The Benefits of Working with an Architect
The Benefits of Working with an Architect
Whether it is your first time considering employing an architectural practice or whether you are a seasoned developer it is always good to question the value you get from the professionals you employ to realise your dreams. In this thought piece we discuss the benefits of employing an architect and the value that can deliver.
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
When designing a new home or re-imagining a building there are sometimes some misunderstandings about the role an architectural practice can play within the design and build process. Some think that architects are there to employ and project manage a builder, some think they are only there to draw plans and elevations, and some think that an architect isn’t required at all.
At Swain Architecture we believe there are some very compelling reasons to work with qualified architects and technologists. Through permitted development or just using a draftsman to produce working drawings you could have enough to employ a builder. What you might be left with though, is not necessarily the ideal space for the building’s end use. We often come across new clients who have a building that isn’t fit for purpose and this, we believe, is where good architecture can pay dividends.
Qualified Architects
When arriving at a new project, qualified Architects and technologists have many years of education. They then also have many years’ experience working with clients and solving problems in the real world to call back on. Our Founding Director, Izzy Rhodes, qualified in 2008 and has been working within architectural practices ever since, finally setting up Swain Architecture in 2016.
A Holistic Approach
The experience an Architectural practice has is utilised to analyse a client’s needs, we often hear our clients tell us that “we’ve never been asked that before” or “we haven’t thought about that before”, at the consultation phase of our work. Sometimes a solution may be a very simple or small architectural intervention but the effect it has on the whole building, and more importantly the people who are going to use it, can be dramatic. Employing architectural professionals will, without question, mean that the end use of your building is fit for purpose.
Architecture within a Conservation Area
Conservation Areas are notoriously difficult to be granted planning approval in. At Swain Architecture we have a wealth of experience of working within planning regulations and we understand the intricacies of period architecture. Through considerate architecture, appropriate massing and materiality we can guide you through the process of bringing your building in-line with your expectations of how you’d like to use it, at the same time as respecting the architectural heritage of your locality.
Real Value
At Swain Architecture, as well as sensible pricing, we work closely with our clients to create the best value for their new space. By asking the right questions and combining that knowledge with our experience of construction and materials we can ensure that your project is right first time. If a development is on budget and on time that’s one thing, but if it’s fit for purpose from day one and can easily adapt to the needs of anyone who inhabits it then we believe it offers the best value for money.
Find out more about working with an Architect…
To learn more about how we work, the services we provide and our approach to architectural design please get in touch with us to arrange a free consultation.