Shane O'Brien – Bachelor of Architecture

What is involved in the design process?

For many clients the design of their new home, or their alterations and additions, is one of the biggest financial and emotional investments they will make in their lives. To help you understand the process, refer to the following seven stages briefly explaining the path toward your home’s construction.
Read on…
  • Initial consultation
    • The initial consultation is free of charge. We start with preliminary discussion of your requirements and gain a broad outline of your needs and desires, likes and dislikes, budget and timeframe.
  • Pre-design
    • Once you have decided to commit to the process we enter the information gathering stage, where we collaboratively develop a detailed design brief. The brief documents the information necessary for both parties – client and architect – to confidently and effectively move forward through the design process.

    Visiting your site is essential to get a feel for the features and surroundings of your home. If we’re doing alterations and additions, this is when we measure-up the house in order to draw up the house as it exists.
  • Preliminary design
    • The creative stage begins here. A number of sketch drawings are prepared and presented to you for your input.

    The drawings are amended and refined based on your feedback.

    The end product is the agreed sketch design – this is what your house is going to look like.
  • Design documentation and approval
    • The approved sketch design is developed, in digital format, into a final design solution.

    The input from consultants (engineer, energy assessor, surveyor or the like) is coordinated into the drawings.

    An opinion of probable costs is sought through this stage, providing the opportunity to bring the design into budget in the event it has strayed.

    Documentation is lodged for approval with the relevant authority (ACTPLA or NSW local council).
  • Construction documentation
    • Additional information is added to the drawings and a detailed tender specification is compiled to allow builders to confidently tender for the project.

    Documents are submitted for construction certificate or building approval, dependant on the approving regulatory authority.
  • Tendering and negotiating
    • Tenders (quotes) are called from builders and any queries are responded to.

    Tenders are processed and a recommendation is made for the preferred tenderer.
  • Contract administration
    • Now we enter the next exciting stage – construction of the project.

    If you’re not prepared to manage the build, a building contract can be put in place where Shane acts as your representative in dealings with the builder.

    You are involved in decision making and kept abreast of progress.