WORKING WITH US

WORKING
WITH US

WHY WORK
WITH AN
ARCHITECT?

Architects offer the
highest professional standards
in the industry

A building project, whatever its scale, can be daunting, but the same basic criteria apply, be it a simple house extension or a large office development.

When you use a professional architect you are employing someone who has undertaken seven years of professional training, the longest in the building industry.  

The term Architect can only be used by a professionally qualified architect. A chartered architect is obliged to uphold the reputation of the architectural profession and fellow professionals; to carry out work on behalf of clients honourably, independently and efficiently; and to declare any interest which might conflict with their status as an independent consultant architect. 

 

WHY WORK WITH
AN ARCHITECT?

Architects offer the highest professional standards in the industry

A building project, whatever its scale, can be daunting, but the same basic criteria apply, be it a simple house extension or a large office development.

When you enlist the services of a professional architect you are employing someone who has undertaken seven years of professional training, the longest in the building industry.  

The term Architect can only be used by a professionally qualified architect. As such, a chartered architect is obliged to:

  • uphold the reputation of the architectural profession and fellow professionals;
  • to carry out work on behalf of clients honourably, independently and efficiently;
  • and to declare any interest which might conflict with their status as an independent consultant architect. 

 

INTERPRETING DREAMS INTO REALITY

Architects provide a service that extends well beyond producing a set of drawings. An architect will listen to your dreams, your aspirations, your budget concerns, and use their skills and experience to blend this collage into your new Caribbean home.

FREEDOM FROM
WORRY

An architect can guide you through the complex procedures of Planning permissions and  Building Control regulations and monitor the actual construction process through to completion.

Use their experience and professional knowledge to minimize your stress. As additional security professional architects should carry professional indemnity insurance – giving you peace of mind.

RETURN ON
INVESTMENT

Using an architect should provide a significant return on your investment in their fees, with their creative design and their attention to detail, achieving value through the most efficient use of space and careful selection of materials and finishes. An investment in quality design can add significant value to your home, add to your quality of life and save you wasting money on inefficient use of space. 

creativity

Whether you are looking for tradition or innovation, boldness or understatement, an architect can lift your project out of the ordinary. You may be able to find a cheap draftsman to produce a set of drawings but it takes an architect to maximize a project’s potential and to do it with flair, imagination and style. 

INTERPRETING DREAMS INTO REALITY

Architects provide a service that extends well beyond producing a set of drawings. An architect will listen to your dreams, your aspirations, your budget concerns, and use their skills and experience to blend this collage into your new Caribbean home.

FREEDOM FROM
WORRY

An architect can guide you through the complex procedures of Planning permissions and  Building Control regulations and monitor the actual construction process through to completion.

Use their experience and professional knowledge to minimize your stress. As additional security professional architects should carry professional indemnity insurance – giving you peace of mind.

Using an architect should provide a significant return on your investment in their fees, with their creative design and their attention to detail, achieving value through the most efficient use of space and careful selection of materials and finishes. An investment in quality design can add significant value to your home, add to your quality of life and save you wasting money on inefficient use of space. 

RETURN ON
INVESTMENT

creativity

Whether you are looking for tradition or innovation, boldness or understatement, an architect can lift your project out of the ordinary. You may be able to find a cheap draftsman to produce a set of drawings but it takes an architect to maximize a project’s potential and to do it with flair, imagination and style. 

SELECTING AN ARCHITECT

The process of working with an architect will be far more enjoyable if you hire a design professional with a similar design philosophy as yourself.

Ensure that the firm you hire has sufficient expertise in the size and scope of the design project you are interviewing them for. Ask for references as well as a portfolio to see recent and past projects. Ask for evidence of professional indemnity insurance.

You will establish a very personal relationship with your architect, discussing details of your lifestyle and aspirations. You need to establish that you and your architect are compatible and share a common approach to your project. Time spent at this stage is well invested.

STAGES IN
THE DESIGN PROCESS

Slide SITE SELECTION STAGE 0NE Architects can offer you valuable advice in the selection of the site for your future home. They experience and accumulated knowledge gives them insight as to the merits of a building site’s challenges and opportunities, some of which may benefit your lifestyle and others impact your budget. These could include physical attributes impacting the quality of life, such as the orientation for the cocktail terrace for the setting sun, or potential construction challenges such as ground conditions potentially requiring expensive foundation conditions. Slide SCHEMATIC DESIGN STAGE TWO Sketch drawings will explore the conceptual design of the project, seeking to interpret the brief and to explore possible solutions. This is an iterative process, with both parties contributing, with open honest discussions and criticism. The investment in time and effort in this process is critical to set the path for the project. Your agreed set of outline drawings, sometimes called final sketch plans, will be set the direction for the project. The detailed design is developed to show the appearance of a building, how fixtures and fittings are incorporated and how important details of construction are intended to work. Your architect will advise whether the design proposals are within the agreed budget and in harmony with your stated objectives as regards quality, long term maintenance and performance. STAGE THREE DETAILED DESIGN Slide CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS STAGE FOUR The design drawings are then progressed though the construction document phase. The application to the local authority for a building permits requires the architect (and consulting engineer) to submit drawings which show how proposals comply with the current local Building Regulations. Construction is not normally permitted to commence without statutory approval. Once the technical drawings are complete, the way is clear to prepare tender documents. They usually comprise the contract drawings, the specification of materials and components, the Bill of Quantities and the Conditions of Contract. The latter two are normally in a standard format and define the obligations of the parties to the contract, namely yourself as the ‘employer’ and the contractor. Slide APPROVALS STAGE FIVE Once the building square footage, location in relation to the site, basic floor plans, building and elevations are decided upon, a submission to the Department of Planning can be made. Should any variances be requested from Cayman’s zoning laws, permission must be sought from adjacent neighbors for approval with a mandatory waiting period of 21 days for any objections. Planning approval can be granted administratively or go before the CPA board for a decision. This is dependent upon the level of compliance determined by the assigned planning reviewer. Once granted the next step is to obtain a building permit. A building permit or “red card” will be issued once all Cayman Islands local code building requirements are met by all disciplines. At the end of the design process, a number of contractors usually receive a set of drawings (and possibly a Bill of Quantities) with which to produce a cost for the project. The Bill lists all the components and activities required to build the project as shown on the drawings. Each contractor puts his price against each item on the Bill, which is based upon an estimate of how long it will take to carry out each item and the cost of materials required, together with added sums for overheads and a percentage for profit. The level of profit will be influenced by how each contractor expects their competitors to price and thus there is no ‘proper price’ for a building, only what a given contractor decides at one particular time. STAGE SIX THE BID PROCESS Slide THE BUILDING CONTRACT STAGE SEVEN At the end of the design process, a number of contractors usually receive a set of drawings (and possibly a Bill of Quantities) with which to produce a cost for the project. The Bill lists all the components and activities required to build the project as shown on the drawings. Each contractor puts his price against each item on the Bill, which is based upon an estimate of how long it will take to carry out each item and the cost of materials required, together with added sums for overheads and a percentage for profit. The level of profit will be influenced by how each contractor expects

Frequently Asked Questions

Architecture can be very complicated or it can be extremely simplistic in nature, depending on how it is explained. The same is true for you when working with your architect. It is important that you and your architect communicate with one another openly and often throughout the project. You should keep them informed about any matters affecting the brief, the budget, the design and any issues to do with the site. Similarly, your architect should keep you informed on progress and costs by means of regular reports throughout the design and construction stages. 

While your home is being designed in the schematic or beginning stages, don’t be afraid to ask questions however simplistic or complex or request clarification of the design at any stage of the design process. An architect wants to ensure that the design of your home becomes second nature to you.  

Both you and your architect should ensure that you have a clear understanding of what lies within each party’s skill, power and authority. For example, an architect can submit applications for planning permission but cannot guarantee approvals; he can offer professional advice on budgets and timelines but cannot guarantee the performance of building contractors. 

Successful projects are those which proceed in an atmosphere of understanding and mutual trust. You and your architect must understand and respect one another’s roles and responsibilities.  

Architects have to wear many “hats” and perform many roles when helping you design your home. While you may only be concerned with the aesthetics and how your space will look, an architect has to coordinate many disciplines. From the structural integrity of your home to the comfortability of heating and cooling to electrical and civil engineering, architects help pull all these disciplines together through the design process.  

The design team may include a number of professional disciplines – the architect, quantity surveyor, structural, electrical and mechanical engineers are the most usual contributors. The various consultants are sometimes included within the architect’s fee package or their fees are paid for separately in addition to the architect’s fee. If your architect is appointed as lead consultant, he/she will coordinate all the information provided by the rest of the team and incorporate that into the design. 

At the outset all architects must agree in writing the terms of their appointment, services and their fees, with their agreement setting out the structure of the Design Team. 

Similarly to visiting a hairdresser for the first time or having a tailor design you a custom suit, having your ideas in one place before meeting with an architect will help all parties involved with clear communication. While architects can help you formalize your ideas into reality they need direction from you as to what you envision. In this modern day age the internet, smart phones and tablets, and a multitude of design applications out there available for homeowners – collecting images, floor plans, materials and even inspiration from nature, fashion, buildings and everyday lifestyle pictures will help your architect when meeting with you. 

This miscellaneous collage of information which includes the project’s purpose and intentions, together with its schedule of accommodation, site and budget are formed into what is known as a brief.  

Initial decisions in the design stage will include formalizing how to make the most of your site; the relationship of the spaces within the house; expectations for finishes; aspects of lifestyle… the list can seem endless! 

During the design process your architect will keep you updated with plans for discussion, revision and approval. Use may be made of drawings, perspectives, models, written descriptions, computer drawings or simulations to explain the scheme. 

Care and working closely with your architect in the early stages will pay dividends. Changes on paper are relatively inexpensive but alterations later on become progressively more expensive. Once building work has begun, changes become exponentially problematic and expensive. 

Construction cost and overall budget for the project are not the same. The overall budget will include all professional and legal fees and expenses, the statutory charges for applications for planning consent and building approvals, a contingent sum for unforeseen events and other costs such as furniture, equipment, land acquisition, finance charges and any associated taxes, in addition to the construction costs. 

Home design is not a finite science. While architects would like to be able to predict how much the design of your home will be just by talking to you once, the reality is every homeowner and their ambitions are different. Before meeting with an architect have a rough estimate of a budget in mind. Vocalize your budget when interviewing architects before you start your home design. This will help your architect explain what design effort will be “in scope” and what other items may need to be put on hold for the future or carried out on a smaller scale, different materials, etc… 

ontent

Architects’ fees can be calculated in three ways: a percentage basis; a lump-sum basis; or time charged by agreement. Expenses may be included within the agreed fee or charged separately. 

Percentage basis 

In this method, an architect’s fees are expressed as a percentage of the total construction cost, i.e., the cost as certified by the architect of the works, including site works, executed under a building contract. Before fees can be estimated, client and architect need to establish the services to be provided, the approximate construction budget and the nature of the work. 

Lump-sum basis 

Lump sums are best used where the scope of the work can be clearly defined from the outset. It is important to define the parameters of services – i.e. time, project size and cost – where applicable, so that if these are varied more than an agreed amount, the lump sum itself may be varied. 

Time-charged basis 

This basis is best used where the scope of work cannot be reasonably foreseen or where services cannot be related to the amount of construction. It may be wise to set an upper limit on fees to be incurred, perhaps on a staged basis. Records of time spent on services will be made available to clients on reasonable request. 

Competitive Tendering 

Clients are recommended to select their architect based upon quality issues such as demonstrable design skills, management expertise and track record. The fees are a relatively small component of the cost of your project and you will live with the quality for a long time. If fee cost is an important factor, this must be weighed carefully against the qualitative aspects to ensure that best value overall will not be sacrificed. 

Remember  – as in most areas of life, quality has a cost and invariably you get the quality that you pay for.

 

FAQ

Architecture can be very complicated or it can be extremely simplistic in nature, depending on how it is explained. The same is true for you when working with your architect. It is important that you and your architect communicate with one another openly and often throughout the project. You should keep them informed about any matters affecting the brief, the budget, the design and any issues to do with the site. Similarly, your architect should keep you informed on progress and costs by means of regular reports throughout the design and construction stages. 

While your home is being designed in the schematic or beginning stages, don’t be afraid to ask questions however simplistic or complex or request clarification of the design at any stage of the design process. An architect wants to ensure that the design of your home becomes second nature to you.  

Both you and your architect should ensure that you have a clear understanding of what lies within each party’s skill, power and authority. For example, an architect can submit applications for planning permission but cannot guarantee approvals; he can offer professional advice on budgets and timelines but cannot guarantee the performance of building contractors. 

Successful projects are those which proceed in an atmosphere of understanding and mutual trust. You and your architect must understand and respect one another’s roles and responsibilities.  

Architects have to wear many “hats” and perform many roles when helping you design your home. While you may only be concerned with the aesthetics and how your space will look, an architect has to coordinate many disciplines. From the structural integrity of your home to the comfortability of heating and cooling to electrical and civil engineering, architects help pull all these disciplines together through the design process.  

The design team may include a number of professional disciplines – the architect, quantity surveyor, structural, electrical and mechanical engineers are the most usual contributors. The various consultants are sometimes included within the architect’s fee package or their fees are paid for separately in addition to the architect’s fee. If your architect is appointed as lead consultant, he/she will coordinate all the information provided by the rest of the team and incorporate that into the design. 

At the outset all architects must agree in writing the terms of their appointment, services and their fees, with their agreement setting out the structure of the Design Team. 

Similarly to visiting a hairdresser for the first time or having a tailor design you a custom suit, having your ideas in one place before meeting with an architect will help all parties involved with clear communication. While architects can help you formalize your ideas into reality they need direction from you as to what you envision. In this modern day age the internet, smart phones and tablets, and a multitude of design applications out there available for homeowners – collecting images, floor plans, materials and even inspiration from nature, fashion, buildings and everyday lifestyle pictures will help your architect when meeting with you. 

This miscellaneous collage of information which includes the project’s purpose and intentions, together with its schedule of accommodation, site and budget are formed into what is known as a brief.  

Initial decisions in the design stage will include formalizing how to make the most of your site; the relationship of the spaces within the house; expectations for finishes; aspects of lifestyle… the list can seem endless! 

During the design process your architect will keep you updated with plans for discussion, revision and approval. Use may be made of drawings, perspectives, models, written descriptions, computer drawings or simulations to explain the scheme. 

Care and working closely with your architect in the early stages will pay dividends. Changes on paper are relatively inexpensive but alterations later on become progressively more expensive. Once building work has begun, changes become exponentially problematic and expensive. 

Accordion C

Construction cost and overall budget for the project are not the same. The overall budget will include all professional and legal fees and expenses, the statutory charges for applications for planning consent and building approvals, a contingent sum for unforeseen events and other costs such as furniture, equipment, land acquisition, finance charges and any associated taxes, in addition to the construction costs. 

Home design is not a finite science. While architects would like to be able to predict how much the design of your home will be just by talking to you once, the reality is every homeowner and their ambitions are different. Before meeting with an architect have a rough estimate of a budget in mind. Vocalize your budget when interviewing architects before you start your home design. This will help your architect explain what design effort will be “in scope” and what other items may need to be put on hold for the future or carried out on a smaller scale, different materials, etc… 

ontent

Architects’ fees can be calculated in three ways: a percentage basis; a lump-sum basis; or time charged by agreement. Expenses may be included within the agreed fee or charged separately. 

Percentage basis 

In this method, an architect’s fees are expressed as a percentage of the total construction cost, i.e., the cost as certified by the architect of the works, including site works, executed under a building contract. Before fees can be estimated, client and architect need to establish the services to be provided, the approximate construction budget and the nature of the work. 

Lump-sum basis 

Lump sums are best used where the scope of the work can be clearly defined from the outset. It is important to define the parameters of services – i.e. time, project size and cost – where applicable, so that if these are varied more than an agreed amount, the lump sum itself may be varied. 

Time-charged basis 

This basis is best used where the scope of work cannot be reasonably foreseen or where services cannot be related to the amount of construction. It may be wise to set an upper limit on fees to be incurred, perhaps on a staged basis. Records of time spent on services will be made available to clients on reasonable request. 

Competitive Tendering 

Clients are recommended to select their architect based upon quality issues such as demonstrable design skills, management expertise and track record. The fees are a relatively small component of the cost of your project and you will live with the quality for a long time. If fee cost is an important factor, this must be weighed carefully against the qualitative aspects to ensure that best value overall will not be sacrificed. 

Remember – as in most areas of life, quality has a cost and invariably you get the quality that you pay for.

 

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