outset need and options review
The problem
It is not uncommon for people to know they want to do a building or renovating project and have thought about it quite a bit, but don’t know how best to start, or worse yet, to launch into design services without carefully establishing the groundwork for the project.
“A surgeon wouldn’t operate without a proper diagnosis” likewise, it is very risky to begin design without first establishing your project’s unique objectives, parameters and aesthetics.
The promise
For this reason, we designed the Outset Needs and Options review as a diagnostic tool to allow you and us to fully understand the requirements, constraints, desires, aesthetics and establish the vision and parameter for your project and:
It will minimize your risk of faulty design decisions by laying the proper groundwork upfront
It will allow you to create the proper foundation for a project, saving money in the long run
It will allow you to explore your goals for the project in a structured format
It will give you a plan to move forward
It will give you design options with a rough budget for each of them
It helps us determine if this working relationship is a fit for both parties before fully committing to further design services
perfect ‘fit’
Choosing an architect isn’t easy. It would be best to have the right architect with the specific skill for your unique home project. The right ‘fit’ between you and your architect is vital.
This may or not be me!
In our experience, the best way of finding out whether we are the right ‘fit’ is for us to understand what you are looking for in your project. We will achieve this through an initial consultation and our Outset Needs and Options Review. If we then discover that we are not an ideal ‘fit’, you are free to take the review report to another designer for them to continue the process.
Design director
Architect Silviu Pasargiu ARB, RIBA
After finishing his master's degree in Refurbishments and Creative remodelling in 2009, Silviu helped hundreds of young families remodel outdated houses and transform them into an ideal space that they would be proud to call home.
The Process
We developed this process while doing our bespoke residential projects. We saw an issue in these projects that people are starting design and construction before thoroughly doing their research and homework before critiquing their ideas.
This applies across the construction industry. We observe that our clients buy houses or development sites before fully understanding their potential or the financial implications of refurbishing the house or developing a new build custom home or site. People are trying to run before they have mastered the walk.
The foundations are the most critical part of the house because everything is built on top. It’s very expensive to change the foundations once you have started to build upwards. But it’s effortless to change them if they are simply lines on a plan.
So we spend a little more time on the research than most other firms who rush their clients into the design phase.
The Outset Needs and Options Review is a structured process that includes the following:
First, we will meet to discuss your primary objectives for the project.
We will send you a design questionnaire and examples of similar projects to fully understand the requirements, constraints, desires, and aesthetics.
We produce a detailed site analysis to determine the specific opportunities and constraints of the site.
We will identify potential roadblocks for the project.
We prepare hand-sketched design options with views and layouts to suit different budgets.
We will provide a preliminary rough order of construction cost estimates for budget usage for each option.
We will provide a preliminary programme or timeline for each option.
We will perform a planning search report with approved and rejected planning applications in the area.
We will include a schedule of services and fee proposal for the following stages of the project.
We will produce a report including all the above.
We will have a follow-up meeting to discuss the report.