A few years ago I made a small cabinet out of walnut and cherry. My father a former bench joiner guided me through the process. It took an inordinate amount of time to make this small piece of furniture. It was partly because of Dads fondness for a shaggy dog story and partly because we didn't want it to end. It was also due in no small part to the amount of preparation required. From initial design to choosing and cutting the wood everything was thought out in great detail.
Preparing for the design and build stages is the most intense phase for the client. Objectives and standards are set, the brief developed, the team put in place and relationships built, upon which the whole project is founded.
Establish aims and communicate the vision. The vision statement and outline brief should be a reference point to measure whether the project is meeting its aims. The brief can be a presented however you wish so long as your need, wants and priorities are understandable.
Build your in-house team. In larger organisations and projects this may involve a design champion. In smaller projects it may be a case of deciding how the client responsibilities will be split between you and your partner and who will be the point of contact between you and the design team.
Test the business case. If a building is the answer what was the question? Why are you building? An option appraisal should be carried out which looks at several possible ways of achieving your goals. You can then compare the costs, benefits and risks of each option. At the end of the process there should be a detailed brief for the design team to use as a basis for the design. For this reason it should be 'frozen' to avoid abortive design time later.
Choose your site or building. Is the location suitable for your staff or your future needs if you have a growing family? Think about the impact of your project on your neighbours during the construction phase. How will materials be delivered to site, where will the workforce park? What statutory approvals are required and does planning permission or other approvals present any difficulties?
Choose the design team and decide the procurement route. Charles Emberson Architect advises “In my experience, the most successful architectural building projects are based on an honest relationship between a strong client and a skilful and principled Architect”. The design team includes other professionals as well such as the Quantity Surveyor, Principal Designer, Structural Engineer and Mechanical & Electrical Engineer. It is rarely a good idea to employ a firm merely because a friend manages them or they are local. Check that they have the capability and capacity to carry out the work and ask to meet the people who will actually carry out the work.
Remember that cabinet? In all the assembling and disassembling one of the door stiles got mixed up and was fitted back to front. The moral is that no matter how much preparation you do mistakes will still happen. When they do don't beat up yourself, the design team or the contractor up too much
Source: CABE
Andrew Morton - Managing Director