Services:

Building Design

The primary design of buildings in terms of function, form and regulatory compliance

Brief Development

A good brief is the first step to delivering a successful project. Often clients require help from an expert in formulating the brief for their project and the architect is normally best-placed to assist.

Applying for Planning Permission

Advising if your project requires planning permission and producing the relevant information for making an application to the local authority. You may also engage an architect to provide services in connection with planning appeals. Your architect may communicate on your behalf with planning authorities.

Project Management and Supervision

We offer services to act as PSDP or an alternative person may be appointed to the role. The architect normally is best positioned to act as the project-manager coordinating the other inputs to deliver a project successfully.

Administrating the Building Contract

Dealing on your behalf with the building contractor and administrating the project to ensure that it is delivered in accordance with the design and planning permission.

Coordinating other Consultants

Your project may require the input of specialist consultants such as a Structural Engineer or Quantity Surveyor, and your architect will coordinate their involvement.

Measurement Survey & Drawings

Measure existing buildings for the purpose of making drawings to assist in design proposals for alterations or additions.

Condition Survey

Inspect and establish the condition of a property and prepare a report.

Interior Design

You may engage with the architect to provide you with interior design advise on loose furniture, artworks and finishes.

Sustainability Advice and Design

Your architect can advise you how to optimising orientation, microclimate, building fabric, lifecycle costing, energy and water consumption and ensure compliance with Building Regulations. Additionally, if you require options for future proofing your building against future costs, or creating a zero carbon building the implications can be established by a specific studies at an early stage.

Conservation skills

If the building you own is ‘historic’, a ‘Protected Structure’ or in an ‘Architectural Conservation Area’ you will need the advice of an architect with skills in conservation. Even if your building is not listed by the Planning Authority it can still be worthy of conservation and you will want to make sure that its character is not damaged in the process of any alterations or extensions you plan to carry out.

Urban Design & Master-Planning

Architects are at the forefront of the design of urban spaces in existing and proposed sections of our towns and cities.

Dispute Resolution Services

Architects offer dispute resolution services such as mediation and conciliation.

Work Stages:

Work Stage 1: Appraisal & Definition of Project

Our creative expertise begins with the formulation of a comprehensive project brief in which the client’s objectives and criteria are outlined.

Liaise with client to define and confirm brief
Visit the site
Establish local council requirements
Co-ordinate with necessary consultants (engineer, land surveyor, quantity surveyor or any other specialist consultants required.)
Collate necessary site info
Meet with client if necessary

Work Stage 2: Design Concept

Preliminary design concepts illustrating possible design solutions and configurations are prepared based on project necessities and budgets. The concepts are reviewed and the respective merits of each being pointed out and responded to with the input of the client.

Prepare initial set of sketch plans
Liaise with client to review design and re-appraise Stage 1 brief

Work Stage 3: Design Development

The selected design concept is refined and scrutinised for conformity to the design objectives and measured against budget expectations.

Develop initial sketch plans
Co-ordinate with structural engineer
Liaise with client and review design and brief as required
Refine design to establish final agreed sketch plan

Work Stage 4a: Statutory Submission

Our experience with local authority submissions ensures that local authority guidelines and building regulation statutory requirements are adhered to. These obligations are reflected in our bouquet of documentation which thus ensures that successful planning permission is obtained.

Prepare necessary documentation and drawings based on final sketch plan for council submission
Client liaison
Submit to council for approval & administer approval process

Work Stage 4b: Technical Documentation

Complete technical documentation is prepared with specifications to guide the contractor in the construction stage. All projects frequently require the input of various specialised consultants whose knowledge is comprehensively incorporated and reflected within the construction documentation prepared and issued by us.

Prepare set of detail drawings and specifications for construction & tender purposes
Client & consultant liaison as required
Call for tenders

Work Stage 5: Contract Administration & Inspections

Contract Administration: Building contract administration is a vital legally binding commitment to ensure successful project delivery is realised. Our capabilities include administering the relevant building contract types as well as co-ordination between the various consultants and specialists.

Inspection: Areas such as workmanship, design conformity and adherence to building regulation as well as local authority codes are strictly monitored via frequent site visits. This supervision helps determine whether construction is proceeding to realistic and acceptable standards resulting in the obtaining of necessary certification upon completion.

Issue & award tender/s i.e. contract building team.
Administer contract, issue site instructions.
Act as principle agent between the builder/s and client.
Control the issuing and amendments to all contract documentation.
Regular site inspections and certification of drawings and contract documents.
Assist builder/s in interpretation of drawings and contract documents.
Inspect for defects & certify works and issue payment as well as final completion certificates.
Close and finalize snags and reconcile payments.

Workstage 6: Project close out

Our knowledge of the construction completion stage allows us to determine whether the obligations of the contractor have been fulfilled, which allows us to issue the relevant certifications vital for the project to operate for the purposes of which it is intended.