Month 03

Appoint Your Design Team

Now that you have your site secured, it is time to appoint a design team. On a basic level you will need the following design team members as an absolute minimum;

• Architect

• Structural Engineer

Your Architect is the key member of your team. They will typically be with you from Project inception to completion, understanding and developing your brief and manifesting it in a design that is unique to your requirements and site. They will also assist with navigating the often complex process of building a new home, assisting with negotiations with Planning, Building Control and of course Contractors. When your project commences on site, the Architect can review the Contractors performance on your behalf, whilst also assisting the Contractor with site queries. For a more in depth overview of what an Architect can do for your project at each stage, we encourage you to consult our free pdf download, available here. It is not strictly necessary to have a local Architect either. At Novo Design Studios, we work all over the country, utilising digital technology to communicate ideas and information easily and quickly. Aligned with regular visits to site, this process ensures a successful, collaborative and timely project. What is important, is that you build a trusting relationship with your Architect to realise your dream home. They will be required to understand, empathise and interpret your specific requirements for your new home.

The next crucial member of your Design Team is your Structural Engineer. Often, your Architect will have an Engineer that they like to work with, so it is good to ask them. The Engineer will be responsible for the design of your foundations, below ground drainage, and superstructure. They are also key to providing design certification in support of your Building Warrant application. Working closely with your Architect, the Engineer will assist in deciding the most appropriate and cost effective way of building your new home whilst respecting the integrity of the original design ideas.

Other key members of the team can include the following;

• Passivhaus Designer/ Certifier - perhaps your Architect is your Passivhaus Designer. If so, you will also need a separate Passivhaus Certifier if you are seeking Certification.

• Services Engineer - assisting with the design of complex heating or ventilation systems.

Lastly, the final key member that you may wish to consider is a Quantity Surveyor. A ‘QS’ is a construction cost consultant. Try to use one that specialises in domestic self-build design. Indeed, if your home is a specialist Passivhaus or Low Energy Home, it is often best to employ a QS that is experienced in the delivery of such homes. The QS will assist you in managing the financial decisions required during the design process. Every design decision has a fiscal impact. A good QS will provide positive feedback to the design team to ensure that the design is developed in compliance with the determined project budget. Often, building your own home is the single most important financial decision that you will make. Having professional assistance to manage this process can be invaluable and save you money.

Congratulations, you have appointed your Design Team! Our next article will explore interpretation of your Brief and Development of Concept Designs.

We hope this article has been helpful and inspirational. If you would like to know more, you can contact us here.