We know the best results are achieved in consultation with you, the people who will inhabit the spaces, so we have created a design process tailored to maximise your experience and enjoyment of creating your project.
Each design is measured against a stringent set of sustainable design principles, to ensure sustainable outcomes are ingrained in the project and will ultimately endure the rigours of tender and construction.
The gazing into the ocean phase!
We welcome the opportunity to discuss your project, so feel free to send through an enquiry via the contact page, or call Ryan directly on 0418 174 596.
The pre-design stage starts with a site visit to establish the existing site conditions. Depending on the applicability to your project, a land surveyor is typically engaged to provide a ‘levels and features’ survey. Some sites require the site boundaries to be re-established, especially if the intention is to build to boundaries in suburban areas.
Following this, we produce an existing conditions site and floor plan, as well as elevations to inform our design work. A record of the existing conditions is incorporated into the concept design output provided to you.
Once we have been through the process of gathering information to establish the opportunities and constraints associated with the site, we will commence our conceptual design work. Drawings and diagrams are produced to represent the architectural principles being addressed, relationships among spaces (both internally and externally) and the beginnings of a plan layout. While we consider the likely three-dimensional resolution and materiality at this stage, this generally occurs in the background with real development of these aspects occurring in the design development stage.
The concept design work is then assessed against the preliminary budget to allow decisions to be made (as required) to bring the two (brief and budget) into alignment. Further design reviews occur at each subsequent stage. Typically two to three around the table meetings are required in this phase.
The design concept is further developed and refined. A 3D computer generated model of the proposal is produced and communicated to you to allow for a better understanding of the design. The model is used to make decisions with relation to the overall form, location and extent of glazing, interaction with the external environment and site surrounds, materials and finishes. We start to consider the overriding structural system and what opportunities are created to work with parts of the structure as an element of the overall aesthetic.
If your project requires planning approval, an application is made with Council once the 3D resolution of the design is agreed. Making changes to the design once we have a planning permit adds time and expense. This timeframe varies on a project-by-project basis.
You are asked to approve the documents supporting the town planning application at this point to allow us to submit the application on your behalf.
Once the planning permit is in hand (it is reasonable to allow 12-16 weeks for planning approval, which can vary on a project by project basis), we will then finalise the design development stage by looking at the internal aspects such as joinery layouts and finishes, fixtures fittings and equipment selections, detailed materials selection, selection of light fittings etc.
This information is recorded in a set of architectural schedules that are then incorporated in the Construction Documents. You are asked to participate actively in the selections/decisions to be made at this stage of the process. We will guide and support you in making the required selections.
The objectives of this stage are to produce a set of technical drawings and supporting written specifications to allow the project to be tendered and a fixed price obtained from a Builder(s). The drawings reflect the level of detail required to ensure the design intent and architectural details can be effectively communicated and understood by the contractors. The documents are also used to obtain a building permit from a Building Surveyor.
The planning permit previously obtained does not constitute building approval. The technical drawings address the requirements of the Building Regulations, the National Construction Code (formally the BCA), Australian Standards and other industry codes and requirements.
Information from other consultants, typically the structural engineer and thermal assessor amongst others we will coordinate, is developed and coordinated with the design drawings.
The construction documents are then issued to the builder for pricing. Upon receiving tenders, we will prepare a tender summary and an assessment of the cost breakdown and make recommendations as to the preferred tenderer. We can facilitate negotiations with the successful builder to bring the cost of works into alignment with the adjusted project budget, to allow the project to be constructed if required.
Depending on the applicability to your needs (i.e. complexity and type of the project) an Architect can (and we believe should) be engaged to administer the building contract. This service sees the Architect employed to manage time, cost and design quality outcomes and act as an independent assessor and certifier of the Builders progress claims. This role warrants detailed discussion, so feel free to ask questions at any stage.
We will apply our expertise to resolving design details and contractor queries/requests for information on site, coordinating additional consultant input, manage communication between yourself and the builder, assessing and certifying Builder’s claims related to time and cost.
A complex role that we achieve regularly for our clients, which, give us the ability to apply our experience and expertise in project delivery.
Once your project has reached the completion stage, we continue our role as contract administrator to ensure practical completion has been achieved and a record of incomplete and defective work, which doesn’t necessarily stop you from occupying the building, is known and seen to in a timely manner.
We ultimately prefer our clients to enjoy the process of creating and shaping their project. The contract administration role allows the architect to work actively to support you to navigate a process that most are experiencing for the first (and sometimes only) time.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
31 Elizabeth Street
Geelong West VIC 3218
31 Elizabeth Street
Geelong West VIC 3218
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of all unceded lands on which RT Architects operates. As we create and develop our designs, we acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin nation and pay our respects to Elders past and present and to emerging leaders.
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