits between you and your contractor, but I act as your agent – your representative ensuring the building is constructed as shown in the drawings and that the contract is undertaken fairly between all parties. This three-way relationship between you, your builder, and me works when communication flows clearly and everyone understands their role.
How long this phase takes varies enormously by project scale – a single-storey extension might take twelve weeks on site, while a new build could span up to eighteen months.
Communication is key to smooth running. During the design phase, you can expect weekly updates as the project evolves rapidly. During planning, I’ll keep you regularly informed of any developments or requests from the council. Once construction starts, you’ll receive monthly reports following site visits.
Between these scheduled updates, you can absolutely contact me – whether you’ve spotted something in a magazine you’d like to discuss, want to change something, or just want to check how things are progressing. The intent is to keep you well informed without overwhelming you with every technical detail. Though if you do want to hear about damp proof membranes, I’m happy to talk at length!
Each project is unique, but the steps taken along the journey follow a proven path – one that begins with a simple conversation.
The relationship between architect and client matters enormously. We’ll be working together for months on what is likely a life-changing project, so it’s worth taking that first step to see if we’re a good fit.
Send me a message or fill out the questionnaire to book a consultation. And if you’re still uncertain about whether now is the right time, ‘Why Book an Initial Consultation?‘ addresses many of the common hesitations.