The process of designing a home can often feel overwhelming. You may have a pretty good idea of what you want your home to look like and how you would like it to feel like. However, you might also be confused about how to get your ideas built. There are many decisions to make and a wide array of roadblocks to navigate. If you have never built or remodeled a home before then you may have a lot of questions.
Designing your home does not have to feel overwhelming, and just like dancing it can actually be quite fun once you know the steps!
The first thing you may be wondering is ‘who’ will be involved in the design and construction of your home. Who do you talk to, and who can you ask for help?
Designing a home is a team effort. In addition to helping you create the design of your home, your Architect can also help coordinate the team and bring on qualified Consultants (engineers and other professionals) to address the many facets and details of the project that will be needed to get it built. These may include the structural design, roof truss calculations, energy code calculations, etc. Once the design is finalized, your Contractor is the builder who will bring your design to life.
Before that can happen, the design first needs to be approved by the local Agency that reviews the plans for compliance with state and local codes. You may know this as the ‘building department’. In reality, there are actually a number of other agency departments that may also need to sign off on the design. Your Architect can help you navigate this process and make sure the appropriate departments get the material they need.
Designing a home is also a collaborative effort. Each member of the team has their own specific skills, strengths, and responsibilities, and maintaining open communication helps create a more successful project.
This is a cyclical process of sharing feedback, sharing the design, and then sharing more feedback. As we progress through the various phases of the project, the design becomes more refined and more in line with your vision for the home until your goal ultimately becomes reality.
In order to take your ideas and translate them into a beautiful and functional design, we work through a series of phases to effectively share ideas and feedback while developing and refining the design.
We start by discussing your vision for the home; what you would like it to look like, how it needs to function, what spaces you would like to include, and how you would like it to feel. This is the Programming phase, during which we will define the project goals.
The next three phases (Preliminary Design, Design Development, and Permit Documents) are the design stages of the project. Initially, we will look at multiple preliminary options and then, through a series of meetings, decisions, and refinements, we will dial in the design that you would like to build.
Once the design is finalized, engineered, and approved by the local agency, your Contractor can start construction! The process of selecting a contractor may require an additional ‘Bidding’ phase, although you may also prefer to interview potential builders and select a contractor to work with earlier on in the design process. This can help accelerate the project schedule, and, as part of the team, your Contractor can offer helpful feedback related to budget, constructability, and availability of materials.
Throughout the construction, your Architect can also help you and your Contractor with many of the decisions and questions that arise during the build process. Visiting the site to observe the construction, reviewing potential material selections, and responding to requests for information are just a few of the ways your Architect can help make the construction phase a success. All of these phases culminate in a final celebration once your home is complete!
Included below are some additional resources to help you as you work with your team to design your home. These are provided courtesy of the American Institute of Architects (AIA):
AIA Before you Begin Your Project
AIA Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Click HERE for my contact info so you can schedule your free consultation. I would be happy to help walk you through the process in more detail and answer any questions you may have.
Alex Lowden, Principal