Let’s talk!

TT Architecture offer a free initial consultation. This is typically a face-to-face meeting in our office in Kingston to go over a raft of issues relating to the design and delivery of client’s projects. The meeting offers the opportunity for clients to ask any specific questions they may have. With over 30 years of experience in practice TT Architecture have a great depth of knowledge which will be of use to clients who are often engaging in the building process for the first time.

The sort of things that are often discussed are:

• How and how much do architects charge? Different firms use different models for their services?
• What services do TT architecture offer and do I have to engaged them for all the various stages?
• What is the sequence in the process design a building process?
• How long does the design process take, ie, how quickly can we get our plans approved?
• The brief for your home. This will include not only the specific rooms and spaces required but the priority of outcomes ranging through from the sustainability issues to the aesthetics of the house. It is always useful for us to see what clients like and don’t like.
• The client’s budget in relation to the brief.
• General information about building costs for both renovations and new homes. (We have spreadsheets tools to help clients understand the cost of both new and renovation/extension projects which can be explained and issued at the introductory meeting).
• How to select a builder? The quality, cost competitiveness, and personality are all important factors in finding the right match with a builder. We can help you with this. Clients are effectively engaging in something akin to a ‘marriage’ with a builder, often for a year. Getting the right builder is vital.
• How to engage builders in a fair and reasonable competitive process at an early stage.
• The pros and cons of the different sorts of industry building contracts that are available.
• Cost control through the design and construction stages. How do I prevent my project going over budget?
• Advise about site selection if and as necessary. Often, we will help clients avoid picking the wrong site for their new project. Solar access, slope, views, regulated trees, services and easements can all have a big effect on the viability of a block.
• Look at the opportunities and constraints of the selected site (or existing building) and discuss various strategic options to meet the brief.
• Discuss sustainability and energy rating issues. We have 30 years of experience in these matters. Tony Trobe was trained significantly more energy assessors and ACT than anyone else and was the most recent ACT government technical adviser on the ACT House Energy Rating Scheme (ACTHERS).
• Discuss timelines both design, approval and construction.
• Discuss local planning regulations, utilities easements and access, setbacks, contours et cetera. These vary considerably from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Typically, an initial meeting takes somewhere between an hour and an hour and half. Even if clients decide not to engage TT Architecture it is hoped they come away from an initial meeting with a much better understanding of the process of engaging in a building project. People usually only do this once so getting it right from the outset is important.

To organise a suitable time for an initial consultation please do not hesitate to contact TT architecture office:

mail@ttarchitecture.com.au

Tel 02 6232 6311

We can also organise a Zoom or Teams video conferences for projects outside Canberra or as necessary.