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Our Process
Clear stages, honest advice and support from first sketch to final handover.
Designing a home is a big undertaking. As Perth architects, we guide you through six clear stages that keep your project aligned with your vision, timeline and budget, and we check in with you before moving to each new stage.
How working with us begins
It starts with a conversation, in person, on Teams or over the phone. We'll talk through your site, your goals and how we can help.
From there, you can engage us for Full Services, covering all six stages below, or Partial Services, which covers everything up to the start of construction.
Our Client Architect Agreement is flexible. You can pause, resume or stop at the end of any stage if your circumstances change.
In this stage we have our first site meeting. We establish goals and objectives for your project together with you, and help you to create your Design Brief, such as what types of spaces, and amenities you desire, your likes and dislikes, what aspects of the site are important to you, as well as budget, and any parameters imposed by the Planning Authority. We then workshop various design approaches in-studio with our team of experienced and talented architects. We test these various design concepts against the criteria and develop at least one that fulfills the objectives of the Design Brief to present to you. We use 3D modelling software, hand sketching, line drawings and imagery to communicate our ideas with you. After we present these, we take your feedback and make any tweaks or adjustments as necessary.
When you are happy with the Concept Design, we proceed to develop this in more detail so various sub-stages of design are incorporated in the Design Development stage. We consider in depth the many aspects of the design such as materiality, structural strategy, services, building codes and planning guidelines. These are incorporated into the 3D model and communicated to you visually. We liaise further with the local planning authority and address any issues that may arise. After providing you with an updated projected Cost of Works we can then submit the plans for Town Planning approval.
(Stage 3) While the project is in Town Planning, we use this time to make selections for the internal finishes and fixtures. You may be involved in this ‘as much or as little’ as you like. Most of our clients are busy people who like us to make all the selections for them. With our product knowledge together with our knowledge of your likes and dislikes, we can develop a suite of sample finishes and fixtures for your approval. Your chosen items are incorporated into the 3D model as we proceed, so you are visually informed of the aesthetic as the stage progresses. When you are happy with the selections, they are finalised and scheduled. In this stage we also design the cabinetry work, lighting layouts, and liaise with our subcontractors on the integration of services such as air conditioning, solar and home automation. Consultants are onboarded for preliminary input such as the Energy Assessor and the Structural Engineer.
We can advance to this stage mid-way through stage 2 to expedite the process. Once the external envelope and façade materiality are finalised, we are ready to submit the design for planning approval. We have a pre lodgement consultation with the planning authority to ensure we have met all their requirements and then make a formal submission. While the plans are being considered for approval, we spend this time on internal finishes in stage 2 and /or, if this is complete, we advance to stage 4 so the Town Planning Stage can overlap with the timeline of the adjoining stages to maintain the momentum of the project.
When the Design Development stage is complete, we commence the process of technical drafting. A package of detailed drawings, documents and specifications are created to tender and construct your new home. This stage involves liaising with the Structural Engineer and coordination of any other consultants. As we document our projects in 3D BIM any clashes between structure, and services are ironed out in this stage, and all the consultants’ designs are incorporated in the model, so you and the team of consultants are fully informed. When complete we take you through the final package and 3D model in detail and your approval is sought to progress to the Contractor Selection stage.
We typically invite up to 3 suitably qualified builders to provide a competitive tender. We meet them onsite, respond to any queries and provide them with all the information necessary to obtain a comprehensive quotation. Once the tenders are returned (typically 3 weeks) we provide you with a summary to enable you to choose your preferred builder. If it is necessary to make any cost savings we do so with the chosen builder. We then prepare a Contract Signing package for you to appoint your builder, and they can now commence the process of constructing your new home.
Throughout the build, we administer the contract between you and the builder. We assess the builder’s payment claims and get quotes for certain components of the project to bring you value where we can. We set up regular site meetings with the builder and monitor that the work is in accordance with the drawings. We know the building intimately at this stage and our knowledge base is invaluable when the project is onsite. You may choose not to engage us for this stage. This is called Partial Services. The Contract Administration stage extends past Practical Completion when you occupy the home and we prepare a snag list for your builder, to the end of the building contract’s Defects Liability Period, when we revisit the home (typically 12 months after completion) and create a list of any items that need to be addressed by the builder.
