Parkes
Lees
Architects
Ltd
Working with an architect guide
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Parkes Lees Architects Ltd
4 Broad Street, LAUNCESTON
Cornwall PL15 8AD
2 3
what an architect brings to your project
2
what PLA can do for you
3
stage zero
5
stage one
6
stage two
7
stage three
8
stage four
9
stage five
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stage six
11
stage seven
12
contents
Parkes Lees Architects is an RIBA chartered practice meaning quality, design excellence and professional service can be assured.
At Parkes Lees Architects we provide a service that offers you value for money, imagination and creativity, whilst keeping you on track and on budget.
As an RIBA chartered architectural practice we have been accredited to meet professional standards for high quality work, design excellence, and service delivery. We maintain Professional Indemnity Insurance to cover all of our projects.
Whether you are planning to build a new house, alter or extend your present home, employ a builder or do it yourself, consulting an architect at the outset is recommended. This guide will highlight what an architect can bring to your project and the stages they can guide you through as you see your project reach completion.
what an architect can bring to your project
Using our insight and over 100 years of experience in running a practice we can suggest innovative ways of using light and space, new ways to enrich materials and help with finding a builder. We are also experts in designing energy efficient design solutions.
what PLA can do for you
We at Parkes Lees Architects can provide you with a service that extends beyond drawings. We can help see your project through to the end, provide assistance with planning applications and approvals, or we can produce initial ideas and concepts and leave the rest up to you.
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Here we have outlined all of the stages we can guide you through that will lead your project to completion. You may choose to use our services for one stage or many. We are here to make your project run as smoothly as possible. Hopefully, this guide will assist you in tailoring our services to suit your necds.
stage zero
stage one
stage two
initial project Brief
strategic Brief
concept design and
final project Brief
stage three
stage four
stage five
stage six
stage seven
research &
development
developed design and
planning application
technical design
(Building Regulations)
construction
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The Agreement will record basic details of your project and the services to be provided, e.g. which stages you intend to carry out. The Agreement might be set out in a Letter of Appointment, stating in simple terms our responsibility as architect, or for more complex projects an Appointment Contract would be agreed. It will also set out the calculation method for the cost of the stages - our Fee. Our fee will be on a time-spent basis for Stages 0–2; from Stage 3 onwards a lump sum or a combination of the two methods can be agreed.
During Stage Zero the core requirements of your project will be identified through discussion with us. This is known as the Strategic Brief. It may be quite short, but it sets out key considerations and what you want to achieve from the project as well as who else might need to be involved (the Project Team) and relevant deadlines (the Programme). Once you are happy with the initial ideas and want to continue working alongside Parkes Lees Architects to progress with your project, follow the signpost to stage one.
"strategic Brief"
stage one
brief
If you are thinking of starting a building project you will be known as 'the client'. The client plays a key role in building projects and throughout the process you will need to be closely involved with our experts to deliver your project. "If the project is an orchestra, then you are the conductor" [CABE: Creating Excellent Buildings - Jan 2011, nationalarchives.gov.uk ]. The responsibilities of both architect and you, the client, will be set down in a formal contract - an Agreement. When you have work done to your home you are acting in your private capacity, i.e. as a consumer, which comes under the Unfair Terms In Consumer Contracts Regulation Act 1999. The Agreement will be discussed with you before any work takes place, making sure the terms are fully understood and negotiated fairly.
If you decide you wish to have more time to decide what to do next in terms of your project, just let us know; we offer our first hour of
consultation free of charge.
Having agreed to continue with the process after stage zero, we will now run through project objectives and outcomes, budget and any sustainability aspirations, or "green" issues, such as access to solar/wind energy, constraints and opportunities relating to ecology, biodiversity, views as well as methods of construction and insulation materials.
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This will lead into feasibility studies, pre-application discussions with the local planning department and a risk assessment. The Strategic Brief is developed into the Initial Project Brief by taking into account details of the site information obtained through surveys, alternative options tested through feasiblity studies and review of the outcomes, budget and programme. The 'procurement route' (how and when to appoint builders etc) will also be set out at this stage.
If you wish to end the discussions after obtaining the Initial Project Brief, a simple letter will be sent including the calculation of our fee for Stage One.
If you are happy with the service provided and the Intial Project Brief
given, you can follow the signpost and proceed to Stage Two of your
project.
"initial project
Brief"
an
example of a PLA feasibility sketch
stage two
design
"concept design and a
final project Brief"
During this stage, a Concept Design will be produced for consideration using the initial Project Brief. We will then take you through outline proposals for structural design, building services and any key specifications for your project. This is when the brief is revisited and updated for the final time and the Final Project Brief is agreed. After this point, any further changes may become quite costly or delay the project, so it is essential that all considerations have been taken into account.
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Here will be where we also undertake:
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• third party consultations
• preliminary cost information exercises • any research and development aspects
specific to the project, and
• develop project strategies e.g. approach to
energy efficiency ("green" issues).
If you wish to continue with your architect to the next stage, follow the arrow to Stage Three. If that is all the architectural service you require from us, you can continue to use our Concept Design for your specific project, but the copyright remains with PLA, so we would ask that you discuss this with us first. We will send a simple letter including the calculation of our fee for Stage Two.
an example of a stage two concept design by PLA
It is always possible to revise the designs made, but this is the ideal time to do so.
After Stage Two, the Project Brief should not be changed.
stage three
planning
This is where all the work of the earlier stages is crystalized into the Developed Design. The process might still include a number of design changes, but they will always be in accordance with the original Project Brief. Withe Concept Design agreed, we can usually agree a lump sum fee for this stage. At the end of Stage Three we will make an application for detailed planning permission.
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During this stage we will also update any sustainability or maintenence strategies that were prepared during Stage Two, finalize any third party consultations undertaken and conclude all research and development that relates to the project. Once the design has been submitted and a planning approval obtained, no further changes can be made to the design without incurring additional costs and risking delay to the programme.
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If you wish to end the process here you will be sent a letter including an invoice for our agreed fee. If you are happy with the design and the way your project is progressing you can continue by following the signpost to Stage Four.
an
example of a PLA developed design
"developed design
and planning application"
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stage four
"blueprints"
"technical design"
During this stage a Technical Design will be pre pared in accordance with the Approved Scheme from Stage Three and the project strategies.
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Depending on our 'Agreement' from Stage Zero, we may be involved in discharging any conditions from the planning consent, and making a Building Regulations application. Our fee for this stage will be agreed.
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Depending on the complexity or type of design, the services of a Structural Engineer or other construction expert will be required at this point.
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If a Specification or a Schedule of Work is required, this is the Stage in which it is prepared. It will include architectural, structural and building services information, taking into account the whole design that has been developed so far.
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Depending on the 'procurement route' agreed in Stage One, tender invitations may be sent out for the building work.
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Information exchanges between client and Project Team, plus any other informal exchanges, will be considered at this point; these will vary depending on the Building Contract. (This is the contract between the client and contractor — it is different to our 'Agreement'.)
If you wish to end the process after Stage Four you will be sent a letter with an invoice for the agreed fee. If you are happy with the technical design produced and the way your project is progressing you can continue by following the signpost to stage five, where building of the project begins.
an example of a PLA stage four technical design
stage five
building
Here the construction of the project is undertaken. We can administer a Building Contract between you and your builder that will include site progress meetings and inspections, and the certifying of valuations for payment. Alternatively, we can agree to be on stand-by to respond to design queries from site and even make the odd site inspection if that is required. Our fee is usually invoiced on a monthly basis in line with the building programme.
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During this stage of the process you will learn about commissioning the building and maintenence. There will inevitably be some minor changes to the building as the work proceeds, but if there are alterations to the external appearance or use of the building, a fresh planning applicaton may be required (Stage 3). If we are administrating the Building Contract we will maintain an ongoing compilation of 'As Built' information, which will detail changes to the construction. We are here to assist you through this process.
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Follow the arrow to the penultimate stage which sees the completion of your project.
"construction"
stage six
completion
"completion and handover"
Your building project is almost complete. This stage sees the completion of building work and conclusion of the Building Contract. We can also provide updated 'As Built' drawings and important information relating to the project from beginning to end.
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If we are admininstering the contract we will agree the Final Payment to your builder, taking into account the cost of any changes along the way. Depending on the detail of the Contract there will be an agreed length of time when the builder is obliged to return to correct any defects that have occurred as a result of their work. Once this period is over, the Building Contract and the building project is complete.
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You are now nearing the end of working with Parkes Lees Architects. Stage Seven outlines the final few steps to be undertaken. Our fee will be payable at Pactical Completion and upon issue of the Final Certificate.
examples of completed projects by PLA
stage seven
the end
stage six
'Riverside', Hellandbridge, PL30 4QR — 8 holiday chalets for sale at time of print (April 2015). Contact ChartsEdge, Exeter EX6 7XS tel. 01392 832 446
"in-use monitoring"
Your building project is now complete. This stage encompasses the tying-up of any loose ends, and the finalizing of any activities outlined in previous stages. These might include a review of:
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• project performance • project outcomes
• research and development aspects • post-occupancy evaluation
We hope this booklet makes the process of working with an architect clear and easy to understand, and we
look forward to working with you.
This booklet is © Parkes Lees Architects Ltd. It was designed by Esme Hemmings, 2015
This information then feeds back into our work and can be highly beneficial to future architectural projects. It is also useful to us to monitor how successful any energy saving measures used in the building have been ("green" issues).
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If you want to participate in Stage Seven, we would arrange a review with you 12 months after the end of the Building Contract.
how to find us
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Parkes Lees Architects Ltd
4 Broad Street
Launceston
PL15 8AD
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Director: Mark Kemp RIBA
Cornwall: 01566 772 035
Exeter: 01392 311 940
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[email protected]
@ParkesLeesArch
LAUNCESTON
