Best way to select architect

Idrive

Just wondering where to start really.

We are planning a rear cottage extension. We want to knock the small existing flat roof extension and replace with a modern looking one.
Something like I have attached but on a 1 story level.

Can you interview various architects to see if they are the people for the job, and are most consultations free ?

Any advice would be welcome..

sinnerboy

Idrive wrote: »

Can you interview various architects to see if they are the people for the job, and are most consultations free ?

Any advice would be welcome..

Pre-select first if you can. Sometimes the counter staff at the planning department can be helpful insofar as they may be familiar with names cropping up often. So get an initial list that way. Then search the on line planning to get a sense of the type of work each architect does. If you see a nice extension somewhere politely approach the owners for who they used.

Then start approaching architects. Most would operate on a first meeting is free basis but don't expect something for nothing.

sky6

Most Architects will have a portfolio of their good work. Don't be afraid to ask to see it. If he's any good he'll be only too glad to show it.
If he doesn't have one go elsewhere.

floorplan_ie

Probably easiest to start online - Google "architect ballina" or wherever you are from. Pretty much every architect interested in design has a website at this point. There may be some old guys who don't, but I would be concerned that anyone who pays so little attention to that aspect of their business would do the same about all the legal compliance aspects- insulation etc.

kkelliher

floorplan_ie wrote: »

There may be some old guys who don't, but I would be concerned that anyone who pays so little attention to that aspect of their business would do the same about all the legal compliance aspects- insulation etc.

Some of the best designs i have seen in recent years were from an architect in dublin who still draws by hand. There is no corrollation between an architect not having a website (or being computer literate) and their ability to do their job. Same can be said for any profession.

floorplan_ie

Drawing by hand is one thing. Most 'design' architects I know, myself included, design by hand. I even like presenting pencil sketches and drawings.

However, in my experience, people who are fully computer illiterate are significantly less likely to understand anything about BER and insulation etc.
Given that most information and circulars are passed by email, it is difficult to stay on top of legislative requirements/ building regs if you are only relying on copies of the RIAI magazine.
The fact that they don't have a website also indicates that they are working on their own and less plugged in than someone in a shared office environment. I would also be concerned that such an architect has no plans to be practicing in the medium term and so is less likely to be interested in cpd. On top of that is the issue of whether such a person will retain insurance once they retire- if you need to call on it.

I've seen drawings from a couple of these type of guys through builder friends, and I am shocked by the disregard for insulation, wheelchair access etc. I I've seen in every one. RIAI members still designing with specs from 1993. I've had to warn a couple of builders that they themselves have their own liability and must build to regulations even if the architect has specified the way they have and the builder has priced on that basis.

Back to the OP, in my experience, what you gain in convenience by doing a Google search compared to going into a planning department and trawling, coupled with my experience above vs the small risk on missing out on the hand drawing genius who eschews the internet entirely leads me to my position.

Comments/ response welcome.

ht9zni1gs28crp

Got to agree with Floorplan above....those producing products via modern methods in my opinion are most likely to be clued up and into modern regulation changes such as Part B and Part L to name a few.

kkelliher

floorplan_ie wrote: »

I've seen drawings from a couple of these type of guys through builder friends, and I am shocked by the disregard for insulation, wheelchair access etc. I I've seen in every one. RIAI members still designing with specs from 1993. I've had to warn a couple of builders that they themselves have their own liability and must build to regulations even if the architect has specified the way they have and the builder has priced on that basis.

to be fair and as a QS who receives drawings from a variety of sources on a daily basis, the general level of detail on drawings generally irrespective of how the drawings are provided is poor across the board. there are of course excellent architects and poor ones but given the volume of different architects drawings that cross my desk both for BOQ production and for tendering on behalf of builders, I can safely say that the industry standard is of a poor quality. I even received drawings from a large Dublin practice that had and I quote "insulation to floors, walls and roofs to be in accordance with current building regulations" as the specification for insulation.

I have to say that generalising by those who use CAD and those who hand draw in my opinion is not factually accurate when it comes to the level of detail. I accept that there is an exception to every rule but in general I would disagree with your point.

I mark out my point of view solely on the drawings that cross my desk.

kkelliher

Sloan Rapid Skier wrote: »

Got to agree with Floorplan above....those producing products via modern methods in my opinion are most likely to be clued up and into modern regulation changes such as Part B and Part L to name a few.

I spend a lot of time going to seminars and CPD on various issues, and in my experience its generally those of an older generation (no disrespect intended) that are in attendance. I am 34 so have no real reason to be defending the older generation however I feel its unfair to say their stuff is any less of a standard than those with current methods. My own two cents.

ht9zni1gs28crp

kkelliher wrote: »

I spend a lot of time going to seminars and CPD on various issues, and in my experience its generally those of an older generation (no disrespect intended) that are in attendance. I am 34 so have no real reason to be defending the older generation however I feel its unfair to say their stuff is any less of a standard than those with current methods. My own two cents.

True, then there is the opposite to your statement.

The next generation who feel they can gather their own research, tech docs in their own time online rather than lose days and costs to attend a physical function. Lets be honest here that 99% of functions are sponsored by a product/company which in the end you get fed up being force fed data and specs....

kkelliher

Sloan Rapid Skier wrote: »

True, then there is the opposite to your statement.

The next generation who feel they can gather their own research, tech docs in their own time online rather than lose days and costs to attend a physical function. Lets be honest here that 99% of functions are sponsored by a product/company which in the end you get fed up being force fed data and specs....

agree 100%

Idrive

Thanks for the helpful responses.
Love the idea of looking through some of the current planning drawings, would never have thought of that.

I suppose I don't want to just google architect and hope for the best, I'd like a reason for calling them in the first place.
I've also seen lots of " sympathetic " cottage extensions and to be honest I hate them. By the letter of the law, our original cottage would contain just two rooms, adding to it ,to make it look like or fit in with the original building just never looks right to me, plus you still have all the problems of light and small spaces.
We want a clear divide of old and new, so that each part looks like itself.

The drawing I attached is just a feel for the type of extension I like. It also wouldn't be 2 floors, the site we have would make a single story fit into the background much more comfortably.

sinnerboy

To maintain the trajectory of this thread some posts have been moved to here.

Moderator advice - please keep posts on topic