Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 01, 2008 4:05 pm My block is a peculiar size 11 x 35 mtrs... really thin and long ; after the 2 setbacks on either sides, it'll only be 8.5mtrs wide!! I wonder if I should do a thorough search for a good architect so that we can maximise on what we have or are most architects as good as the next one? Should I go through a talented draftsman... What would you do? How would you go about designing the house. Re: Draftsman?Architect? 2Jul 01, 2008 4:28 pm Hi, welcome to the forum!
I would go for an architect. They can even manage the project for you. Search at the architects'board for a registered one. I believe a draftsman is less qualified than an architect. They can draw up plans under your instructions but for good design ideas and advice it is better to pay a bit more for an architect. Good luck Re: Draftsman?Architect? 6Jul 01, 2008 4:53 pm Paula If you dont know what you want go architect. If you know what you want go draftsman. I reckon Paula's has hit the nail on the head.....you need some pretty clever design solutions for an 11 metre wide block to get around setbacks, overlooking provisions, and still get a functional house. Whilst drafties are good for sometimes fairly complex work, if you don't have firm ideas, you need someone who can understand what you are wanting, interpret your ideas, design around the rules, and come up with what you want. Costs have a look at for an indication https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=7243 https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=6995 Archicentre have a generic new home design report, may give you an idea of what you might get for an initial consult.... http://www.archicentre.com.au/Aug05newhome.pdf mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Draftsman?Architect? 7Jul 02, 2008 9:02 am Just be careful.
We employed an architect. We gave him a massive brief of our requirements, it extended to over 30 pages. I'm not sure he read much of it, he certainly didn't take any notice of the $ budget we had. We ended up with a design which included such wonderful features as windows that could not be manufactured, garages too short to drive a car into, a shower you couldnt access, and all at about double the cost of our budget. He is still redesigning, he even had the cheek to try and charge us extra money to bring the design into budget. Once we appointed an engineer who made some suggestions, the redesign started to make more sense financially. I am really hoping that he will be finished today, the engineer is waiting on his drawings. In the architects defence, we do have an unusual site with many challenges and perhaps we should have appointed an architect who understood about building on acreage..... Talking to others who have used both draftsmen and architects, it seems our experience is not unusual at all. My advice to anyone employing either is to engage an engineer at sketch design stage, before you proceed to detailed designor documentation. Simon Building an architect designed home out of Insulated Concrete Forms on acreage in semi-rural SE Melbourne. Developer approval obtained, engineering complete, getting quotes Re: Draftsman?Architect? 8Jul 02, 2008 9:08 am mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Draftsman?Architect? 9Jul 02, 2008 9:17 am We used a building designer, somewhere between the architect and draftsman in both cost and training I would say. We are very happy with our plans so far, mind you our designer is an ex builder so we didn't have any of those sorts of problems of wonderful designs that are totally unbuildable, he only designs buildings that he knows can be built relatively easily....there should be a Building designers listing in the yellow pages.
Good luck 'chelle We have a hand-over date...15/10...but I won't hold my breath! http://people-in-glass-houses.blogspot.com/ Re: Draftsman?Architect? 10Jul 02, 2008 9:28 am I know this is an American site, but it can give you some ideas.
http://www.architecturaldesigns.com/house-plans.asp I did a search for all plans, maximum width 27 feet (a little less than 8.5 metres, and a maximum depth of 88 feet (a little less than 27 metres. An example: http://www.architecturaldesigns.com/hou ... 0640db.asp Don't mind the facades, just have a look at floorplans. They will sell the plans for any country. Greg Re: Draftsman?Architect? 11Jul 02, 2008 9:30 am The Dynamic Duo We ended up with a design which included such wonderful features as windows that could not be manufactured, garages too short to drive a car into, a shower you couldnt access, and all at about double the cost of our budget. And your still using him?? Paula Re: Draftsman?Architect? 12Jul 02, 2008 9:31 am 'chelle We used a building designer, somewhere between the architect and draftsman in both cost and training I would say. We would have loved to use a building designer, we went to see a few, but they were so blinkered with their designs, one got very angry when I suggested building in anything but timber-frame and brick facade. So we were very relieved when we finally met an architect that had experience in building in the product we wanted to build in, we signed him up on the spot.... Simon Building an architect designed home out of Insulated Concrete Forms on acreage in semi-rural SE Melbourne. Developer approval obtained, engineering complete, getting quotes Re: Draftsman?Architect? 13Jul 02, 2008 9:36 am Cost aside, I think the key to satisfaction with architects, as with colour consultants, kitchen designers etc is to find one with good people skills as well as their professional qualifications.
Someone who listens to you and is interested in designing something that you like, that reflects your tastes and requirements, including fitting into your budget if that is an issue. As oppossed to someone who wants to create something they like and that reflects their ego. Have had several bad experiences with architects in our family - my brother engaged one for a home extension whose design was way out of their budget and who seemed to have no concept of this being a problem. Parents built a custom designed house and like Dynamic Duo, architect didn't listen to what they wanted at all - eg they are retirees with conservative tastes - he came up with a unique spanish style multi arched facade, "I thought you'd like this more modern idea" No, we'd like what we asked for!!!! Re: Draftsman?Architect? 14Jul 02, 2008 9:39 am The Dynamic Duo So we were very relieved when we finally met an architect that had experience in building in the product we wanted to build in, we signed him up on the spot.... That's the other thing isn't it...being comfortable with the person who is making important descisions about your new home. We had already decided to go with a different designer who specialised in environmentally friendly homes when we did a sustainable homes tour and saw houses by MC (our designer). We looked at the original designer's homes and whilst they may have been more sustainable, we just loved the look of MC's houses so much more and he listened to us more as well...very important!! 'chelle We have a hand-over date...15/10...but I won't hold my breath! http://people-in-glass-houses.blogspot.com/ Re: Draftsman?Architect? 15Jul 02, 2008 9:52 am Not sure of the style you are after but here's a couple of narrow plans we came across when looking at building on a 14 m x 50 m block, serving suggestions only.... :
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Too long but could be downsized: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Thanx! 16Jul 02, 2008 9:59 am Wow... this is so informative! thanx a lot guys!
My darling husband is getting cold feet after going through the cost link... Dang Libran men (they get cold feet so quickly and can never make up there minds)! Dang!Dang!Dang! lol... He's happy with and prefers a good design that the builder and his architect comes up rather than an expensive design by a freelancer architect! Now I have to work on this..I'd rather have the best possible design even if I have to shell out a bit of money... I wonder is there are a few good architects in the ACT..all the builders seem to be using the same architect... There are quite a few in the yellow pages. I'd totally lose it if an architect came up with a weird facade and told me that he thought that I'd like it..I'm a little conservative..contemporary conservative designs. Maybe I should write to the students of an architecture school and ask them to send in there designs..a project for the children from Aunty Moody! lol Re: Draftsman?Architect? 17Jul 02, 2008 12:34 pm My sister is an architect for a small private firm. She mentioned that the price of the design is a certain % of the cost to build. They can also estimate the price to build for you and liase with the council in regards to any design criteria. Wish she is around though, i could get her to answer a few of your questions but she is touring Europe right now Re: Draftsman?Architect? 19Jul 02, 2008 1:08 pm Look at like this- it's probably the biggest investment you'll ever make and you want it to be 'you' as you have to live there and look at it a lot! We initially used a draftie and were very disappointed. I'd look recommend looking at the plans and built houses designed by various firms so you can get an idea of whether they might work for you. If their standard plans available through the builders don't look great, that's probably a good warning sign (this is what we DIDN'T take as a warning when we should have!).
Why not email some firms and see if they can give you a rough idea of cost for a design? I would recommend writing a brief of what you want, and if there's facade styles you like/don't like maybe print off some pictures to demonstrate your style? Which suburb are you building in? Your build is relatively simple, I believe your job can be easily done by a good building designer, you really do not need to pay for the architect. Remember, architect's… 3 10984 I've just had a look at the website. The company are just building broker's. There are plenty of similar companies that basically draw your plans (they own them so you… 8 10917 |