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sorry i may have appeared bitter or whatever
the word "bouncing off" triggered me. I have seen this scenario play out a lot where potential clients will expect a few ideas and sketches they can almost walk with, ahead of appointing the designer. Which is not realistic when it comes to fees and workload.
@andyfallsoff You are right to expect to and fro about ideas with an architect, but the amount of it all depends on the size of the project. In the case of a small extension as sketched above, the bulk of the work is not in the design and aesthetics but in the actual drawing, tender, linking with the contractors
A design&build company is often better suited to this type of job as corners are already pre-cut, if i may shoot myself in the foot here.caveat emptor : i am not a practising architect but obviously work in the field.
Glws-
Interesting, ta - and no, not that you sound bitter, useful to hear experience!
I guess loads of people doing this as clients will have little or no experience so will be feeling their way through as well. E.g. In my case I don't really know what level of design I'll get back from design and build Vs an architect so can only try and work that out by asking questions - but completely appreciate it isn't reasonable to ask for the answer ("what can you design here") before paying the architect. Feels like a tricky one!
(As an aside, any recommendations for decent design and builders in SE London gratefully received!)
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Would an architect not have a portfolio of sketches/ideas for this initial contact?
'Something like this Mr Hammer, obviously tailored to the land?'
'Yep great, where do I sign?'The problem I am having at this very early stage is that the building firms around here (not london) all appear to want to build a brick box with small windows...
andyfallsoff
Dramatic_Hammer
Is it not reasonable to have a discussion with an architect about what they might be able to do, preliminary ideas etc. Before you formally engage them?
Not asking to sound argumentative - but am considering doing this soon and would like to understand if my expectations are way off.