Architect recommendation, please

[Tony L]

Does anybody have a recommendation for an architect or architectural technician in the West Surrey/East Berkshire/NE Hampshire area, who’s capable of producing construction drawings for a BuildHub-quality house that’s air tight with MVHR, please?  I’ve just sacked the guy who was supposed to do this for me, after more than a year of low quality work, constant excuses & missed deadlines.

 

I think this time, I want somebody who’s close enough to me for face to face meetings & affordable site visits.

[Oz07]

Did you have to pay them or did they just accept being blown out?

 

Maybe I'm a control freak but I always find they need heavy handed steering! That said i never used any of the more expensive firms perhaps these are better?

[Tony L]

I sacked him via email & I haven't heard back from him yet. He had lots of help from me before he got going & lots more help from me (which I didn't expect to have to provide) over the past several months.  I paid £3,600 (50%) before he got going & I've asked him to repay this within seven days.

[LDNRennovation]

That sucks I’m sorry and I hope you get your money back. Sometimes it’s just not the right fit with customer and architect, and people can get in over their heads too. 

It’s all down to you and what you like really. I’d put a good design over air-tightness. 
 

My pick would be Splash Architects. I really like Dan from Splash Architecture’s work and he has great reviews. I’ve not met or worked with him though, that would be the next step to see if you got on and what his ‘air tightness thoughts’ were.
 

Honestly despite what you say, I wouldn’t want to pay Surrey prices for an architect, if you’re doing it through email and Teams it doesn’t matter where they are.

[Oz07]

I mean with all the modern ways of sealing up builds how much does the design affect it? What's that loop they spray under pressure gets in all the nooks and crannies

[Tony L]

20 hours ago, LDNRennovation said:

I wouldn’t want to pay Surrey prices for an architect

 

Nor might I either, but paying Devon prices didn't work out well for me, so I'll see what the Surrey quotes look like.

 

20 hours ago, LDNRennovation said:

if you’re doing it through email and Teams it doesn’t matter where they are

 

I agree, but I don't want to do everything through email & Teams, so it matters to me.  Thank you for the Splash tip.

[Tony L]

17 hours ago, Oz07 said:

I mean with all the modern ways of sealing up builds how much does the design affect it?

 

A lot, in my opinion.

 

17 hours ago, Oz07 said:

What's that loop they spray under pressure gets in all the nooks and crannies

 

AeroBarrier

[LDNRennovation]

I don’t think you need an architect to seal a building up, you need an air tightness/air testing specialist. 
 

All an architect is going to do is get you to use SIPs and some silver sticky tape.

 

oh and also might as well design something nice to live in, otherwise might as well just live in a plastic bag.

Edited August 18 by LDNRennovation