FAQ

• Architects are trained to take your brief, and can see the big picture looking beyond your immediate requirements to design flexible buildings that can adapt with the changing needs of your home or business.
• Architects solve problems creatively and, if they are involved at the earliest planning stage, they gain more opportunities to understand the way you live, or your business needs, and develop creative solutions, and maybe propose ways to reduce costs.
• Architects can save you money by maximising your investment as a well-designed building can reduce your bills now and increase its long-term value.
• Architects can manage your project from site selection to completion. In many building projects the role of the architect includes co-ordinating a team of specialist consultants such as landscape architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, interior designers, builders and subcontractors.
• Architects can save you time by managing and co-ordinating key project elements they allow you to focus on your organisation’s activities.
• Architects can help your business by creating total environments, interior and exterior, which are pleasing and functional for the people who work and do business within them.

All architects must be registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB), and are governed by its Code of Conduct. (www.arb.org.uk). Architects may also register with The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) to obtain Chartered status and are governed by its Code of Conduct (www.riba.org). Architects are obliged to undertake continuing training to keep abreast of current developments in the construction industry, project management, design issues and statutory regulations.

All practicing architects are required to hold professional indemnity insurance.

The size and complexity of your project will determine what other professionals will need to be involved. Whatever the case, Design Principle Studio can suggest and arrange a suitable team to guide your project forward.

As soon as we are appointed we will draw up a schedule for your project and the various work stages.  Depending on the complexity of your project we will explain how long each stage will take and set targets for their completion.

The first step in approaching your project would be a preliminary meeting for you to tell us about your project and for us to explain the design process to you in detail. We offer this preliminary consultation to you free of charge!

After a sketch scheme has been prepared, we discuss the proposals in detail before firming up the proposals. We then submit the finalised scheme for Planning Permission.

Obtaining Planning Permission takes maybe two months, and sometimes, it may not be possible to achieve all you want.

After this period, we complete the design to include more detailed drawings and a project specification. We then submit the scheme to the Council again for consideration under the Building Regulations.

We deal with any queries which may arise and negotiate as appropriate until approvals are obtained.

For small projects, we generally provide a design service only. Sometimes for domestic projects, and often for larger projects, we obtain prices from builders and keep an eye on the progress of the construction project. Our Clerk of Works can make weekly visits to ensure a satisfactory standard of workmanship is achieved. Even if we are not employed to oversee the work, we are happy to answer any query which may arise on site.

To make full use of the consultation please come prepared to discuss your budget, goals and needs, at your initial consultation. All of these issues are essential in determining what kind of project is structurally and financially feasible.

When we meet meet you, we will assess how we can best contribute to your project. At that meeting we will run through what will be involved from the early stages of developing a design to its construction.