Our Services
Initial Enquiry
The initial enquiry is you contacting us either by phone, contact form/email, or face to face and picking our brains.
All our initial enquiries are free and we will give as much time as respectively needed to guide you through the process, explain how it all works and answer any questions. We can then provide you with a fixed quotation. It allows you to make a decision on which architecture practice to instruct. This process does not always have to be done in person and can be done through questionnaires, phone calls and emails.
​
Simply put, you say hi, we give you advice and provide a fixed quote.
Advice
Our advice is available for everyone, from self builders, to developers and first time renovators. For a small hourly charge we come to your property and answer any questions you may have. This is simply a conversation led by the client. Our initial free enquiry answers a lot of questions, but the advice service is for those looking for specific technical building questions to be answered, or explanations on how to undertake technical elements. With Jonathan’s 20 years of experience this service is about you using our knowledge and gaining from it to further your project. This advice can be paramount if all the online information gets overwhelming and you want a straight forward answer.
​
Advice can be given on all parts of the design and build process, however most of the time the technical questions are the ones clients really want answering.
Feasibility Study
Our feasibility study is a low-cost way of you exploring the options of either a space you already own, or a space you are looking to purchase. This process uses existing plans from estate agents, previous planning applications or any other plans of the property you may have to create possible outcomes for your design. Using sketches and simple plans it quickly explores if the feasibility of your project is worth moving forwards with. It reduces both the time and costs you may incur having measured surveys and design drawings undertaken if your project is not viable to move forwards. A feasibility study can also give you a guide on how much a project may cost to build.
​
What does a feasibility study consider?
• Your outline brief
• Your budget
• Planning constraints
• Technical constraints
The Brief
The brief is a crucial part of any project no matter how small, or how complex. Without the brief there is no base from which to start from. The brief can sometimes come before the measured survey or after. The timing of the brief often depends on the size and complexity of your project. The brief is designed to create a plan on which the design process can grow.
The brief draws from several areas, including our knowledge, your requirements and the site constraints. The final outcome is a proposal that you are happy with and will achieve you full planning permission approval. The cost of the brief is always included in the concept design stage.
Measured Survey
Our measured surveys are always undertaken in house by Jonathan. We create a 2D CAD model and use a laser measuring device to make sure we survey your property fully and accurately. Our measured surveys can take anything from 1 hour to a complete day, it really depends on the size and complexity of the site. All our measured surveys are then taken back to our studio and a full set of original plans and elevations are put together.
​
Measured surveys are very important, get this stage wrong and when the time comes for the builders to start, items may not be in the correct place. We therefore always produce a measured survey for every project, small or large.
Concept Design
The concept design is a meeting of design ideas, thoughts on how your project may technically be built, you ‘the clients’ ideas, site constraints and the brief. A concept design can be simple or more complex and can change several times through the design process. All designs are presented to the client either face to face or through email and developed to produce an outcome ready to be submitted to planning.
We offer 3D models of both internal and external spacers. We offer 2 different levels of 3D model both being optional extras. Some simple projects may not require said models and it is therefore not worth you paying for it. However more complex or design led schemes can be greatly enhanced by the use of models. We always include this in our quote as an optional extra, meaning if these visuals are not included you simply get a better price. We will always advise if we think your project could greatly benefit from a 3D model.
A basic massing model to communicate initial scheme ideas
Planning Application
Planning applications are the formal part of the design process. These are the drawings that we submit to the council, these drawings sell your project and allow the planners to clearly see what we are proposing. There is a lot of skill involved with creating a great set of planning drawings and backing it up with all the correct documentation. We will handle everything from creating the planning package, to submitting your application and managing it.
​
• We can advise on if you require planning permission and your permitted development rights.
• We can undertake lawful development certificates.
• We can submit planning applications in AONB and conservation areas.
• We can submit planning applications on listed buildings.
Building Regulations
Building regulation applications can be undertaken via 2 routes:
• Building notice
• Full plans submission
​
The first route is largely left up to your builder, this can work if the project is simple, and you have a good, competent builder in place. However, we would always recommend using a full plans submission.
​
This method gives you a full set of working drawings, explaining exactly how your home or extension will be built, these drawings often work hand in hand with our structural engineers’ drawings and calculations. A good set of building regulation drawings are more important when it comes to the construction phase than your planning drawings. These are the drawings with the details and measurements on. These are the drawings that builders will trust to create your new extension, loft conversion or new build home. We undertake all these drawings, submit them to the local authority, or private inspector and manage the application on your behalf.
Construction Drawings
Construction drawings are not always required. For straight forward projects all the information required is often found on the building regulation drawings. However for more complex schemes, construction drawings provide the details necessary to help with accurate pricing and successful tenders. These drawings also help to eliminate any issues that may arise on site, saving you money and allowing your project to run smoother.
​
We also offer 3D renders of exactly how your project will be built. This is a great way to explore potential problems and fix them in the 3D world and not on the construction site. These 3D models are built brick by brick, timber by timber just like they would be on site.
Interior Architecture
Interior architecture is necessary if you are looking to refurbish or renovate a home but do not want to necessarily extend or convert. This service is not an interior design service but rather exists in the area between interior designer and architect. It’s a standalone place that allows you to compile design drawings and working drawings for:
• Concept layouts and space planning
• Kitchens
• Bathrooms
• Bedrooms
• Built in furniture
• Wall and floor finishes
• Internal joinery
• Colours and material specifications
​
The structure of a space being renovated is also very important, a lot of people rely on their builder to find issues, however this way can be costly and un-predictable. We offer a full survey service, drawing on our knowledge of construction to advise if your property requires new electrics, heating systems, which walls are load bearing, structural timber elements, and plaster and damp conditions. We can then specify the correct path to remove or renovate these elements. Undertaking your project this way around allows you to get ahead of any future costs and plan every element into your budget, before any work even starts.
​
Our interior architecture service exists to allow you a complete and organised way of renovating a property in advance of undertaking any actual work itself. It removes the reliance on builders to find problems as they go and means you can really control both the cost and speed of your renovation.
​
Our interior architecture service works on both properties being refurbished but also new build properties and extensions that require the same level of detail.
Tender Package
For you to be able to receive accurate, professional and like for like quotes from builders then a tender package is a must. A tender package helps prevent you from any he said/she said scenarios. It clearly setts out the scope of works and makes sure both the builder and client know what each other is responsible for. Tender packages are an accumulation of all your drawings plus other items such as contracts, schedule of works etc.
​
We can submit your tender package to a selection of builders and present our findings and tender quotes to you. This takes out the initial stress of you having to wade through many, many builders to find the correct one.
​
Once you have found the correct builder we are happy to meet with them, and you on site and answer any questions prior to work commencing.