How To Maintain A Good Relationship With Your Local Architects

One of the most important factors when enlisting the help of a local architect is that you are able to maintain a good relationship throughout the lengthy process. With communication important and a need for ideas to be developed and expanded over a period of time, trust is crucial. You may be searching for someone to help in designing a new commercial office block which represents your company well, or perhaps you’re looking for a contemporary family home to be built. Regardless of your circumstances, you will more than likely want to build up a solid rapport with the local architect you decide to move forward with. Spatial Design Architects are a Multi Award-Winning RIBA chartered architects practice based in Essex and serving the surrounding areas. Our services have been recognised as progressive for 20 years and have explored many forms, materials and sustainable solutions, with our team of experienced and friendly professionals able to guide you through each important project stage.

Continue reading to discover plenty of useful advice on how to maintain a good relationship with your local architect.

What Can An Architect Offer Me?

Architects will typically be hired by a client to produce detailed designs of a building that the individual wants to bring to life. There is a need for architects to comply with building and safety regulations, local planning protocols, and any existing restrictions, and for these reasons an architect must have existing knowledge of these practices. Leading a team of other professionals who will work on this stage, an architect may be responsible for consulting engineers, designers and financiers, acting as a reference point when possible. Regular meetings with the client will be undertaken to establish changes to budget and additional needs or changes, while later in the process, the architect will be involved in visits to the site, overseeing construction, negotiating with contractors and dealing with any problems that arise. Ultimately an architect can offer a complete and detailed service to design and oversee a building which meets your specific requirements.

A Foundation Of Trust

Key to maintaining a good relationship with your architect is building a foundation of trust, and a way to ensure this is by deciding to collaborate with a trustworthy architectural service in the first place. Reliable and experienced providers should be prioritised, while you should steer clear of architectural services who have poor reputations locally. Spatial Design Architects have been active for 20 years, building up a network of close collaborators and clients who trust us to always deliver quality services. As a RIBA Chartered Practice, we have been recognised for our outstanding work, receiving accolades from The United Kingdom Property Awards for our designs. Looking for a well-respected architect to work with on your latest project? We’re here to help.

The Importance Of Site Visits

Site visits are a great way to ensure your architect and their team are staying on track, giving you the opportunity to oversee progress, make recommendations based on what you find, and offer relevant guidance. Site visits are important for architects too, who will be able to assess risks and control costs for their client. Allowing for an authentic experience of the building space, site visits should be organised as frequently as possible, giving you the opportunity to converse with an architect about progress, with face-to-face communications a much more effective way of sharing your thoughts.

Clear Communication

An architect who communicates vaguely, doesn’t respond to messages or doesn’t keep in constant contact with you is unlikely to be taking everything you say on board. The level of detail required to follow a client’s design requirements closely will likely mean that an architect who struggles to communicate clearly is not doing their job properly. Schedule regular meetings, either regularly or in-person, and make sure these dates and times are respected by both parties. Clearly communicating means saying what is on your mind regarding the process, so don’t keep things to yourself, and if you are unhappy with something, make that clear as early as possible.

Ask Questions

Similarly, to letting your feelings be known, don’t be afraid to ask questions if anything concerns or confuses you. There are plenty of technical terms, complex ideas and distinct phases within architecture, and a patient, experienced professional will take the time to clarify everything. Our ethos of experience and passion at Spatial Design Architects places us at the forefront of innovation and transformation, with our team able to seamlessly translate the most technical ideas to those unfamiliar with the world of architecture and construction. We would be happy to answer your questions at any stage, as we understand the importance of client relationships.

Retain Contact

Continuous contact can be ensured by making the most of video calling software, email, text or any other method of communication which you prefer. A reliable architect will be open to accommodating your preferred method of correspondence, with a dependable way of transferring information crucial for maintaining a good relationship. Whether you organise a meeting on Zoom weekly with your architect, or you stay in contact daily via text message updates, there are many ways that you can remain updated and familiar with the progress of your proposal.

Our Work

Our breath-taking commercial and residential designs are crafted with passion and pride by trusted experts. Carefully progressing through each phase of a project, the attention to detail and commitment to planning can be seen within each completed build. Below are just a few of our wonderful past projects:

Beach House

We received the brief for a large 5-bedroom house with open plan living space, indoor swimming pool, gym and play spaces over four floors. After a developed design brief and client discussions, we were appointed by the excited family to fulfil the design, act as planning consultants, and take the project through to completion. Consequently, our efforts resulted in winning the ‘Best Architecture Single Residence UK’ award and ‘Best International Architecture Single Residence’ award at The International Property Awards.

Bowhay

The client was keen to settle down in their forever family home, requiring the existing 1950s building to be reconfigured and extended into a contemporary property. With the objective to at least double the house in size, Spatial Design Architects successfully completed this design, incorporating natural light, discrete zoning and a gorgeous glass staircase.

Moreton Bay Apartments

Developers required a full architects’ service for these bespoke apartments, from conception through to completion. We decided to offset the industrial design with eco-technologies such as electric car charging points, rainwater harvesting and solar panels. New homeowners now have an opportunity to own an apartment within a secure environment, with added  security and low-cost energy consumption.

Spatial Design Architects  become the design agencies for residential and commercial Architects ‘near me’ specialise in bespoke modern designs for residential homes, apartments and commercial developments, take a look at our portfolio for examples of past and ongoing work. If you’ve been searching for reliable local architects then you’ve come to the right place, as we have a reputation for taking the time to listen to the desires of our customers before bringing them to life through our extensive design, detail and delivery stages.

We fulfil your objectives by maintaining a clear ethos: No matter the scale or project type, we are dedicated to delivering professional results for your satisfaction. By following an extensive process, we can incorporate our distinctive philosophy of design typology, provide clarity of service and make improvements in delivering different construction techniques and procurements on site. Our top priority is enhancing your life through architecture and interior design, and our team are undeniably passionate about their craft. Contact us today for more information on our architectural services and how we can act as planning consultants for you.