How an architect can help you throughout your self-build project
Hiring an architect is an important part of your self-build project. An experienced architect can help bring your vision to fruition and can also help with the decision-making process, budgets and timelines.
One of the main benefits of self-building is that you get to make your own choices about your house. And hiring a qualified architect can help you get the most out of your design. A’Bear & Ball Architects LLP are RIBA Chartered Architects based in Oxfordshire and have an extensive and growing track record of designing and delivering self-build homes.
Design to planning
RIBA Chartered Architects can help bring your requirements and ideas together to create a design that fits around your life and that is realistic within your budget. At A’Bear & Ball Architects, we can help prepare a brief and create spatial designs, concept ideas, sketch designs through to scheme design and submission of planning application.
A self-builder we recently worked with commented in their testimonial: “We had a very succinct brief for Damon (height and natural light) and a rough concept drawing and layout to which Damon loosely based our final scheme. However, to our delight, he really rationalised the plan to make it as efficient as possible.
“He cleverly designed in elements that would future-proof our home, making it ‘Lifetime Home’ compliant and also unlocking more value in our property if we ever went on to sell in the future.”
Building regulations and construction information
Experienced architects are an important part of getting detailed construction drawings completed and Building Regulations approval. This can be especially helpful for a self-builder who is wanting to take on their own project management.
Recently, A’Bear & Ball Architects designed a contemporary self-build home in Graven Hill for first-time self-builders. The self-builders then took on their own project management. Detailed construction drawings were vital in helping them efficiently manage the construction of their home.
We handed over a comprehensive set of construction drawings and were retained only on an ad-hoc basis throughout the construction phase. This included construction information comprising of detailed design drawings, schedules, specification, submission for Building Regulations approval and tendering to contractors and builders.
Taking on your own project management
During that specific build, the self-builders remained diligent with ensuring the construction drawings were followed to a tee. And this resulted in a high-quality home built exactly how they envisioned. And in the end, we only needed to have one single video conference call with a plumber throughout the entire build.
The client stated: “When we decided to take on our own project management, Damon’s constructions details and drawings played the most vital role in helping us understand our self-build for our own hands-on input and communicating our needs for the build to subcontractors so that we were able to deliver a self-build home followed through on the design intent to the letter. Quite a feat for first-time self-builders with little experience.”
This project is a spectacular example of how a determined self-builder can deliver an award-winning, high-quality and architecturally exquisite home with limited experience. The key is having a comprehensive construction drawings package carried out by an experienced architect and following them to a tee. This can even be possible without the need for the architect to visit the site during construction.
Hiring a RIBA Chartered Architect
RIBA Chartered Architects don’t help with just the design, a qualified architect can help with budgets, timescales, decision-making and the technical processes. They are a vital part of bringing forward your self-build project.
Damon Ball, Partner at A’Bear & Ball Architects, underwent his own self-build project, providing hands-on experience. His self-build was delivered for just £1,000/m2 in 2015 and was featured on the cover of the December 2016 issue of the Self Build & Design magazine.
A’Bear & Ball Architects was also recently commissioned to design the Practice’s fourth self-build home in Graven Hill, which is the UK’s largest self and custom build community. The Practice has an ever growing track record in designing and delivering contemporary self-build homes with low energy designs.
To learn more about the architectural and design services we offer self-builders, please get in touch.