14 Aug Have You, Or Someone You Know, Have A Need to Add Value to Land or Buildings?
To quote from an RIBA Document Good design – it all adds up:
An architect brings more to a building than aesthetics and form.
The kind of building a business inhabits is a reflection of its values and standards. So the architect’s contribution can have a considerable impact on how the business or brand is perceived and how it performs. And, in adding value, a good designer will turn a building into a tangible asset.
For that to happen, the architect needs to be brought on board early and to work with the client to understand their business or organisation. That way they can design a building, a masterplan or an interior that fits exactly what the client needs, with architecture that is practical and functional, but also a pleasure to live in, work in or visit.
Involving an architect early on also opens the door to cost savings – both in constructing and operating the building – through innovative design solutions. And using an architect to manage the project and coordinate the work of consultants and contractors can save time and money in the long run.
After quite a bit of experience over the years gained in other practices I set up KR.eativ: Architects Ltd, an RIBA Chartered Practice (there are very few in the Council areas of Kettering, Corby, East Northants and Wellingborough) to concentrate on projects for private clients (homes or businesses) and small developers:
- farm diversification (offices, workshops and holiday cottages etc)
- self build homes (member practice of ASBA) for individuals or co-housing groups.
- housing developments
- ‘build to rent’ home developments
- commercial buildings or refurbishments such as restaurants and offices etc.
- working with listed buildings to improve their usefulness and reduce energy costs.
To improve cost effectiveness and efficiency I have used what is now called BIM for a couple of decades. As CAD replaced drawing boards, BIM has replaced CAD to the benefit of clients and the construction industry. It also benefits building ownership and facilities management.
This ‘post-Brexit’ era is perhaps not the best time to grow a practice but experience shows that now is the best time for building owners and smaller developers to invest in homes (self build, buy to rent or holiday cottages) and businesses (make better use of space and lower energy use).
Something to bear in mind. An ‘architectural’ designer or consultant is usually using that title to avoid the legally protected one of ‘architect’. If they are amateurs pretending to be architects they may have no qualifications, they probably have no or insufficient insurance, you are not protected by the ARB and the RIBA’s public protection disciplinary procedures, etc. In fact such charlatans may indeed have been struck off the register. Would you seek health advice from a doctor who had been struck off the relevant medical register, no, I didn’t think so.