Architects have existed for as long as humans have walked the earth! From palaeolithic hominins fashioning nest-like shelters to Imhotep designing the Pharaoh’s tomb in ancient contemporary architects of the 21st century, Egypt, to the c who bring innovation and unique imagination to our visions for new homes and developments.
Nowadays, the idea of complex planning permission applications, the risk of falling foul to cowboy builders, and generally poor architectural design can be overwhelming for most clients. However, architects offer invaluable services and a wealth of knowledge to help simplify the entire process from inception to completion.
What Value Does an Architect Add to a Project?
When you’re putting your most significant asset into the hands of a virtual stranger, you need to be sure it will increase in monetary and emotional value.
A good architect, like those at GRK Architecture, will be there for you, offering design solutions that align with your visions to maximise your investment. Any architect worth their salt will strive to complete your project under budget without compromising safety and sustainability.
In addition to bringing imagination, innovation, and design flair to a project, an architect can ease the process of applying for planning permission by preparing the necessary drawings and documents. This increases the likelihood of getting planning permission approval the first time around.
They will even contact your Local Planning Authority (LPA) on your behalf if needed. The Building Regulations application process will also seem easier thanks to their extensive knowledge of the legislation and their provision of technical drawings required for approval.
Your architect will mitigate risk and act as the leader of your project team, providing you with vital insights and advice on quality contractors and consultants. They will ensure your design visions are adhered to and implemented as much as possible while overseeing the construction process to ensure it is carried out safely and in line with current legislation until the project is complete.
Why Having an Architect is Important for the Client
No matter how confident you may feel about handling all the work for your development project, without an architect’s qualifications, knowledge, and experience, you are likely to take avoidable risks that could be extremely costly in the long run. It’s not always necessary to use an architect throughout the entire development project process, so you can always utilise them for the parts you know you’ll struggle with the most and then continue on with the rest alone.
Having an architect provides clients peace of mind, knowing their project is in good hands. ‘Architect’ is a legally protected term; no one can call themselves an architect unless they are registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB), and only architectural practices registered with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) can be called a RIBA Chartered Practice.
Get yourself a good RIBA Chartered Architect who explains and answers anything you need to help you understand the complexities of the processes. The whole experience, from start to finish, will feel effortless. Working with an entirely chartered practice of architects and designers will benefit your project from their shared experience, training, knowledge, and efficiency, helping you avoid potential pitfalls and mid-project surprises!
Establishing a relationship of trust and openness with your architect from the beginning will guarantee your project’s best results. By getting to know you, your family, and your work style, your architect can better create a space that works for you. The most talented architects will focus on the small details that make a difference while maintaining a whole-project view, considering aspects like:
- Where natural light will come from, ensuring your mental health remains at its best, allowing you to work effectively and enjoy the flood of vitamin D during the rare English summer days.
- If environmental issues are important to you and you recycle, compost, and repurpose daily, your architect can help maximise the energy efficiency of your home and suggest ways to make being eco-friendly more convenient.
- The direction that internal and external doors open to ensure the flow of your home fits your lifestyle. For instance, you wouldn’t want heavy wooden doors everywhere if you have young children who enjoy playing tag inside, as this could lead to frequent trips to A&E for head bumps and injured hands.
- The amount of storage you need! If your partner is a high-class designer with a penchant for the latest fashion trends, they may need a walk-in wardrobe. If your kids have a lot of toys or are budding artists with an abundance of craft supplies, they may need an art room or playroom. If you’re a car enthusiast who loves modifying your latest motor, you’ll likely need an oversized garage for your passion projects.
Architects are also invaluable for commercial builds, as these developments call for additional considerations that clients may need to become more familiar with, such as sound designs. For example, clients may need to realise that effective acoustics are necessary for a new concert hall but vastly different for a public library.
Commercial architects are well-versed in balancing utility and beauty, maximising functionality, and staying updated on building legislation. This eases the entire process and gives the commercial client peace of mind, who will barely need to lift a finger, if at all.
Conclusively, whether the project is residential, domestic, or commercial, the services of an architect are priceless! Even if you are the sort of person who researches the process thoroughly, puts the drawings together, and submits all the applications single-handedly and successfully, the input of an architect is unmatched when it comes to innovative designs, safety and sustainability, and leading a high-quality team of contractors.
GRK Architecture is there for YOU and will do everything to ensure that your experience throughout the project is practically perfect from inception to completion.
