How We Work
If you've never worked with an architectural practice before, it helps to know what's ahead. Twelve stages, one point of contact, and plenty of room for your input along the way. Here's how a typical project runs, from first conversation to finished building.
Stage 1 — Initial Conversation
Every project starts with a conversation. We'll ask about your home, how you live in it, and what you'd love to change. There's no cost and no obligation — just a chance for us to get a feel for you and your project, and for you to get a feel for us.
Stage 2 — Site Visit and Survey
We'll walk the building or site with you, take detailed measurements, and photograph it from every angle. On larger projects, we may bring in a surveyor to carry out a full measured or topographical survey. Either way, it's a chance to talk through ideas in the actual space, not just on paper — so every drawing we produce afterwards reflects how things really are.
Stage 3 — Understanding Your Brief
This is where we really get to know you. We'll talk through how you use your home, what's working, what isn't, and what you're hoping this project makes possible. If you've been collecting images or ideas that have caught your eye, bring them along — it's often easier to show us than to describe it. It's less about ticking boxes and more about understanding what you actually want, together.
Stage 4 — Feasibility and Initial Ideas
Now the fun really starts. We'll test a few different directions against your site and budget, often starting with quick hand sketches to explore ideas freely before anything is set in stone. Where it helps, we'll bring these to life with 3D visualisations too, so you can see what's possible before we settle on an option that feels right.
Stage 5 — Concept Design
This is where your project starts to take real shape. We develop the direction you've chosen into proper plans, elevations, and visuals, so you can see exactly how the spaces will feel and flow. It's still early enough to change the layout or materials, but detailed enough that you can genuinely picture yourself living in it.
Stage 6 — Refining the Design
This stage is a genuine back-and-forth. We'll share ideas, you'll tell us what's working and what isn't, and together we'll sharpen the details — from how a room is laid out to the materials on show. It's often the most collaborative part of the whole process, and where the design really becomes yours.
Stage 7 — Planning Application
Once the design is agreed, we prepare everything the council needs — drawings, reports, and supporting documents — and submit the application on your behalf. We'll liaise directly with the planning officer throughout, handling any queries as they arise and keeping you updated on progress, so you always know where things stand without having to manage the process yourself.
Stage 8 — Technical Design
With planning secured, we move into the detail of how your project is actually built. We produce the technical drawings and specifications needed to construct it properly, coordinating with structural engineers or other consultants where they're needed, so every detail is resolved before work starts on site.
Stage 9 — Building Regulations
Alongside the technical design, we prepare everything needed to satisfy building control — covering things like structural safety, fire safety, thermal performance, and accessibility. It's a technical stage, but an essential one: it confirms your project meets the standards it needs to before construction begins.
Stage 10 — Tender and Builder Selection
Choosing the right builder matters just as much as the design itself. We'll help you put your project out to competitive tender, comparing quotes like for like, or work alongside a builder you already know and trust. Either way, we make sure you're choosing with confidence, knowing exactly what you're getting before you commit.
Stage 11 — On-Site Support
Once building starts, we can stay closely involved — visiting site to check progress against the design, answering questions as they come up, and helping resolve anything unexpected along the way. It's optional, but for many clients it's the reassurance that the finished home matches the vision they set out with.
Stage 12 — Completion and Handover
This is the moment it all comes together. We'll walk the finished space with you, checking every detail against the original design. And we don't just disappear afterwards — we're always on hand if questions come up once you've settled in.