How we work

Many of our domestic clients have not employed an architect before, unlike our commercial clients who tend to be more familiar with the process. We have become adept at presenting our services in a clear and thoughtful manner to make the process as straightforward as possible to all our clients.

We will respond to your enquiry whatever the size of your project and provide a bespoke appraisal of our services and costs. We regularly work on a fixed fee basis as we understand that this will help you to budget for your project.

We always produce drawings that are easily understood and when planning spaces and layouts we consider circulation routes, views, daylight, sunlight and artificial light, function, and aesthetics. We incorporate ideas for placement of furniture and fittings, thus helping you really visualise the proposals and contribute your own ideas. We are not dictated to by any kind of house style, rather we respond directly to the brief, consider the context, and apply our skills in contemporary and traditional design.

We take into account financial constraints, and also any factors relating to town planning and building regulations as far as reasonably possible. In our experience, time taken to ensure the design addresses any potential problems, streamlines the project and offers substantial benefit to you.

We will respond to your enquiry whatever the size of your project

We use 2D and 3D computer aided design (CAD) software to assist us to design and produce drawings and production information. This technology allows us to make planning applications online efficiently. We also have access to Ordnance Survey mapping services which means we can download site plans in any format.

For smaller projects our services are staged in accordance with our plan of work, larger projects follow the RIBA plan of work. In either case the fees are split into stages. This means that you only pay for the services you require. We will provide you with a services proposal before we commence work, and we work on a fixed fee basis wherever possible. If the extent of the work cannot be fully defined, we will work on an agreed hourly rate.

You only pay for the services you require

NB As architects we can have no business arrangements with contractors, suppliers or other consultants. We do, however, use principles of partnering to enable us to gain quick advice and allow projects to progress efficiently. You may require assistance from a surveyor, structural engineer, health and safety consultant (planning supervisor), cost consultant, drainage surveyor, soil surveyor or lighting consultant. We will identify any need for this, seek quick advice where necessary and can assist you with, or manage, their integration into the project on a formal basis if necessary. This effectively a “one stop shop” service should you require it.

We are quality assured to ISO9001:2008 standard by the BSI. We implement quality management appropriate to the scale of your project. We are a RIBA Chartered Practice. This means that all our practices comply with the strict criteria laid down by RIBA. It is a mark of quality and means that you can expect a high level of excellence in design and service.

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Our plan of work
The RIBA plan of work