Creating a building is one of the most challenging and fulfilling activities that someone can undertake (marriage and parenthood aside). It can also be one of the most frustrating, expensive and emotionally draining
Over the next six articles I'm going to provide an outline guide to help you create a great project. Today I'm focusing on ten ways to be a successful client:
1. Provide strong leadership. Clear communication and a well-managed flow of information is the first line of defence against costly changes. Make your priorities clear, set down when you must be consulted and what you expect from everyone else involved.
2. Give enough time at the right time. You will need to put in most of your effort into the early stages. It's the time when the design team can add the greatest value at the lowest cost. A thorough examination of opportunities, alternatives, risks and design options is needed to make sure the right decisions are made.
3. Learn from successful projects. Look at examples of the Architect’s projects that have gone well and speak to the owners about their experience and what they would do differently.
4. Develop and communicate a clear brief. The brief is a statement of what you need and want and each of your designers should sit down with you to develop this. The brief starts out as a vision and evolves into a detailed set of objectives. It should not prescribe how to meet your objectives - that is what the design team does. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or defend your views and priorities.
5. Make a realistic budget. You need to be realistic about what the likely costs will be including professional fees, VAT, and furnishings. Think about how you will pay for the pre-planning costs because the main funding may only become available once planning permission is received. Oh, and don’t forget a contingency!
6. Find the right people for the job. For most first time clients an Architect will be the first point of contact. When choosing your team make sure that they are prepared to work together to achieve your goals but they need to be committed to you first and each other second. Hannah Wooller, Architect at Hudson Architect advises, “As well as offering creative design suggestions a good consultant team will guide you through the minefield of legislation involved in any building project. The RIBA produce a handy booklet, A Client’s Guide to Engaging an Architect”
7. Respond and contribute to the context. The building you create will affect its neighbours, users and passers-by. It's a big responsibility and the Architect will help you to get it right.
8. Commit to sustainability. Sustainability involves building in flexibility and making the building as efficient as possible both in use of space and energy during construction and in use. Build for the future.
9. Sign off all key stages. Every project has key stages that should be signed off so that the next stage can proceed on a clear basis.
10. Pay your bills on time. This is really important. If your builder is paid late he may well pay his suppliers and sub-contractors late as well. Accounts may be put on hold and the supply chain will prioritize other projects where they get paid on time.
Seems daunting. If that hasn’t put you off look out for our next article which outlines the next step
Source material: CABE.
Andrew Morton - Managing Director