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Swapping architects


Mike_scotland

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Me and my partner are currently looking for architects, we really like one but he is a bit expensive and we had a brief thought, (might be stupid thought,hence the post here)

 

Can we use the architect we really like for the design planning stage but then go with a much cheaper person for the warrant or is it best staying with 1 all the way through or what's everyone's thoughts and experiences?

 

Thanks in advance

 

 

Mike

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It is your money and you can do what you like.  Make it clear to the architect that you will only be engaging them for the planning and you will require the design in electronic format for the detail and construction stages.  If they are expensive, haggle for a better fee.

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Yes, make sure you can gat the CAD files and that the architect is OK about the IP (they should be).

 

Regarding IP, the principle I have encountered is that it is OK to use the design from your architect for the purpose intended without their further involvement (i.e. building that house in that location). Its not OK to then sell it on as a generic solution to others. That would breach the architect's IP rights.

 

Getting the CAD electronic files can be trickier. I have them for my build.

 

Added: I agree with @Sensus. Ensure your agreement with the architect entitles you to receive the CAD files. Some architects may baulk at this, in which case move on.

Edited by Dreadnaught
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We used our architect to pp stage and then worked with a separate SE for basement design and the TF supplier for detailed design.

 

Architect was happy enough to give us the DWG files but to be fair, at PP stage the detailing was very light and both subsequent teams recreated the drawings from scratch, however they probably saved a bit of time using the original model.
 

Site plan was probably most useful and this was itself based on a topo survey that we paid for and had rights to.

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18 minutes ago, Bitpipe said:

We used our architect to pp stage and then worked with a separate SE for basement design and the TF supplier for detailed design.

 

Architect was happy enough to give us the DWG files but to be fair, at PP stage the detailing was very light and both subsequent teams recreated the drawings from scratch, however they probably saved a bit of time using the original model.
 

Site plan was probably most useful and this was itself based on a topo survey that we paid for and had rights to.

 

 

Similar to what I did, but I did the PP drawings and sent the .dwg files to the TF supplier for detailed design.  Worked well, as the TF supplier sent their detail design .dwg's back, I checked them, made a couple of minor amendments and then sent them back.

 

Probably not an option for someone not used to working with CAD files, though, as it was very much a DIY approach.  I did find this approach useful in many other ways, though, as I was able to produce detail drawings for BC easily, and also do specific drawings for things like the electrical installation, ventilation installation etc, using the master drawings that were being used for frame manufacture as the base.

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15 minutes ago, Sensus said:

As a (surprisingly common) example: it is very easy indeed to design something that sails through Planning, but then is either incapable or very difficult/expensive to achieve

Plus 1 on that.

 

1 hour ago, Mike_scotland said:

what's everyone's thoughts and experiences?

 

We parted company with our architect and went with a new one (funnily enough in Angus). We ended up essential starting from scratch which does feel like we've pissed time and money down the drain.  

 

The difference in the two has been marked, we're getting great service from the second and are happy with everything so far. We've gone for full service but staged based on the RIBA work

plan. I think it's been pricey but not when compared to the 11% of build cost that I had been quoted elsewhere.

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1 hour ago, Mike_scotland said:

Can we use the architect we really like for the design planning stage but then go with a much cheaper person for the warrant

If you stick with your architect, won't he just pass on the design to an architectural technician to do the real work.

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I use an architect who is very good at getting planning consent and is happy to pass over the CAD drawings.  They are good at working out what will fit on site, look good, sell and finance well and help make me a profit.  I would always expect the scheme they come up with to be buildable.

 

I get others to do the building regs, planning conditions, amendments and detail drawings.  If there is not enough information on the planning drawings, they can email each other.

 

I often find that architects are more interested in producing attractive elevations than considering costs, building performance, H & S and so forth.

 

On some LA planning websites you can search by Architect and work out who has the best success rate, which can be useful.

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2 hours ago, Sensus said:

 

The RIBA Plan of Work runs from briefing to completion for good reason

 

Perhaps the primary reason is that it works quite nicely for the architects that fund it.  It clearly does not always suit the customer, which is why there are so many topics posted on here questioning the wisdom.  I seem to remember that RIBA were taken to task some years ago over their "fee scale" that they sought to impose and was found to be unlawful.

 

I don't blame RIBA for looking after their members, but customers should be listened to more, as we are the ultimate paymasters.

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20 hours ago, Sensus said:

He may (if he has any), but in that case, they'll be talking to each other closely. They'll also almost certainly have an established working relationship whereby they're familiar with each other's normal build specifications and details.

 

 

That is how it worked for my self build.

 

Specialist heritage architect had no interest in doing architectural technician grunt work and was happy to recommend a local AT.

 

What is missing in this thread is the complexity of the design. For a conventional house I see no problem handing off to another specialist for technical design however if the OP wants a weird grand design incorporating a fringe construction technique bolted onto a coastal cliff edge, then best get the whole design completed by a single team.

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