Building a house from scratch isn’t an easy feat because this will require a lot of time and effort. As an aspiring homeowner, expect that regardless of how well-planned you think the project is, you will still experience countless roadblocks along the way. Often, the more complex the architectural project is, the more problems you’re bound to encounter.
To create a new architectural project, it must go through a series of phases. These are necessary to complete the project properly, with the right permissions to build and using appropriate building materials. If you want your house architectural project to have the best outcome, like the ones from Eimer Design, it’s essential that you understand and go through these phases.
Whilst architects love the design phase, there are many other aspects to it. In this example, we’ll use a home build for illustration purposes. We hope that this article provides a little bit of insight into the other facets.
1. Initial Research Phase
In the initial research phase, we look at how you live in your current home and what lifestyle is preferred. We will take the time to assess how many people are going to live with you and what kind of lifestyle each member has. While this might seem unusual, it significantly impacts the design choices to come later.
For instance, if you or your family enjoy outdoor space when at home and the weather is good, then a greater emphasis can be applied there. If your family loves to bond while watching movies, an entertainment room might be considered in your interior design. It’s important to determine what your family loves doing so we can incorporate those activities in your home design.
Once the design budget is established, and in combination with lifestyle choices, a design brief is put together. The initial design will be consulted to you to ensure that this meets your requirements or expectations.
2. Choosing Your Architect/Building Team
The choice of an architecture firm and building team is a critical one.
They will be looking at the best design and what materials are a good choice for said design. Much of the time, this will include the materials that fit the budget and have the desired appearance.
Architects and builders must be practical when it comes to building materials. Materials need to be durable, perform the purpose they’re intended for, be affordable, and look good, too. It’s a big task at times.
The architect or building team you choose to hire can make or break the success of your house architectural project, which is why you should be careful in choosing. If this is your first time to be involved in a house architectural project, spend some time scouting for options and only choose credible contractors. Paying your hard-earned money to contractors who will only cause stress or even delay the project is one of the last things you want to happen.
For example, council paving slabs are excellent concrete slabs for the front or surrounding walkways of a home. They come in two fixed sizes, which allows architects to plan their inclusion easily within home design. You can get a hold of these through Armstrong Supplies who have the two different sizes, which are available here. This gives designers a starting point for their exterior planning.
3. Finding the Right Land
Finding the right land is another important stage.
It has a bearing on the plot size and the architectural design, too. You won’t be able to see your house design come to life if the land you choose is too small or steep.
This search may happen concurrently with the home design because of the time it takes to locate the right plot, negotiate, and secure it.
It’s a reality that for many people getting a home designed and built to their specifications, the size of the planned home dictates the size of the plot (and not the other way around). This means that your house architectural project should always start by designing a home and then finding a land that matches with the design. The house design should be your basis in finding a land.
Factors to consider with land selection include:
- Location
- Road access, including regional motorways and/or international airport(s)
- Access to utilities (electricity, gas, water, phone/internet, waste disposal)
- Flat or sloped land
- Potential for harnessing solar energy (for green home designs)
- Overshadowing or obstructions to the view
- Water drainage from rainstorms
4. Design Brief, Fees, and Contracts
The design brief pulls together everything that’s been learned to date. It then lays out the specifics about what the design will require.
It might include specifics like the number of bedrooms, the approximate size of the kitchen, outdoor access, driveway size, and so forth. The basic concept should be clear for everyone.
The fees and a contract confirm that the project is moving ahead. Once signed, the project moves from a theoretical idea to one that will proceed through to fruition.
Following this, the architectural house concept design, development, and final design are subject to approval. Once approved, and planning permission is received from the local council, then the building phase will begin shortly thereafter. These are stages that cannot and should not be rushed. They’re all important in their own right.
