Ideal Home Show
22 April 2024 by Russell McCourty
Recently, the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) asked me to return to the Ideal Home Show for a few days over the Easter weekend to represent them at the show’s Expert Advice Hub. This was my opportunity to offer architectural advice and help to members of the public attending the show on their architectural projects – all within a half hour timeslot!
Having spoken to numerous people from all walks of life, who were embarking on an all manner of different projects of different sizes, there were a few questions that came up more than once, so I thought I would share them here.
How do I choose the right architect?
We all have our opinions and tastes when it comes to the design of our homes or business premises. So, when embarking on an important building project, my recommendation is to choose someone who listens to you and makes the effort to really understand your needs, and bring them on board early.
Listening to what your clients tell you is a fundamental part of being an architect and, to take that further, there is a skill in understanding what you truly want and need out of your new home, extension, or new place of work. An unwritten part of the design process is taking the gems of information from you, growing that (alongside quite a few years of design training and experience), and preparing a comprehensive design proposal that meets your expectations – whether that’s primarily set within elements of space, light, warmth, cost… or all of above!
An architect should be clear on what they are going to do for you, and for how much. Once you have met with an architect that understands you, they should normally set out their process – in stages – with the associated costs. Then, you can make an informed decision on whether to go ahead with them or not.
What is working with an architect like?
Hopefully, fun!
Realistically, it all comes down to if you’ve chosen the right one. There’s no beating around the bush – a building project can be stressful. Hurdles are going to come up during even the most successful building projects, but if you’ve chosen the right architect, their experience and attitude can make all the difference and alleviate as much of that concern as possible. An experienced architect is likely to be just as comfortable talking you through the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you want in your new home as they are discussing Planning Policy with a Planning Officer and talking how weatherproof a brick to timber connection junction should be with a builder.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have their Plan of Work to set out the framework for a standard project, we find it is quite full of detail and jargon which can put some people off, so we have translated into a more readable version here.
How much do architects cost?
This is a bit more difficult to answer. Each architect will have a different fee structure, each project is going to be different, and you may not need the full menu of what an architect can offer for your project. For us, we go into a bit more detail on this here.
You may only want your architect to prepare design drawings for your project and then you’re comfortable that you have a builder to do the rest. Or you may want to bring us on board for the whole show and would like us to help implement our design through a technical design stage, tendering process, and assisting during the build as well (known as Contract Administration). Importantly, be as upfront and honest as you can when talking to your architect – and read through our top tips on what to tell your architect. That way, they can tailor the fees to suit you and your project perfectly.
Do I need planning permission for ... ?
This one is a doozy. The threshold on whether you need Planning Permission or not – known as your ‘Permitted Development Rights’ – is not always clear and can be a minefield. A starter guide can be found on Planning Portal’s Interactive House, but this is by no means a complete gospel to be relied upon. Certain factors can impact this, such as are you extending or altering a Listed Building, a building in conservation area, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), or have your Council taken your specific PD Rights away?
The only way to know for sure is to submit the proposals of what you’re looking to do for a Lawful Development Certificate from your Council. Your architect can help you with that. Alternatively, if you’re not sure, you might as well submit the proposals for Planning Permission anyway. That way, you can sleep soundly with a piece of (proverbial) paper that says that Planning Enforcement shouldn’t be knocking on your door any time soon!
What is the difference between a chartered architectural technologist, an architect, and an architectural designer?
Contrary to popular belief, not everyone who designs buildings is automatically an architect. “Architect” is a legally protected title in the UK, and so is “Chartered Architectural Technologist”. You are likely to find other architectural professionals such as architectural assistant or architectural technician, but these titles are not protected by law and therefore anyone could use these names. You may have a great experience with them (hopefully like you’ll do with our Architectural Designers) or you may not, as some out there will call themselves something along those lines without adequate training or experience, or be operating without a Code of Conduct or governing body to adhere to.
There are plenty of similarities between the role of a chartered architectural technologist and an architect, but also a few key differences and probably a few differences in expectations.
An architect is likely to have more of a focus in how spaces interact with each other, the societal and urban impact of their projects, and may be more artistic in their personality. Architects are bound by the codes of conduct from the Architects Registration Board (ARB) and Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), and their training would have been completed over three parts, over at least 7 years, culminating in a professional interview.
A chartered architectural technologist, however, is likely to have more of a focus on the technicalities, be more aware of the environmental impact and performance of their designs, and usually more scientific in their personality. Technologists can be identified by their use of MCIAT or FCIAT after their names, and are bound by the code of conduct of Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT). Their training would have likely been through science degrees, portfolios of real-world evidence, and also culminating in a professional interview.
A key similarity is that we’re all interested in designing great buildings, so whether the lead on your project is an architect or chartered architectural technologist, you can expect to be in safe hands. Extra safe if they’re one of the team of George & James, of course!
If you have any more questions about your next build project we would love to hear from you, do get in touch.