Key tips for choosing an architect

You have been planning your dream project for months, or even years. You’ve scoured the internet for inspiration and have digital mood boards on multiple platforms…now all you need is someone to take these ideas and turn them in to reality. How do you find the right architect for the job?

There are some key points to consider when choosing your architect, and in this blog we’ve outlined what we believe to be the most important ones.

Have a brief: Find an architect who shares your vision

First things first, you need to have a good idea of what you want so you can brief your architect about all the must-haves, the maybes and the don’t wants. These ideas don’t need to be set in stone, but an outline idea of your fundamental necessities is important. If you are planning to build a new home you will want to consider:

• How many bedrooms?
• How many bathrooms?
• What architectural styles do you like?
• What materials do you hope to incorporate?
• Do you want the house to be a social space based around entertaining?
• Do you want different parts of the house to have different functions?

If you are looking at a sizeable extension, and perhaps a new kitchen, you will want to pay particular consideration to:

• What you want to gain from the extension and how the space is to be used: an enlarged kitchen and/or dining area, living area, or even a kids’ play area?
• How natural light will be incorporated. Your architect may need to get creative with suggestions on how natural light can be maximised in the space available.
• Do you want open plan living or are you looking to create separate spaces?

The more comprehensive your brief early on, the more likely you’ll be to find someone who is the right fit for you and your build.

Make the connection: Find an architect on your wavelength

For the partnership to be successful, you have to find someone you connect with. You will be working closely with your chosen architect for a number of months, or even years, so you need have a collaborative and friendly, but professional relationship. They need to respect your budget and take on board your ideas to develop the brief and deliver the build YOU want. That is why we work with the architects we do, as they don’t get carried away creating their dream, they work hard to deliver on brief. It’s also worth considering what purpose you’re employing your architect for and checking that their portfolio demonstrates a specialism in your area; for example, are you looking for a kitchen extension, a loft conversion or a new build? Different architects have different strengths; it’s not unusual to have one architect for your planning drawings and another for your working drawings, and this is something you will need to find out early on in the process.

Make word of mouth your mission: Find a recommended architect

Talking to friends and family and checking-out online reviews are all good ways of finding an architect whose work is well respected, but this is where we come in too. We regularly work with a number of different architects, and only work with those that we are happy to recommend and that we feel deliver what our clients are looking for. It’s important that you still do your own research and meet with your architect. A good place to look for registered architects is via the RIBA Find an Architect portal (The Royal Institute of British Architects). It’s free to search, and easy to use, and you can narrow your search criteria to suit the scale and budget of your project. There are over 4100 accredited firms registered on the portal and you can enquire whether your project is something they would be interested in. From here you can draw-up a shortlist and then invite them to come to site and meet with you to discuss your project.

Dedicated trade shows are also a good place to meet architects in person, and you usually get a number of architects under one roof. If you go to a local show, you are likely to meet local architects who know the area, have buildings in the area that they’ve designed that you can visit and are familiar with the requirements of the local planning authorities. A respected industry trade show such as The Home Building & Renovating Show can be found at various locations around the UK, so it’s worth seeing if they are exhibiting nearby so you can pay a visit.

Do you like what you see?
Find an architect whose designs inspire you

If you have the opportunity to visit an architect’s work in person, then that’s always preferable, but it this isn’t possible, the internet and their website are the next best thing. As their website is their main marketing tool, you should be able to find a comprehensive portfolio of their work. You can see the standard of buildings they produce, get an idea of their preferred style and the construction systems they’re used to working with, and gauge whether it’s a good fit for you.

Budget basics: Find an architect who respects your budget

Looking after your budget will be your number one priority during your build or renovation. You need to be upfront with your architect about what you’ve got to spend. A large portion of your overall budget will go on designing your home, and it’s important that you get it right, as you’re the one that’s going to have to live with it! We would recommend getting a fixed cost, not a percentage, and having each stage itemised so you’re clear about what’s included, and this will enable you to plan your budget and cash flow effectively. There will be many times during your project when you will have to make impactful budget decisions. An architect who is sensitive to your budget will not suggest costly architectural features that you cannot afford, but will propose budget-friendly alternatives that will meet your brief and please your pocket.

There is a lot to consider when choosing an architect, but hopefully you will find these tips useful for your decision-making process.