How we work
We talk.
It all starts with a conversation about you—we can chat over the phone, get a coffee or meet on site.
Our process follows these stages
We define the brief.
Whether you've got everything mapped out or you're unsure of what you want to build — it's all good. We help you define your brief, we’ll discuss how you picture your daily routines, your style, and of course, your budget and timeline. We also look at the opportunities to make the most of the site, responding to the context; orientation and topography of the site.
We design.
We sketch out some initial ideas based on our meetings and your feedback. We also get input from other consultants and make sure everything is in line with local planning rules.
We develop
We prepare the necessary documents for the approvals needed to legally allow your home to be built. This includes coordinating the work of other consultants and ensuring you are happy with the design.
We document
Once we have approval for your new home, we create the drawings and schedules that communicate to the builder and specialist trades exactly what you want your home to look like.
This stage takes time and input from you to complete selections on finishes and fittings ready for the builder to price.
We procure
Several options are available to kick-start the construction of your home. If you don't already have a builder in mind, we’ll introduce you to great builders. We will then obtain a cost estimate, either by inviting bids through a tender process or by negotiating directly. We are fluent in construction terminology and will advocate for you to formalise a construction contract agreement.
We guide
Throughout the construction phase, we can customise our involvement to fit what you need us to do. From occasional site visits to answer questions and provide expert support or we can handle the complete contract management, overseeing all aspects detailed in the contract including communication, scheduling, quality control, and cost reporting. The level of our engagement is entirely your decision.
You enjoy
Once the house is complete; you’ve popped the champagne and moved in we delight in hearing about how the house works for you.
Get in touch if you’d like to learn more about what we do and the way we do it.
FAQ
How long will my project take?
The time it takes to start building depends on the project's complexity, size, and type. We'll discuss this during our first meeting and revisit it as we move through the design stages.
How much do you charge?
Our fees depend upon the complexity, scale and size of your project. Do we have to make an application to council for approval or is it an interior renovation? Following an initial discussion to understand your brief we can provide you with a fee proposal that sets out costs and what we will do.
Do you do Passive House design?
We are well versed in the principles of Solar Passive Design, but we are not Passiv Haus Certified.
What’s the difference between an architect & a draftsperson?
Architects have been trained to design buildings whilst a draftsperson has been trained to document a design for approval and construction, which an architect must also be able to do. For more information about working with a registered architect visit the NSW Architects Registration Board
Where do you work?
The office is based in Bowral in the Southern Highlands, but as a registered architect in New South Wales, we can work anywhere in the state.
