Process

I work with you to define your hopes and dreams, your future plans, your likes and dislikes, and your priorities. How does the space need to look and feel? How do we need the building to perform?

If you’re not too sure what you want (which is okay!) I can prepare options exploring what works and what doesn’t. I find the best way to for you to understand what you want is to have some kind of drawing or visual on the table.

Now is the time to look at the “performance” criteria of your building. I prepare a “whole house plan” that looks at a whole variety of criteria: insulation products and thicknesses, overheating risk, airtightness, ventilation strategy. If you’re adapting/retrofitting an existing building then I can even look at phasing. I prepare a bespoke report, go through the findings together, then incorporate these measures into the design. The whole process is based on Passivhaus and PAS 2035 methodology (refer to other tabs for more information) and use a special software for this called PHPP. Often I will collaborate with my expert partners at Royston Green Heat Coop and Cambridge Retrofit Hub.

Once we get close to the design that you want, in principle, then we are likely to require some form of consent for it a.k.a. “planning permission”. There is a due process and not all planning routes are the same. Plus, some local authorities can have extra requirements. I can help you through the maze of planning bureaucracy, prepare the documents and drawings you need, submit and communicate with them on your behalf.

Once you have your consent we’ll want to check that your scheme is still on-track with your budget. I develop your design further into technical specification that is sufficient for a budget estimate, either by a builder that you’ve already chosen, or an independent cost consultant. We can look at what comes back together and I’ll optimise the design in response.

So you now have planning consent and cost certainty you know “what” you’re doing. This stage is all about the “how”. As a particularly technically experienced architect this is the part I relish: taking a vision and making it work. We may (or may not!) need to collaborate with a few consultants here, whether this be a structural engineer, services engineer, party wall surveyor, conservation specialist, Passivhaus/AECB consultant, landscape architect or interior designer. I can make the enquires and help you to employ the right team (if of course needed), coordinate with them and make sure your vision remains coherent, practical and buildable. At this stage we usually need signoff from Local Authority Building Control.

Different types of projects need different levels of detail, A small extension can get by with some general arrangement drawings, “blueprints” if you will, and some such as Passivhauses and AECB level retrofits need a variety of 2D junction details drawn.

Now we have all the information needed for a full and detailed quote from prospective builders (if you haven’t selected one already). I can make the enquires, compile a shortlist, manage the bidding process, help evaluate the responses and identify the most promising one.

I can oversee and inspect throughout the build process and manage any changes or variations that need to be made. I can protect you as client by managing the cont(r)act between you and the builder, and effectively referee the process to encourage fair and reasonable practice, from start to finish. At this stage we may even need to consider installing monitoring equipment and airtightness tests.

I can compile the paperwork needed to close out the relationship with you and the builder and help ensure a smooth handover back to you, so you can finally enjoy the fruits of your labour and expense! I would need to come back to the building a while after completion to check any defects that need addressing by your builder. I would also oversee the commissioning of any ventilation systems and other services that are installed, and compile a body of evidence that this has been done.

I advise that we should remain monitoring the building’s performance while it is in use over a few months, whether this be carbon dioxide levels, humidity, temperature, moisture levels in various parts of the fabric (i.e. floor joists, wall plinths) to check that the design has delivered what was intended, and matches your expectations. I have expert partners with whom I can collaborate with to do this. I would check-in with you a year-on to see how you’re getting on!