Old building designer story US images
2. You want a specialist in construction methodsBecause the building-design model brings all members of a project team – including the designer, builder, engineer and any specialty sub-contractors – together early on in the process, you can be sure that tricky construction issues are taken into account from the get-go.In this San Francisco home in the USA, building-design firm Building Lab completed an extensive lower-level demolition and renovation that required the house to be suspended on cribbing while a new foundation was laid. The finished space, which includes a stylish family room, guest quarters and laundry, won a Remmies award from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry in 2016.
3. You’re on a tight scheduleDisagreement between your designer and builder on how things ought to be done can result in serious slowdowns. When you’re working with a building-design firm, however, everyone is on the same team – which can translate into faster timelines. Also thanks to this collaboration, building can often begin even if there are still a few small finishing touches to iron out in the design.
4. You want your team to work well togetherAlthough a conflict-free building experience is never a sure thing, one comfort in hiring a building-design firm is that the key players already know one another and presumably respected each other’s work enough to go into business together. And because the two pieces of your team are already working as one, ironing out later-stage changes tends to be quicker and smoother. This is important because conflicts between your architect and builder are not just annoying – they can also create delays, which in turn can inflate costs or even bring work to a grinding halt.When a couple hired the architectural firm Fuse Architects to design a getaway in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California, USA, they initially envisioned a 280-square-metre dwelling. But when construction began, the homeowners realised they wanted to scale back the home to about half the size – which led to the builder opting out of the job. Faced with this challenging situation, Dan Gomez and Dan Townsend, partners at Fuse Architects, decided to bring on Townsend’s brother, a licensed builder, and founded Fuse Architects + Builders....
5. You spotted work you love on HouzzIf you see work you fall in love with while browsing Houzz, it’s worth finding out more about the professionals who made it happen – liking a professional’s past work is a pretty good sign that you will be on the same page, design-wise. To find out more about a photo you like, click through to that professional’s Houzz profile page to see more work in his or her portfolio, find out the geographic area served, follow them to see future projects, and use the contact form to ask questions.When professional skater Tony Hawk was looking to surprise his friend with a home renovation, he used Houzz to find USA-based builder David Spetrino and designer Chrissy Bonney of PBC Design + Build. To create this kitchen, the team opened up the space and brought in much-needed light. Spetrino removed a wall dividing the kitchen from the living room, while Bonney whitewashed the ceiling, added grey cabinets and updated the lighting.Watch professional skater Tony Hawk surprise his friend with this renovation...
6. You want to fix up your fixer-upper Renovating a home that’s in poor condition is challenging under the best of circumstances. Add in the logistical, organisational and emotional challenges of negotiating multiple contracts, personalities and conflicting ideas, and the headaches can multiply. Because a building-design firm handles everything under one roof (and one contract), you can eliminate a lot of the guesswork and unnecessary push-and-pull that you’d need to deal with if you were hiring a designer and an architect or designer as well as a builder separately. When the owners purchased this 1925 home in foreclosure in Georgia, USA, they had not been able to set foot inside. When they did, they found a mishmash of former renovations. Faced with the prospect of gutting the home, the owners turned to design-build firm Terracotta Design Build to handle the renovation from start to finish. Today the home has a cleaner, unified design that sits well within the neighbourhood and feels like a cosy sanctuary, inside and out....
7. Staying on budget is a top priorityIn the traditional design-bid-build model, multiple builders bid or quote on a project – the perceived benefit being that you can potentially save money on its construction. However, securing that initial construction contract is not the only factor that goes into escalating project costs: poor communication between your designer and builder, and unneeded or excessive changes, can also wreak havoc on your budget. In the design-build model, your architect and builder work together under one contract, which can help cut down on unnecessary changes and keep everyone on the same page when it comes to budget expectations.6 Big Decisions to Make When Building or Renovating
8. You’re hoping to minimise risksOf course, everyone involved in a project hopes that nothing goes wrong. But if there is a dispute, working with a building designer puts more of the legal responsibility for design errors and omissions, as well as defective construction, on the firm. In the traditional design-bid-build model, however, the homeowner can be in a potentially more vulnerable position because they are placed between the architect or designer and builder.
9. You want a ‘green’ homeYou’re probably already aware that there are architects who specialise in green building – but did you know that there are also building designers who count this as a specialty? Hiring a building-design firm with expertise in this area is a good choice if you are looking to complete a renovation, addition or new build that incorporates green or sustainable building methods and principles, such as passive solar design and high energy efficiency.Green Hammer, which specialises in sustainable building, was commissioned with upgrading this petite 1922 bungalow in Oregon, USA. Retaining the historical facade (the home is on the National Register of Historic Places), the building-design firm updated the interior with comprehensive energy upgrades, a full-house heat-recovery ventilation system and more.
10. You feel overwhelmed by the building processIf you are planning to build your dream home from scratch, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. Choosing to work with a building designer can simplify the process by reducing the stress of project management and the number of people you need to liaise with. Once you’ve chosen a firm you trust, this one-stop shop oversees the architect, builder and sub-contractors.Your turnHave you had a positive experience working with a building designer before? Tell us what you enjoyed about the process in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.MoreNeed more practical renovating advice? Read up on 12 Dos and Don’ts of Renovating a Heritage Home
1. You like the idea of working with a ‘master builder’Once upon a time, the architecture and construction professions were not as separate as they typically are today. And while it’s true that even in building-design firms, the design work and the construction side are generally handled by different people, a close collaboration between these two wings can result in something akin to the ‘master builder’ approach that was once more common.For example, USA-based building-design firm Green Hammer, whose work is shown here, has a team that includes architects, designers, construction experts and craftspeople who work together under a single contract. If you’re looking for a similarly close integration between the building side and the design side, be sure to ask questions about which professionals are included on the team and which (if any) are sub-contractors.Find a building designer near you on Houzz, browse images of their work and read reviews from their previous clients
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