Do I need an architect?

Newgirl

Hello
I'd like some advice on whether I need an architect or not. Apologies in advance if I seem disrespectfull to other professions.I have lots of questions and have already had one pre planning meeting. At that stage we were at the begining of this great journey and didn't even realise replacement was an option. It takes the council 10 days to reply to my emails. We are pretty certain about what we want (replacement) but whether the council is open to it depends on percolation test, sight lines. Do we take the path of least resistance and do an expension on an existing building and hope to god we can insultate to a good standard. Of course there are budget implications also. the builder was all for knocking the existing house but then I've since been told 'we'll they would say that'. We got preliminary drawings drawn up by a technician and he didn't know if we did an extension if we would have development levies. Should he have known or am I being picky.
Where do you get good independent advice
For ideas can you hire an architect just to produce drawings specific to your site and budget and then submit the planning pack yourself and have your engineer do the inspections to sign off on stage payments? Sorry if I'm rambling. thank you

sinnerboy

Short answer yes . From start to finish - at all stages .

Seek him/her out carefully . Get references . Only work with someone you feel you can trust who can show that they have done this for happy clients lots and lots of times . Don't make this selection on price alone

He/she will not have all answers at fingertips but will be able to find answers quickly .

Newgirl

thanks sinner boy
we're in meath and its such a pity you can't see the plans online cos that would be a help.

topcatcbr

Newgirl wrote: »

Hello
I'd like some advice on whether I need an architect or not. Apologies in advance if I seem disrespectfull to other professions.I have lots of questions and have already had one pre planning meeting. At that stage we were at the begining of this great journey and didn't even realise replacement was an option. It takes the council 10 days to reply to my emails. We are pretty certain about what we want (replacement) but whether the council is open to it depends on percolation test, sight lines. Do we take the path of least resistance and do an expension on an existing building and hope to god we can insultate to a good standard. Of course there are budget implications also. the builder was all for knocking the existing house but then I've since been told 'we'll they would say that'.

There are too many ifs and variables to give a clear answer so in this instance it can be valuable to engage an architect who should go through all the options available and give guide price implications. Sometimes it can be benificial to knock and start again but this also depends on many factors. eg the condition of the existing house and the level of discomfort to be tolerated during works

Newgirl wrote: »

We got preliminary drawings drawn up by a technician and he didn't know if we did an extension if we would have development levies. Should he have known or am I being picky.

He may not necessarily know off the top of his head but he should be able to find this out quite fast.

Newgirl wrote: »

Where do you get good independent advice

HERE:D

Newgirl wrote: »

For ideas can you hire an architect just to produce drawings specific to your site and budget and then submit the planning pack yourself and have your engineer do the inspections to sign off on stage payments? Sorry if I'm rambling. thank you

Im sure some architects will do this but i cannot understant why anyone would want this. At least allow the architect to proceed to planning stage ie submit the plans to planning authority

Newgirl wrote: »

Hello
I'd like some advice on whether I need an architect or not.

I think a definate yes

muffler

Newgirl, you should know the respective functions carried out by the various professions and then decide yourself. But as mentioned above you need to check out their background and experience and look for recommendations.

Builderfromhell

I am one of those people who fervently agrees with employing a competent and experienced architect or Technician with a proven track record.
S/he will then look at all the options with regard to planning, design, cost implications, energy efficiency etc.
All this may at first seem like an unnecessary expense but the savings in building costs, etc. and the desirable end result will make it well worth it.
If you can and do do it yourself you may make costly errors and have untold grief.

Juantorena

muffler wrote: »

Newgirl, you should know the respective functions carried out by the various professions and then decide yourself. But as mentioned above you need to check out their background and experience and look for recommendations.

This, imo, is the best advice in the thread.

You may - or may not - need an architect. If you do choose to go down the architect route absolutely make sure they are in tune with what you want, particularly wrt style of house, philosophy of same (eco/efficient/modern/vernacular, etc). Make sure you talk to people who have worked with said architect - what was his/her availability for meetings/site visits like? Do they take a 'budget' as your opening gambit in a poker game or as a minimum rather than a target? Do you feel at ease talking with them.

Working with an architect is - and should be - a close knit relationship. They're potentially going to be shaping the setting for your domestic life for the next x-years.

But I re-iterate again, you may not need one.

RKQ

Reputation means so much. Check out local Designers by reputation and word of mouth. Look at building you like and contact the designer.

Its important you can trust your Designer, (Architectural Technician, Architect, Engineer). They should have a proven record and You should like their past work!

lignum

Well just to add my 2c worth. I originally had plans drawn by a technician which i was happy with. But, for various reasons I decided to go talk to an architectural practice closer to the area I hope to build.
When they looked at the drawings I had, they found that parts did not comply with building regs, and they reconed the planners would not go for the front elevation of the house. They sat down and redesigned the plans I liked into plans I love.
I would certainly recommend that you go to an architect that is used to dealing with your local planners. It may be more expensive but worth every single cent.

Builderfromhell

lignum wrote: »

Well just to add my 2c worth. I originally had plans drawn by a technician which i was happy with. But, for various reasons I decided to go talk to an architectural practice closer to the area I hope to build.
When they looked at the drawings I had, they found that parts did not comply with building regs, and they reconed the planners would not go for the front elevation of the house. They sat down and redesigned the plans I liked into plans I love.
I would certainly recommend that you go to an architect that is used to dealing with your local planners. It may be more expensive but worth every single cent.

I agree with above except that what I would say is get a good DESIGNER with proven experience and track record. S/he may just as likely be an Architectural Technician as an Architect. There are plenty of incompetent Architects out there as well.

RKQ

lignum wrote: »

. talk to an architectural practice closer to the area I hope to build. When they looked at the drawings I had, they found that parts did not comply with building regs, and they reconed the planners would not go for the front elevation of the house.

Very strange! An Architect correcting a Technicians drawings?
A local Technician or Architect will know the local Planning preferences. Good design has no preferences - design for you not some civil servent. IMO copying the local vernacular or appeasing a civil servent is NOT good design.

As I stated above reputation is so important. They should have a proven record and You should like their past work!

Newgirl

Thanks everyone I'd be lost without boards
need to convince the other half

Kashkai

Good advice from one and all. In my bitter experience, we went with the cheapest architect we found, he provided a lousy service, wouldn't listen to what we wanted, wouldn't return calls, took 7 months to produce a planning application and then buggered off when he received his fee at the planning stage, even though he was contracted to oversee construction.

In the end we engaged an engineer to oversee construction and he identified numerous errors in the plans, in particular the roof design that would not work in practice.

So to sum up, get references first from whomever you want to design your house, AND CHECK THEM OUT. Don't be fooled by fancy photographs on someones laptop as they might not actually be his work. And even if he's RIAI registered, don't hesitate to check him out. Our guy was a RIAI member but this meant shag all when we got into trouble as the RIAI didn't want to know.

Mellor

The cheapest is rarely, if ever, the best option

davenewt

Apologies for resurrecting a month-old thread, but would like some advice along similar lines as the OP.

We have recently moved to an "old" (50yrs) 3bed semi in north dublin city and recently engaged a chartered building surveyor to produce plans for work we want to do to a side extension. This involves, in a nutshell, turning it from a single storey into 2.5 storey and building out the roof line to match up with the opposite side of the house (front elevation).

This work will not be done in the immediate future (funding!) but we thought it wise to get plans drawn up to submit now etc.

Anyway... my issue is that the company in question, being a "chartered building surveyor", seems intent on simply producing drawings and submitting them for planning and hasn't given us any input on the design options which I thought (was led to believe) we would get. Maybe this is because they are not "architects"?

We have come to realise that what we really need is a professional architect's opinion and input into the design of the space, but now having engaged this "chartered building surveyor" already to produce plans and submit for planning, is there any way we can get an architect's help with "only" the design?

I have tried looking online, via RIAI etc, but can't seem to find any information on smaller/individual architects who would be able and willing to provide this kind of service.

I do not want to design this project myself with my limited/no knowledge and look back in x years thinking "if only I'd got a good architect to advise on what was possible..."

Any advice on finding a suitable architect/designer in Dublin that we could talk to who might be willing to provide this kind of service?

topcatcbr

davenewt wrote: »

Apologies for resurrecting a month-old thread, but would like some advice along similar lines as the OP.

We have recently moved to an "old" (50yrs) 3bed semi in north dublin city and recently engaged a chartered building surveyor to produce plans for work we want to do to a side extension. This involves, in a nutshell, turning it from a single storey into 2.5 storey and building out the roof line to match up with the opposite side of the house (front elevation).

This work will not be done in the immediate future (funding!) but we thought it wise to get plans drawn up to submit now etc.

Anyway... my issue is that the company in question, being a "chartered building surveyor", seems intent on simply producing drawings and submitting them for planning and hasn't given us any input on the design options which I thought (was led to believe) we would get. Maybe this is because they are not "architects"?

We have come to realise that what we really need is a professional architect's opinion and input into the design of the space, but now having engaged this "chartered building surveyor" already to produce plans and submit for planning, is there any way we can get an architect's help with "only" the design?

I have tried looking online, via RIAI etc, but can't seem to find any information on smaller/individual architects who would be able and willing to provide this kind of service.

I do not want to design this project myself with my limited/no knowledge and look back in x years thinking "if only I'd got a good architect to advise on what was possible..."

Any advice on finding a suitable architect/designer in Dublin that we could talk to who might be willing to provide this kind of service?

The post title is do i need an architect. It seems to me that you do not.
However you have indicated that you would like an architect. In this case if you cannot get recomended one then go to the RIAI section of you golden pages and ring a few. Explain your situation as you have done here and see what they say.

They will most likly be alot more expensive than your "Chartered Building Surveyor" and it is unlikely they will want to do design only but you never know. Times are not what they were a couple of years ago. If you want an Architectural statement this is the way to go.

Another quite good alternative is to seek out a good Architectural Tech with a good few years experience. They are likely to cost less and be more than capable to do what you want.

RKQ

davenewt wrote: »

We have recently moved to an "old" (50yrs) 3bed semi in north dublin city and recently engaged a chartered building surveyor to produce plans for work we want to do to a side extension. This involves, in a nutshell, turning it from a single storey into 2.5 storey and building out the roof line to match up with the opposite side of the house (front elevation).


We have come to realise that what we really need is a professional architect's opinion and input into the design of the space, but now having engaged this "chartered building surveyor" already to produce plans and submit for planning, is there any way we can get an architect's help with "only" the design?

Difficult one really. Mrssy to come onto a job thats started. Not very professional.

Most Architects would want to design, apply, tender and inspect the full project. Otherwise their design might get watered down.

Secondly you are quite limited in your design options, as it seems you will be building over the existing extension to a standard semi-d. Size and position is already determined. There may only be afew ways to achieve your brief.

Sometimes I have approached semi-d refurbishment by thinking outside the box - this usually inviolves demolition & relocation of certain rooms. Would you be open to this?

I'd advise you to talk to your Surveyor, as they may have some design options. Your brief, existing structure, budget and future requirements will dictate any new design. Don't be fobbed off with anything that you don't like.

PM a sketch or post a plan, maybe I might have an idea or two. Hopefully others here will add afew points too.

davenewt

topcatcbr wrote: »

go to the RIAI section of you golden pages and ring a few. Explain your situation as you have done here and see what they say ... If you want an Architectural statement this is the way to go.

Another quite good alternative is to seek out a good Architectural Tech with a good few years experience. They are likely to cost less and be more than capable to do what you want.

Thanks, I don't think we want an architectural statement, so perhaps an AT is who I need to be looking for. Where do I find these people? RIAI is out-and-out full-on Architects, no?

RKQ wrote: »

Difficult one really. Mrssy to come onto a job thats started. Not very professional.

Most Architects would want to design, apply, tender and inspect the full project. Otherwise their design might get watered down.

...

Sometimes I have approached semi-d refurbishment by thinking outside the box - this usually inviolves demolition & relocation of certain rooms. Would you be open to this?

I'd advise you to talk to your Surveyor, as they may have some design options. Your brief, existing structure, budget and future requirements will dictate any new design. Don't be fobbed off with anything that you don't like.

PM a sketch or post a plan, maybe I might have an idea or two. Hopefully others here will add afew points too.

Thanks RKQ - I may get in touch for some assistance with ideas, appreciate you offering to take a look.

May be some scope for demolition in terms of knocking one or both outside walls of the single storey extension to extend out further before building up, but would have to consider cost implications obviously e.g. if twice as expensive to do this, no way... if 10-20% more expensive, might be worth thinking about. Again I'm completely new to this stuff so wouldn't have a clue at the moment.

Hoping to meet with the company concerned to discuss plans in more depth very soon, so will come back with any more pleas for assistance afterwards! Hope we get everything sorted, 'tis a very daunting prospect, designing a space you'll be living in for a long time with no prior knowledge.

Thanks again.
D.

topcatcbr

davenewt wrote: »

Thanks, I don't think we want an architectural statement, so perhaps an AT is who I need to be looking for. Where do I find these people? RIAI is out-and-out full-on Architects, no?

Look in golden pages under Arch Tech Services or in Architectural services
Keep an eye on the letters Arch Tech

RIAI have Architectural tech members as do the Chartered Institute of Architectutal Technologists.
Both of these orgs should be able to point you in the Right Direction.

Thanks RKQ - I may get in touch for some assistance with ideas, appreciate you offering to take a look.

May be some scope for demolition in terms of knocking one or both outside walls of the single storey extension to extend out further before building up, but would have to consider cost implications obviously e.g. if twice as expensive to do this, no way... if 10-20% more expensive, might be worth thinking about. Again I'm completely new to this stuff so wouldn't have a clue at the moment.

Hoping to meet with the company concerned to discuss plans in more depth very soon, so will come back with any more pleas for assistance afterwards! Hope we get everything sorted, 'tis a very daunting prospect, designing a space you'll be living in for a long time with no prior knowledge.

Thanks again.
D.

You are in the right place here for free advise

muffler

topcatcbr wrote: »

You are in the right place here for free invoiced advise

See. I fixed that for you