Standard house type design
Designing a range of house types demands close working from a number of team members, whether they are located within your organisation or acting as an external consultant.
Normally a brief is formed by the client, mainly by the sales team, again this can often include input from external marketing consultants.
More often than not they will use their experience to create a brief which gives not only a floor area for each house in the range, number of rooms etc, but also some guidance towards their expectations of what the finished product can offer.
It is our challenge to take on this brief and design a range of houses which exceeds this expectation. Bill has been involved in the design of dozens of standard house types within several ranges, either drawing them first hand or instructing others to complete the drawing work but either way he is always deeply involved in the process.
Normally a brief is formed by the client, mainly by the sales team, again this can often include input from external marketing consultants.
More often than not they will use their experience to create a brief which gives not only a floor area for each house in the range, number of rooms etc, but also some guidance towards their expectations of what the finished product can offer.
It is our challenge to take on this brief and design a range of houses which exceeds this expectation. Bill has been involved in the design of dozens of standard house types within several ranges, either drawing them first hand or instructing others to complete the drawing work but either way he is always deeply involved in the process.
From conception to construction
The process between architect and client involves close co-operation and communication at all times. From the initial brief we will normally take an agreed period to produce initial sketches such as the one above and to the right which provides the client with a plan for each floor and at least a front elevation of the house.
The client may also require to sell the range to their board and we are often asked to produce material for such a presentation or indeed make the presentation to their team. Depending on the timescale we can produce anything from quick three dimensional internal and external freehand sketches to the more finished rendered views such as the ones that appear on the bespoke and commercial pages of this site.
As with all designs which involve a number of team members, it is extremely beneficial to have sign off stages throughout the process to ensure that all parties are "signing up" to the design as it proceeds.
In Bill's experience this should include all disciplines of the management team as everyone will have a different perspective and can offer valuable input which can greatly improve the finished product.
The client may also require to sell the range to their board and we are often asked to produce material for such a presentation or indeed make the presentation to their team. Depending on the timescale we can produce anything from quick three dimensional internal and external freehand sketches to the more finished rendered views such as the ones that appear on the bespoke and commercial pages of this site.
As with all designs which involve a number of team members, it is extremely beneficial to have sign off stages throughout the process to ensure that all parties are "signing up" to the design as it proceeds.
In Bill's experience this should include all disciplines of the management team as everyone will have a different perspective and can offer valuable input which can greatly improve the finished product.
The technical aspect
Once the design is established and agreed the next stage is to produce construction drawings, schedules, details and other supporting information which will be needed to obtain the required statutory approvals and to build the product. It is not unusual at this time, particularly for a house builder to request variations to either the fenestration or to the elevational appearance of the building.
This can produce a series of drawings and supporting information which differs for each variation, which will then require the conception of a management system to ensure the smooth construction process. This can be managed either by us or we can supply the information to allow the client's team to manage the process themselves.
We can also offer to regularly visit the site on which the first of the products are constructed to ensure any teething problems are caught, ironed out, recorded and information amended for future construction.
This can produce a series of drawings and supporting information which differs for each variation, which will then require the conception of a management system to ensure the smooth construction process. This can be managed either by us or we can supply the information to allow the client's team to manage the process themselves.
We can also offer to regularly visit the site on which the first of the products are constructed to ensure any teething problems are caught, ironed out, recorded and information amended for future construction.
A rolling programme
Once built for the first time the reproduction of the product will be fairly uncomplicated and the house builder can easliy cascade information from site to site.
Previously, in the production of a range of houses in which Bill has been involved, a rolling programme can be utilised to ensure that the new product can be introduced as quickly as possible.
When the product range or matrix is established, the initial design can be produced for a few houses and once signed off, these can move into the production phase and the next set of intitial designs commenced. This will permit other members of the team to commence costings and scheduling in stages while other types are progressed.
In theory there can be three or four groups of house types in production in various stages of completion.
If you would like advice on the production of a range of houses, please contact Bill using the contact details on the relevant section.
Previously, in the production of a range of houses in which Bill has been involved, a rolling programme can be utilised to ensure that the new product can be introduced as quickly as possible.
When the product range or matrix is established, the initial design can be produced for a few houses and once signed off, these can move into the production phase and the next set of intitial designs commenced. This will permit other members of the team to commence costings and scheduling in stages while other types are progressed.
In theory there can be three or four groups of house types in production in various stages of completion.
If you would like advice on the production of a range of houses, please contact Bill using the contact details on the relevant section.