A large number of implemented projects, low price, awards in architectural competitions, or establishing a good relationship with the architect - which factors should be decisive when choosing an architect in London? If you face the challenge of building a house and are looking for the best architect, find out what you should do when analyzing the offers.
Picking an architect in London – where to start
A large number of architects in London does not make it easy to choose one. The key factors are certainly the competence and experience of a particular architect who will carry out the design of your home, not the prestige of the office itself. A large number of prizes won by the design office attest to the company's reputation, but it does not necessarily translate into the appearance and functionality created for your home. If you are wondering what are the most important things that a good London architect should have, here are some basic information that can be useful.
1. Knowledge of legal regulations and the architectural industry
One of the key factors is knowledge of the construction law. Professional architects in London must be up to date with all changing regulations in order to guarantee the full feasibility of the created project.
The architect's responsibilities include:
- planning an architectural concept while taking into account the client's expectations and the architectural conditions of the area,
- development of a construction project or adaptation of a ready project,
- preparing and completing project documentation,
- obtaining the necessary assessments for building arrangements,
- supervision over the execution of construction works.
Knowledge of current building regulations is essential at every stage of the house design. If we want our house to be characterized by modern design, it is worth choosing an architect who keeps track of changes in construction trends and can advise us on the latest solutions in this area.
2. Price of the house project
The price of completing the house design service should not play a primary role. Bearing in mind the cost of building the whole house, it is worth investing in a good project to later avoid problems with building supervision and the feasibility of the project itself. Instead of choosing the cheapest house design, we should choose the one that best meets our expectations. Remember that the cost of the project and construction will be paid once, while the costs of maintaining the house are lifelong. Instead of choosing the cheapest option, it is worth choosing a London architect who will offer us a guarantee of price invariability. The price set at the beginning should remain constant regardless of any subsequent amendments.
3. Experience in house design
A large number of ready house designs makes it difficult for us to decide which project will be the best for us. In addition, having no experience in design, we can omit many important factors that may be very expensive at a later stage of construction. Using the help of an experienced London architect, we can count on a number of practical tips that will satisfy us in terms of functionality and aesthetics and will allow us to fit in a set budget. It is much easier to trust architects who have completed numerous projects and enjoy the trust of their existing clients than architects with no experience. Fresh out of school architectural graduates may have very interesting ideas for original house designs, unfortunately, the lack of experience in designing may result in problems at the construction stage – for example when dealing with hiring the right London construction company or when supervising the work.
4. Knowledge of the region
Each region is characterized by a certain specificity and numerous determinants in the field of house construction. Depending on the terrain, climatic conditions and tradition, particular regions stand out with a specific type of building. When deciding to build a house in a specific area of London, it is worth ordering an individual project from an experienced London architect. The architect should design a house that will fit into the architectural trends of the area but also take into account our expectations.