Briefing/feasibility

Following appointment, a detailed description of what’s required, or ‘brief’, covering the design requirements of the building, technical and services requirements, costing framework, initial budget, and a draft programme, will be prepared. This will be presented to you and your comments will be sought. Any adjustments arising from the dialogue between you and your architect will be incorporated into the brief, and you will then be asked to confirm your agreement to the content. At this stage it is important to ensure that there is no uncertainty about what you are seeking, and what your architect will do on your behalf, to meet your needs for the project.

In order to check that what you are seeking is generally feasible, an outline design concept may also be prepared and presented at this stage. Some initial consultation may be required with the statutory authorities, if the development is unusual or contentious in any way. To obtain preliminary drawings of the site or building as is stands at the present, dimensional survey may be required, and this is usually charged on a time basis. Photography of the site, and a search of public records, may be required to build up the background information necessary to enable the design process to start.

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