STEP 1 Design and Floor plan overview/introduction
Looking at your big picture and understanding your goals is the first step in the architectural design and floor planning process. You will be guided by an experienced architect to ensure all options and aspects relative to your building site and lifestyle requirements are considered and explored.
If you would like to have a chat first, there is onsite consultation available.
STEP 2 Building Feasibility Study
To help narrow down the options, we can do a feasibility study that answers some of your questions for a specific site.
Residential Architecture
- Review your site
- aspect
- sun
- contour
- general environment
- Review town planning constraints
- Review how your proposal would fit (bulk and location plan)
Commercial Architecture
- Review your site
- aspect
- neighbouring environment.
- Review servicing needs
- traffic,
- parking
- Review how your proposal would fit (bulk and location plan)
- Maximising return on site considered and site options
STEP 3 Architectural design
The most rewarding aspect of architectural designs is that they are developed to your needs and preferences. A comprehensive brief outlining these fundamental aspects of your design is, therefore, a necessary step before producing preliminary sketch plans.
New Home
Residential design or starting house plans is always supported by some other foundational information.
- Site survey with contours, trees and existing buildings plotted
- Soil information
- Stormwater and drainage design consideration
House Renovations
These architectural designs are done to enhance or compliment your existing house.
It’s not quantity but quality of environment that needs to be considered. In saying that sometimes you just need a bit more space! We would do the following;
- Survey your existing house
- Proposed and existing floor plans generated
- 3D visualisations of what it could look like.
Small House Design
Whether you want to utilise your garage better or you have more space than you need, we can provide a solution that will house that adult child or provide for extended family needs. Matching the architectural design of the main house is always the key.
Kitchen Design
If it’s a specific area of design such as new modern kitchen we have a specific brief to ensure the look and feel, as well as the special requirements are included. How you work and your kitchen ideas are the driver in this. It can be a small house renovation or large new house plan, but getting the brief right is paramount.
STEP 4 Resource and Building Consent Documentation
- Detailed drawing to comply with town planning/resource consent applications
- Documentation to obtain council building consent
- Engineering and other consultants liaison
- Council liaison during processing to ensure an efficient process is achieved.
- Specification writing and product selection assistance
STEP 5 Builder Selection and Site Observation/Administration
Architects are trained to provide overall project advice, from initial floor planning through to organising the builder and administering the contract. So we can tender your project if you wish, providing advice on good builders to select, and ensuring everything is done as per plans. The degree to which your architect observes the building process will depend on the scope and complexity of your project.
We can provide you with a copy of Agreement for Architects Services produced by the NZIA which outlines the steps above more comprehensively. Suffice to say employing an architect on a full-service contract from sketch plans to building completion means a lot less stress for you, and ensures that the most qualified person is making the right decisions every step of the way.
Free 60 MINUTE site consultation
Book a complimentary site consultation if you are local. This is obligation free and will give you a follow-up email with confirmation of your ideas, the process, timeframe and costs ahead if you wish to proceed.