era | Plan YOUR HOW
STEP SEVEN
IN THE PROCESS TO DESIGN + BUILD ARCHITECTURE SPECIFIC TO YOU.
have a plan
Work out the options for how you can take your design to build a reality.
Get to know your plan.
You have gathered all of your information, found your unique architectural language in a design.
A plan will make your architecture into a reality.
This is the time to go back to the question that was part of finding your purpose and decide how you would like to make your architecture. If you haven’t already worked it out, now is the time to make that decision real.
What is a plan?
A plan is how you would like to design and build your architecture.
There are a few different options.
to employ a team to help make it happen – to do everything yourself – a combination of the two
Design – Put the Information Together
EMPLOY A TEAM TO HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN:
- Employ specialist consultants to design your architecture.
- Employ specialist consultants as well as contractors or tradesmen to design your architecture.
- Employ a design and construction company to design your architecture.
If you choose this option, you are choosing to have them build your architecture too.
- Purchase a pre-fabricated design.
- Purchase an ‘off-the-plan’ design from a designer.
- Purchase an ‘off-the-plan’ design from a project home builder.
If you choose this option, you are choosing to have them build your architecture too.
DO EVERYTHING YOURSELF:
- Design your own architecture
Build – Build the Reality
EMPLOY A TEAM TO HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN:
- Employ a contractor to build your architecture.
- Employ a design and construction company to design and construct your architecture.
- Having purchased a pre-fabricated design, you can usually either elect to have the maker put it together on your place for you, organise for someone to erect it for you or put it together yourself.
- Having purchased an ‘off-the-plan’ design from a project home builder, they will build it.
DO EVERYTHING YOURSELF:
- Be an owner builder and employ contractors or tradesmen to help you build your architecture.
- Be an owner builder and build your architecture yourself.
Regardless of which way you choose to proceed, even if you are following someone else’s process, have your own plan for how you’d like things to pan out based on the process you have chosen and stay informed so you can keep track of what is happening along the way.
How to find your plan.
What suits you? To employ a team to help make it happen? Or to do everything yourself?
Which plan is right for you?
If you have prepared yourself by gathering information about your purpose, place, people, program and parts before looking at your options, you will be able to make a more informed decision that will suit you and your architecture.
The first thing to do is to look at yourself.
What is your skill set? What can you do to contribute to the process? What will you need other people to do?
Secondly, look at your place.
Where are you located? Who can reach you to help you? What is your place like? Is it accessible? Is it on a steep slope? If it is, some options won’t be applicable to you.
Then look at the options and work out which one is best for you.
O p t i o n s
There are many combinations that you can follow, and so much more that can be said about each!
But these are the basics.
Do your research about what will suit you, your purpose, your place, your people, your program and your parts. When approaching an organisation, ask lots of questions about what is included and what is not included in their services to ensure the option you choose is right for you. This is an important decision for you to make and it should look good on paper as well as feel right for you.
design Employ specialist consultants to design your architecture.
This option will give you an entirely bespoke experience.
Architecture designed specifically for you.
It involves employing an architect, building designer or draftsman to prepare a design for your architecture. You will also need to employ other professional consultants to provide specialist advice. The process they take you through will likely be based on their own experiences as well as your requirements.
They can help you through one or all parts of the design, construction and permit processes.
The design or construction documents put together by this team are usually tendered, which means that several contractors prepare a price to build your architecture based on the documents and you choose which one suits you. Or you may wish to take the documents and build it yourself.
Ta-da! Architecture specific to you, ready to be constructed.
design Employ specialist consultants + specialist contractors to design your architecture.
This option will give you an entirely bespoke experience.
Architecture designed specifically for you.
This option can be trickier than others because it is not conventional and will require additional commitment from your consultant team and yourself to make it happen. However, I think it can be a really practical way to make your architecture.
It involves employing an architect, building designer or draftsman to prepare a design for your architecture. You will also need to employ other professional consultants, contractors or tradesmen to provide specialist advice. The process they take you through will likely be based on their own experiences as well as your requirements.
They can help you through one or all parts of the design, construction and permit processes.
Keep in mind that if you employ a contractor or tradesman to help you design something for your architecture, you need to be clear if you are only asking them to design something or if you will also be employing them to build what they are designing. They are usually employed to build things, so they may assume that you are employing them for building what you are asking them to design.
The design or construction documents put together by this team are usually tendered, which means that several contractors prepare a price to build it based on the documents and you choose which one suits you. Or you may wish to take the documents that have been prepared and build it yourself.
Keep in mind that if tradesmen have contributed in preparing the documents, and there is an agreement that they will be involved in the construction, their involvement in the construction of the architecture has to be made clear when the project is tendered to main contractors.
Ta-da! Architecture specific to you, ready to be constructed.
design+build Employ a design and construction organisation to design+build your architecture.
This option will give you a bespoke or standard experience as a one stop shop.
Architecture designed specifically for you or chosen from a standard design template.
If you choose this option, you are also choosing to have them construct your architecture too.
If you are employing a design and construction organisation, you will be entering a process that will take you on their journey. They will take you through all parts of the design, construction and permit processes. You may need to employ other professional consultants to provide specialist advice, unless it is included in the price for the package they are offering.
They may offer to design architecture specific to you or they may have standard design templates for you to choose from. Not all the time, but often, their templates are usually more design focused than a project home builder.
The design and construction organisation is usually set up by a builder or a more pragmatic professional who may use their own design skills or employ someone with design skills to work with you to develop a design for your architecture. As such, they may apply more practical knowledge to your design.
Keep in mind that the cost for preparing a design for you will likely be less expensive than employing a designer such as an architect. This may be because they are providing a limited design service or are banking on doing the construction work for you, therefore account for that in their design price. They may also prefer to use design layouts and systems they have learned through experience. These are fantastically efficient for them and therefore a more cost effective option for you.
The design and construction organisation will take the documents they prepare and build your architecture for you.
You will be following their process for the construction of your architecture based on their own experiences and the requirements of the documents they have prepared. They will likely provide you with a time frame with a date for completion and work towards that date.
While the design and construction organisation is building your architecture, they ‘own’ and are responsible for the area where they are building. They are responsible for insurances in this area, including insurances for the building as well as for workers and the public. Be aware that you may not be able to access this area without their permission.
When construction is complete, the design and construction organisation will pass over the architecture and the place to you. Ta-da! Architecture specific to you, ready to be lived in.
design+build Purchase a pre-fabricated design + build it.
This option will give you exactly what it says on the box.
Architecture chosen from a standard design template.
If you are purchasing a prefabricated building or ‘kit’ such as a home, granny flat or shed from the designer and fabricator, you will receive exactly what you see advertised.
The pre-fabricated organisation has worked everything in the design out for you.
As such, there is not a lot of room for choice – the design they have worked out and systems they have put in place are fantastically efficient for them and therefore a more cost effective option for you.
The design that you purchase will not be specific to your property or place. However, the organisation may be able to adapt the design to suit your place. Adaptations are often additional to the base cost.
Keep in mind that because their designs are attempting to suit a one size fits all, they are not suitable for every property. Also keep in mind, that they have fixed designs and the options involved in their selection of materials and products is also limited. Take a look at their websites and ask lots of questions about what is included or not included to ensure it is right for you.
If you have prepared yourself by gathering information about your purpose, place, people, program and parts before looking at the prefabricated options available, you will be able to make a more informed decision that will suit you.
You will likely be responsible for everything associated with taking the prefabricated building and putting it in your place. This may include employing specialist consultants, preparing and submitting permits required for building and ensuring that the site is prepared in accordance with the requirements of the prefabricated building.
The prefabricated building will be delivered to your place or you will collect it. There may be an option for the fabricator to construct the architecture for you. If not, you may need to organise someone else to construct it or for you to construct it yourself. Ta-da! Architecture specific to you, ready to be lived in.
design Purchase an ‘off-the-plan’ design from a designer.
This option will give you a more design oriented template.
Architecture chosen from a standard design template.
It involves purchasing a design template from a designer.
The design that you purchase will not be specific to your property or place.
As such, you may be required to prepare additional documents than those completed by the designer that are specific to your place, required for permits or building in your location. Basically anything missing!
Technical details may not have been resolved. You will also be responsible to employ other professional consultants to provide specialist advice as well as prepare and submit permits required for building.
Keep in mind that because their designs are attempting to suit a one size fits all, they are not suitable for every property. Take a look at their websites and ask lots of questions about what is included or not included to ensure it is right for you.
If you have prepared yourself by gathering information about your purpose, place, people, program and parts before looking at the design template options available, you will be able to make a more informed decision that will suit you.
The design or construction documents put together by the designer, combined with documents prepared by you, are usually tendered, which means that several contractors prepare a price to build the architecture based on the documents and you choose which one suits you. Or, you can use the documents to build it yourself. Ta-da! Architecture specific to you, ready to be constructed.
design+build Purchase an ‘off-the-plan’ design from a project home builder.
This option is essentially a one stop shop with a standard design.
Architecture chosen from a standard design template.
If you choose this option, you are also choosing to have them construct your architecture too.
If you are purchasing an ‘off-the-plan’ design with a project home builder, you will be entering a process that will take you on their journey. They will take you through all parts of the design, construction and permit processes.
The project home builder has worked everything out for you.
As such, there is not a lot of room for choice – the design they have worked out and systems they have put in place are fantastically efficient for them and therefore a more cost effective option for you.
Keep in mind that because their designs are attempting to suit a one size fits all, they are not suitable for every property. Some land is not suitable for a project home builder to work on.
Also keep in mind, that the cost for the design will likely be less expensive than employing a designer such as an architect. This may be because they are providing a limited design service or are banking on doing the construction work for you, therefore account for that in their design price.
Also keep in mind, that they have fixed designs and the options involved in their selection of materials and products is also limited. Take a good look at their websites and ask lots of questions about what is included or not included to ensure it is right for you.
If you have prepared yourself by gathering information about your purpose, place, people, program and parts before looking at the project home options available, you will be able to make a more informed decision that will suit you.
You will be following their process for the construction of your architecture based on their own experiences and the requirements of the documents they have prepared. They will likely provide you with a time frame with a date for completion and work towards that date.
While the project home builder is building your architecture, they ‘own’ and are responsible for the area where they are building. They are responsible for insurances in this area, including insurances for the building as well as for workers and the public. Be aware that you may not be able to access this area without their permission.
When construction is complete, the project home builder will pass over the building and the place to you. Ta-da! Architecture, ready to be lived in.
design Design your own architecture.
This option will give you an entirely bespoke experience.
Architecture designed specifically for you.
And you can do it yourself.
You will be responsible for the design and permit processes.
This option can be trickier than others because it will require additional commitment from you to make it happen. I think it can be a really fantastic way to make your architecture, but also requires additional effort.
Although you may not be employing a designer, you will need to employ other professional consultants or contractors to provide specialist advice. You will need to manage the process and them in order to find all the information you need.
Keep in mind that if you employ a contractor or tradesman to help you design something for your architecture, you need to be clear if you are only asking them to design something or if you will also be employing them to build what they are designing. They are usually employed to build things, so they may assume that you are employing them for building what you are asking them to design.
The design or construction documents put together by you and this team are usually tendered, which means that several contractors prepare a price to build it based on the documents and you choose which one suits you. Or you may wish to take the documents that have been prepared and build yourself.
Keep in mind that if tradesmen have contributed in preparing the documents, and there is an agreement that they will be involved in the construction, this has to be made clear when the project is tendered to main contractors.
Ta-da! Architecture specific to you, ready to be constructed.
build Employ a contractor to build your architecture.
This option will give you a mostly bespoke experience.
It includes taking the documents prepared by you or your design team or an ‘off-the-plan’ design and giving them to a few main contractors to prepare a quotation.
The main contractor will contact various applicable tradesmen or sub-contractors and obtain a quotation from them for individual parts of your architecture. They will put all of the individual quotations together, add any costs for works which they will also complete and submit an overall quotation, called a tender, to you.
You will review the quotations or tenders you receive and decide who you would like to work with to build your architecture.
While you are figuring that out, you will also need to decide who will oversee the construction process. This person is not the contractor or any body employed by the contractor. You may choose to employ a neutral person, such as an architect, or you may choose to oversee the construction that the contractor is completing yourself. What this means is that you visit the site and meet with the contractor regularly in order to see that the contractor is building your architecture in accordance with the documents they are working from, and you will also work through any construction issues with them that arise during the construction period.
The main contractor that you choose will develop a process for the construction of your architecture based on their own experiences and the requirements of the documents you have given them to tender on. If you have requested it of them, they will provide you with a time frame with a date for completion and work towards that date.
The person administering the construction contract will visit the site regularly and speak with the contractor about the process and progress.
While a main contractor is building your architecture, they ‘own’ and are responsible for the area where they are building. They are responsible for insurances in this area, including insurances for the building as well as for workers and the public. Be aware that you may not be able to access this area without their permission.
When construction is complete, the main contractor will pass over the building and the place to you.
Ta-da! Architecture specific to you, ready to be lived in.
build Be an owner builder and employ tradesmen to help you build your architecture.
This option will give you a bespoke experience.
You will be following your own process for the construction of your architecture based on your own experiences and the requirements of the documents prepared for your architecture, otherwise known as the order of works. With that in mind and your program prepared, you will be able to establish times frames for each step of the process and a date for completion.
You will be the main contractor and be responsible for the area where you are building. You will also be responsible for the tradesmen or sub-contractors who come to help build your architecture. You will be responsible for insurances within the construction area, including insurances for the building as well as for workers and the public. You will also be responsible to provide amenities for workers, such as toilets, and to dispose of waste and the like.
When construction is complete you will have built architecture specific to you, ready to be lived in.
build Be an owner builder and build all of your architecture yourself.
This option will give you an entirely bespoke experience.
If you are taking this tack, there is not much to say to you. You obviously have the skills and knowledge to move forward by yourself – good luck!
Your plan in the process.
It informs the remainder of the process, and how the process will come together.
It informs what you will be able to make choices on or may limit who you can actually work with.
Think about the plan from the beginning of the process, from the point when you are finding your purpose, so that you can always have it in the back of your mind and save time following through with decisions that align with your plan, rather than building unrealistic expectations early on about design or materials which can never be met.
Once you have chosen your plan, pull out your program again.
Insert the process applicable to your choice into your program as a fixed thing.
Make sure it suits you and look at where modifications need to be made if it doesn’t quite fit.
Being prepared is really the best way to approach which plan you choose and how the plan is carried out in order for you to feel as comfortable as possible and not out of your depth. The more informed you are, the better the process will pan out for you.
When you plan comes together, you will see your architecture emerge.
you will find architecture specific to you.
You have learnt about your how! Great – now you can use your plan to make your way through the duration of the Process.
THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS IS TO FIND YOUR PROFESSIONALS INCLUDING ALL OF The PEOPLE THAT WILL HELP YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY.
THE PROCESS.
This is the seventh step in the process to design and build architecture.
If you would like to see how this part fits within the process, you may be interested in a little book I have written that sets out each step in the Process in one place. It is a guide and workbook to help you through each step in your architectural journey.
The process is summarised in this little Blog post - era | the Process to Design + Build Architecture.
Each step in the process will also be broken down into its individual steps right here in this little Blog - so keep checking in to see the whole set!
What does your plan look like??
Til next time!
Start the process to find your architectural language and make your little ideas a reality.
Click here to see the little things I have made for you, or click here if you would like to work with me one on one.