Ellis House by BUF Architecture. Photo by Edmund Sumner.
Here at Designs in Detail, we celebrate architecture as a profession and showcase beautifully designed domestic projects that improve the built environment through high-quality design.
Whether you’re looking to build just a small extension or a one-off new-build house, hiring the services of a skilled architect will without a doubt elevate your project to another level.
It will also save you money. Building projects are expensive, and an architect will extract maximum design value from even the tightest of budgets – creating inspirational spaces that improve the quality of your day-to-day life.
The title ‘architect’ is protected by law and legally describes someone who is qualified to design and oversee the construction of buildings.
Architects are the highest qualified design consultants in the construction industry.
To qualify, a person must complete 7 years of professional training – 5 years at university and 2 years in professional practice – and register with the Architects Registration Board (ARB). The ARB regulates architects in the UK and ensures all members have the required qualifications to practice.
Architects must abide by the ARB’s Architects Code, which set out standards of professional conduct, and maintain Professional Indemnity Insurance to cover the services they undertake. If a person is not ARB registered, they are not an architect.
Many registered architects also choose to become Chartered Members of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
More:
Architect vs architectural designer – what’s the difference?
A common misconception is that architects just come up with the creative ideas while others make them work. This is far from the case.
Architects can organise your project from start to finish, apply for all necessary approvals to enable the building works to take place, coordinate work carried out by other consultants and oversee the site works so they are built according to the building contract.
Services for in a residential project may include:
There are many! An architect can:
A high-quality set of plans is crucial to any successful building project, but it will only take you so far. Retaining the services of an architect through the construction phase will ensure:
You do not need an architect if you:
Architect fees vary depending on the location, complexity of the project, and level of service required. Fees are proposed as a percentage of estimated build costs, a fixed lump sum, or on a time charge basis. How you decide to use an architect is largely up to you and services can be tailored to suit your needs.
We go into a lot more detail about architect costs here - How much do architects cost in the UK?
Good architects are in high demand, and it can be difficult to find the right one for your project.
For each project featured on Designs in Detail you will find links to the architect’s website and other the consultants involved. Another place to start is RIBA’s website.
Initially reach out to gauge general interest and availability. Then follow up by sending a briefing document outlining your main requirements and arrange a meeting on site. Successful architecture is born out of trust between client and architect. Meeting face to face will give you an opportunity to see if they are the right fit and give the architect a chance to explain how they will approach the project.
If you have a positive meeting, the architect will send you a fee proposal outlining their scope of services, associated fees, and availability.
If the architect’s fee proposal is acceptable you, the next stage is to put the agreement into writing.
RIBA’s Domestic Services Contract is suitable for appointing an architect for home renovation projects.
The RIBA Standard Professional Services Contract is appropriate for larger projects, such as one-off new build houses, where more detailed contract terms are needed.
The architect will help you prepare the contract and answer any queries.
Whether it is a small extension or a one-off new build house, the input of a skilled architect will elevate the quality of your project and save you money.
Construction as an activity is a relatively expensive endeavour. However, some of the best buildings are built to extremely tight budgets, forcing the architect to remove anything superfluous to requirements and extract the most out of every aspect of the building.
Architects are trained to manipulate space, exploit views and natural light and make the most of any given site. They will take simple materials and technologies and elevate them above the ordinary to create unique, uplifting environments.
The projects below are examples of how an architect can extract value, be it through extracting the most of a constrained site or budget.
House Lessans by McGonigle McGrath Architects. New build house forming part of a Northern Irish farmstead built for the equivalent to the cost of inner-city social housing. Photo by Aidan McGrath.
Pocket House by Tikari Works. Half subterranean home built on a small garage site. Photo by Edmund Sumner.
Ellis House by BUF Architecture. Terrace house extension, refurbishment and landscaping built on a very modest budget. Photo by Edmund Sumner.
New Barn by Rural Office For Architecture. A flexible barn space utilised as temporary home built using utilitarian materials on a tight budget. Photo by Mojo Photography.
About the author: Aron Coates is an architect with over two decades of experience, encompassing projects ranging from the restoration of historic buildings to the design of contemporary homes.
The information provided in this article is intended for general guidance and educational purposes only. At Designs in Detail, we advise you appoint a skilled residential architect to provide specific expert advice for your project.
