The residential design & construction process

Most people do not experience the design and construction process
more than a few times in their lifetime and the processes are
constantly changing but the drawing production process and council
preparation stays the same.

Step 1. The initial consultation

At this first meeting the architect/building designer (designer) and
you the client will discuss all your thoughts in relation to your
development eg. size, types of spaes how you anticipate these spaces
will feel.....

Service fees and what they include will also be discussed at this
time and a fee proposal as well as a Client Brief and a contract will
be sent to your after the meeting

Step 2. Site Analysis

The building designer/architect will analyse your site verbally
and/or proide a written report (if you can not be present) and discuss
with you the restrictions and assets of your property. This portion of
the service is not only valuable to people that have already purchased
a property but also to people that are in the process of buying and
that have not yet exchanged contracts, as we can discuss issues such as
sun orientation verses street face verses outside living and how these
factors affect greatly on the quality of living for that particular
property. The analysis will also consider such things as wind
direction, tree shadowing and many other factors that seem to go
unnoticed when purchasing property.

Step 3. Initial Design

The Initial Design process includes council and other government
body research as well as the study of your requirements - where sketch
design drawings are produced and discussed with you prior to developing
the design. See Designing Your Own Home
for further informtion on this stage. The drawings produced at this
stage are minimal but should include all floor plans and some
elevations or a three dimensional rendering of the proposed building.

Step 4. Developed Design

This stage sees your sketch design drawings developed into a house
you should be very happy with - if not you will need to discuss further
changes with you designer - most designers allow 2 major sessions of
changes in their contract. Once you are happy with the design your
drawings will be developed to working drawings that will have loads of information on them including notes and dimensions.

Step 5. Working Drawings

During this stage detailed drawings will be produced that will be
used for your council Developement Application (DA) as well as for
construction. You may also need to produce other reports with your DA
to council such as a Statement of Environmental Effects, BASIX Report,
Waste Management Report, Site Analysis Plans, Geotechnical Report,
Landscape Plan, Flora and Fauna Report and Fire Report - check with
your local council.