Who's Who in your Building Project?
Client
The client(s) are, of course, central to this whole project. The following team of experts will come together to make your ideas a reality. The clients’ remit is to appoint the right, capable professions, resource the project with time and money and be clear with expectations and goals. You might be thinking “Who do I go to first to find the right people to appoint?” The Architect or Architectural Technologist is usually the first person to bring on board. Let’s meet them…
Architect or Architectural Technologist
These are the first people to call. They will be the linchpin for the rest of the team. They will begin by giving you really useful advice about feasibility, create the initial survey drawings and lead you through the design process, planning and building regulations. They will discuss budgeting with you, introduce builders and generally be the person you call when you have questions. You may be wondering whether you need an Architect or Architectural Technologist. For a residential project, the choice is yours. Traditionally the Architect was more specialised in design and aesthetics and the Technologist was more technical, working on details and construction notes. However, most Architects are perfectly technical enough for residential projects and Technologists are able to create beautiful designs to meet your requirements. We are Architectural Technologists. Take a look at our work and judge our designs for yourself!
Builder
Your choice of builder will depend on the type of project. you have in mind. Some smaller, one-man-band style builders are the right choice for smaller projects, but a more complicated, larger project will require a company with some more resources. You need to get along with your builder and trust them. They’ll be in your house for a long time causing lots of disruption, so you’ll need to trust them and the process. We can refer you to local, trusted contractors with who we regularly work. The builder’s job is to manage the construction phase, bring in the right trades at the right time and communicate clearly with you during the build process. You can contact builders now, but they won’t be able to give you firm prices until you’ve got some drawings and a structural package.
Structural Engineer
For residential projects, the Architect or Architectural Technologist will generally propose the structural design. They will provisionally allow for the beams, posts and other structural members. When the scheme is completed and you are happy with the design, the Structural Engineer will calculate the sizes, provide any other specifications and detail the connections. They will also provide foundation design. For some projects, it is prudent for the Structural Engineer to be involved earlier, for an early assessment to inform the design. This will be a decision made by the Architect or Architectural Technologist.
Quantity Surveyors
A quantity surveyor is tasked with estimating how much the project will cost. You are unlikely to meet with the quantity surveyor, but they may b involved in your project. At Forty Four Design, we price projects in house as we do the design. We use sophisticated Building Information Modelling software which calculates areas, volumes and quantities as we design it, which allows us to accurately estimate build costs. When you ask a builder to price your project during the tender process, they will often send it to a Quantity Surveyor to calculate the price.
Planning Officer
The Planning Officer is a member of the Local Authority who will determine whether your proposal is granted planning permission. The Planning Officers assess the proposals against the National and Local Planning Policies to determine the outcome. The planning officer is not usually someone you meet, although you may see them when they come to look at the property and place the public notice outside your house.
Building Control Officer
The Building Control Officer is tasked with checking the building complies with the Building Regulations. They will usually assess the plans prior to construction, known as a Plan Assessment, and then visit the site at various points to assess the key elements. We will submit the initial plans and obtain the initial approval, and the builder will then organise the visits from the Building Control Officer. You don’t tend to get involved with this as the client.
Interior Designer
You may choose to bring in an Interior Designer to help with layouts and finishes. Some Architects or Technologists might be able to offer this service themselves or put you in touch with someone. The interior designer can really lift the final finish and help you transform the shell into a beautiful space.
Ecologist
Particulalry in Chichester, there are numerous planning considerations relating to the environment and wildlife. Frequently, we liaise with local Ecologists to plan for how to adequately handly any ecological considerations for your project. In Chichester, this is frequently relating to bats in roofs.
Contact Us
Alan:
- 07946 468533
- alan@fortyfourdesign.co.uk
Mike::
- 07855 024338
- mike@fortyfourdesign,.co.uk
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