Working With jhd Architects
Turning Your Building Ideas Into Reality
Our job is to turn your ideas and aspirations into imaginative, workable solutions – and it’s what we love to do. When you contact us, we will run through a “reality check” with you on the phone to establish the approximate size of the project to make sure we can help you. If that conversation is positive, we will make a free of charge visit to your home, at a time to suit you, to discuss what you and any others involved (often your family) want to achieve both now, and in the future. We’ll walk around your building or plot, talk about your own ideas, and often come up with some that you may not have thought of. We’ll give you our outline thoughts on planning, design, budget and timescale, although budget and timescale can only be indicative at this stage.
Proposal For Appointment As Architects
If there is a meeting of minds, we’ll then prepare a proposal summarising our understanding of your brief, and setting out how we can help, including a schedule of the services we recommend for your project. We’ll explain how these services are organised by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) into Work Stages and give you an estimated Basic Fee for each Stage, as well as an idea of other fees and expenses which you will need to take into account.
Our Range of Architectural Services
We offer the full range of architectural services which are set out, by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) into Work Stages.
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Appointing Us As Your Architects
If you do instruct us to act as your architects for the rest of the project we will prepare a Contract (Agreement) and Schedule Of Services which are subject to the terms set out in the RIBA Schedule of Architect’s Services and Conditions of Appointment.
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3D Architects Saving You Time And Money
We aim to make the design and building process as rewarding for clients as possible. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in special software that allows us to produce a 3D Building Information Model (BIM) for every project we design.
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‘Walk’ Around Your Building Before The First Brick Is Laid
Clients love BIM because it saves them time and money, and can improve the probability of gaining planning permission.
If you work with us, we will upload to your own iPad, Android tablet, laptop or PC, a 3D virtual model of your project that allows you to explore your building inside and out (including where furniture will go and where the sun and shadows will fall) before the first brick is laid.
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Watch this video to see what it’s like to ‘walk around’ your building before the first brick is laid. The video features a project involving a residential extension to a Kentish oast house.
As well as helping you visualise the end result, the 3D modelling software we use allows us to present drawings and planning arguments in ways that can make a real difference to whether or not you obtain planning permission.
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Watch our video that shows examples of projects we’ve obtained planning permission for in areas where restrictions are tight.
Speeding Up Construction And Minimising Problems On Site
Our state-of-the art 3D software also means we produce construction and detail drawings that clearly explain to contractors, engineers and other consultants the arrangement of the building effectively reducing the risk of problems on site and speeding up the construction process.
Here’s a video that explains the benefits of choosing an architect that works with BIM.
Estimating And Managing Construction Costs
We are committed to working closely with you to try to stay within your target budget. However, it is notoriously difficult at the early consultation and ideas stage accurately to estimate construction costs as these will only become clear once the full scope and details of your project are established, and tenders are received. There is always demand for good builders and tenders can come back much higher than estimated.
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Architect’s Fees And Expenses
The fees we charge reflect the extent of the work we have to do and the size, complexity and difficulty of the project. Fees for new-build houses are generally a lower proportion of construction costs than fees for extensions or Listed buildings. Where the scope of the project is fixed, we can offer a fixed fee. However, most projects don’t have a fixed scope, so we agree a fee based on a percentage of the construction value.
Planning And Other Fees
Fees for planning, building control and other such charges are invoiced at cost.
Appointment of Other Consultants
Whilst we lead the building project, other consultants need to be appointed.
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How Much Will It All Cost?
We won’t know precisely until we have agreed your brief, produced a Cost Plan and got quotations back from builders. Even then, the final cost of your project will depend on decisions you make once the project is on site. We can however, share with you some examples of Cost Plans we have produced for other clients. You can download them here. Remember: use these for guidance only – every project is different!