Austin Lebbon Architecture Ltd

Consultation

[RIBA Stage 0 -1] Initial Meeting, Preparation of Brief and Survey

This service is typically for clients who are just starting out and would like guidance as to how to proceed, with questions such as whether it is more cost effective to refurbish or rebuild. Carry out a basic survey and draw up a simple plan of the existing house or site. From this we can develop solutions and propose ways to reduce costs whilst coming up with initial sketches, showing different options as to what can be achieved.

Following this initial meeting, we build a brief from your requirements and set out our fees based on the level of involvement we feel the job requires.

Once appointed, a measured survey needs to be undertaken to establish accurate plans of the property and site. Depending on complexity, this can either be undertaken by ourselves or by a specialist company.

Design and feasibility Service

[RIBA Stage 2] Concept design

This is a more in depth service compared to the half day consultation. It is typically used on smaller projects where the client has an idea of what he would like to achieve, but would like more guidance as to how it can be achieve and what it may look like. To aid the client we use sketch views and 3d models.

These initial ideas are presented to the client and the design dialogue begins. Once the design meets your brief, then these proposals can be reviewed with local authority planners and cost guidance obtained in order to check the project’s feasibility.

Planning + Developed design

[RIBA Stage 3] Planning

Preparation and Brief, Concept Design and Developed Design, ending with the submission of a Planning Application.

Having agreed the outline design, we then produce the required planning documents and drawings developed in sufficient detail to understand the spaces created and how they operate. In principle, we will agree choices of materials and external finishes; obtaining samples, perhaps illustrating spaces and views with models, sketch drawings and computer graphics. The design is then fixed, establishing the scheme to be built in the construction stage and documents produced for a planning application.

Taking a scheme to planning often requires supporting information such as a design statement, historic research and visual impact assessment. Further specialist reports may also be required from third parties, such as ecology or historic building advisors.

Technical Design / Building Regulations

[RIBA Stage 4]

Other professionals, such as structural and services engineers, join the project at this stage. With their technical input, the scheme design can be developed for construction. This process begins with establishing targets for performance, methods of building and agreeing the best way to achieve results within your budget. From here, we generate detailed technical drawings showing how the built elements come together and what each part is made from, supported by written specifications and schedules of finishes and fixtures. Decisions will be made during this stage over where our client’s budget is invested, considering the quality of finishes against the priorities of space and hidden infrastructure such as drainage and electrical wiring.

Documents produced during this stage can be pulled together as a package which can be put out to Building Control for building regulation approval and contractors for pricing. We usually obtain three prices for comparison and provide our recommendation as to who will provide the service to best suit the project.

Construction and Handover

[RIBA Stage 5 - 6]

During this exciting stage, what have been ideas on paper take shape in reality. Our main role at this stage is to administer the contract between yourselves and the contractor. This means we have an equal responsibility to our client and the contractor to ensure fairness on both sides and a smooth build process. 

We will work together to answer any questions and solve design issues which might arise on site and chair regular progress meetings between the client and contractor, thereby keeping up to date with any changes which might result in differences to the project value or the timescale.