Having decided to embark on a home extension, what are the benefits to hiring an architect?
Most people’s home is their most valuable asset. Tackling a home extension project can be an exciting but daunting prospect. “Unless your project is very simple, it makes sense to at least talk to an architect for advice before you get going,” states RIBA (the Royal Institute of British Architects). While it might seem like an additional expense, the professional expertise and vision an architect brings can significantly enhance your building project. Here we look at the myriad benefits of hiring an architect.
The cost of building your home extension should be in line with property values in the neighbourhood. Is your main aim to make the house move liveable for your family or more saleable to future buyers? Is a two-storey addition the most effective way to get the extra living space you require, or would it make more financial sense to move? Should you add a kitchen extension to increase your home’s footprint or convert the loft into an extra bedroom? An architect can help you decide.
Chris Fry, an architect based in Winchester, explains. “It’s not just about adding square footage or extra bedrooms, but the quality of space created and how the light falls. Architects see beyond the nuts and bolts – they test ideas.” Is the project suitable for the locality? As Fry highlights: “There’s no point creating a five-bedroom terraced property if all the other houses in the street have two bedrooms. Nobody will want to buy it.”
Architects excel at making the most of the existing space, often suggesting ideas you might not have considered. Their training and imagination allow them to see possibilities that might not be immediately obvious to the untrained eye. As Kevin Brown, co-founder of Collaborative Architecture, explains, an architect can help by “opening people’s eyes to what is possible.” A good architect will bring “light and delight” into a space, he says.
Every house presents different design possibilities. Perhaps a warren of small rooms that could be remodelled into a large, open-plan living area. Perhaps extending into a narrow alley that runs alongside the ground floor of a semi-detached property to create a big family style kitchen-diner. An architect will find ways to unlock additional space through reconfiguring layouts and clever planning. Equally, your property may present challenges, such as a small garden or a sloping site. As architect will assess all these factors to explore the potential of your house.
Every family has their own unique needs and preferences - and a one-size-fits-all solution rarely works. An architect will ask about your lifestyle and aspirations, ensuring your building project will meet your needs. Do you want more space for entertaining or a better connection with the garden or a master bedroom with a balcony. How long do you plan to live in your home? What is your budget? Share everything you can with your architect: magazine clippings, notes, sketches, Pinterest board – anything that illustrates what you like.
Architects are adept at providing bespoke solutions that cater to your specific requirements. “Understanding how clients live and want to use their space is vital,” says Scot Masker, founder of Winchester-based Masker Architects. “We tailor each design to ensure it’s suited to the way clients intend to use their home, making it truly unique.” A successful design is about more than just appearance, notes Masker. “It’s about creating spaces that inspire and work for everyday life.”
Context is an important driver for architects, too. They will look to the built and natural landscape for inspiration. Whether you want to make a statement with a bold design that stands out from neighbouring properties or prefer a design that fits in and is respectful, an architect can help. Both approaches are valid, says Fry. Mass house builders often repeat the same designs again and again, irrespective of context. By contrast, architects are trained to be sensitive to settings and use their skills to create one-off designs.
Planning law controls how you can extend your home. For smaller projects homeowners often don’t need planning permission. This is known as ‘permitted development rights.” But the height of roof ridges, how far the rear wall of the extension extends beyond the original home and how much of a site is covered by new buildings are all dictated by the rules. If you want something bigger or different, you’ll need planning permission.
Architects are well versed in planning policies and can explain how they apply to your building project. They can assist you in submitting planning applications, increasing the likelihood of your scheme being approved without significant delays.
“Having an architect manage the planning application and negotiate with council planning officers can save a lot of time and frustration,” notes Masker. “Architects understand and can explain both the planning and design aspects of a project, so they know how to present it in the best light.”
Every building project has its hurdles. As trained design professionals, architects can adapt and use their out-of-box thinking to find creative solutions to get around any issues that might arise in the design and build process.
“Builders are always looking to simplify things,” notes Brown. “Architects don’t want to make things complicated, but they look at problems in a different way, that is part of their training. They are taught to think outside the box – to be lateral thinkers.”
Perhaps the most significant advantage of hiring an architect is their ability to translate your vague ideas into a buildable, joined-up design. They can help you visualise the design possibilities by hand sketches, computer rendering or even model building.
Clients often have a vision for their dream home, says Brown. “But I tell them that vision might change as we develop the design together and they consider possibilities they may never have thought of. People look at pictures in magazines but when you put a design together it can change their perspective.” Brown designed what was described as “one of the most ambitious homes” ever seen on Channel 4’s Grand Designs, see above. The “Fossil House” was inspired by the spiral pattern of an ammonite fossil found on site, an example of the Fibonacci sequence found in nature. “The owners never dreamt they would live in a house with curved walls and ceilings, but in the end, they loved it,” says the award-winning architect.
Architects are uniquely positioned to integrate sustainability into your project from the outset. They can help you incorporate the latest eco-friendly materials and energy efficient solutions into your home extension or refurbishment, reducing your carbon footprint and long-term energy costs. For example, a design that will maximise passive solar heat and convert solar energy to electricity through a PV (photovoltaic) system or rainwater harvesting.
“Everyone knows about ground source and air source heat pumps but unless there is also space for a PV system, they can be very uneconomic to run,” says Brown. Generally, I bring in a specialist because things are moving so fast it’s hard to keep up. A mechanical or sustainability engineer can add that dimension.”
After planning permission is granted, the next stage is the tender process. An architect can prepare construction documents, detailed drawings and specifications that builders need to estimate costs and build your project. They can help you select a reputable contractor from a shortlist of three or four builders. “An architect can prepare the construction drawings to ensure everything aligns with the vision set out in the approved plans as well as the relevant building regulations,” notes Masker.
An architect’s job doesn’t have to finish after the tender process. You can ask them to administer the building contract. The success of a building project hinges on effective communication and coordination of all the parties involved, says Fry. Architects often act as project managers, making regular site visits and liaising with contractors to ensure the work is built as planned.
As Masker says: “The contractor is supposed to be working with the client and architect to execute the building as designed which means they should not go off-piste to build as they have done it in the past.” Payments for building work are typically staged. An architect can sign off each stage of work – foundations, wall, roof, services - before the homeowner pays. “In this way the architect makes sure the builder is only paid for what he has done – and ensures it’s done properly,” explains Masker.
A well-designed extension or refurbishment can significantly boost your home’s market value. Architects can help ensure your project is not only functional and aesthetically pleasing but also enhance your property’s long-term value. “Good design is an investment,” says Masker. “A carefully considered home extension can add more than square footage – it can enhance the kerb appeal and marketability of your property.” Brown adds: “Architectural technicians provide technical solutions but they’re not design led. An architect will add design quality.”
From concept to completion on site, architects offer a range of services. They can bring professional expertise, vision, project management skills and added value to your project. If you’re embarking on a building project, it may be wise to consider hiring an architect.
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