THE ARCHITECTURAL PROCESS, STAGE 1: PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ANALYSIS, PART 1.

THE ARCHITECTURAL PROCESS
​Stage 1: project Development & Analysis

part 1: the site review

An architectural project is typically divided up into six stages to design and document your home, getting everything ready to start construction.

This series of posts will outline exactly what will happen and when during the design of your home. And let you know what is expected of you during each stage of the architectural process.

STAGE 1: PROJECT DEVELOPMENT & ANALYSIS

The first stage of your architectural design is all about working out exactly what you need, what you want and what you actually can do with the design of your new home. At the end of this stage the parameters of what you can build will have been established and the viability of your building project will be assessed.
 
There are two parts to this stage:
1. The Site Review and
2. Creating the Design Brief.
 
Right now we’ll explore what is included in The Site Review.

the site review

Undertaking a detailed and thorough Site Review is fundamental to the overall success of the project. Missing information could result in a design that doesn’t function properly for you, doesn’t maximise the opportunities of the site or worse isn’t able to be built because of planning restrictions that weren’t considered.
 
What your Architect will do to complete the Site Review:

Your Architect will need to visit your property in person and take photos and measurements of the site and any existing structures and look at the existing conditions of the site and the surroundings.

Your Architect will arrange for a survey of the site and surrounding buildings.  He or she will prepare a Site Survey which will be presented as a map showing boundaries, topography, utilities on the site, the location and height of any existing buildings, the location and height of neighbouring buildings, fences and any existing other features of the site. The survey will also establish the legal boundaries, any covenants or rights-of-way or encroachments on the site.

They will conduct research on the zoning and planning restriction with local authorities and check if there are additional planning restrictions that apply to your property. Local councils' regulations and processes, Local Environmental Plans, Development Control Plans, State Planning Policies, environmental agencies' regulations, Building Codes, BASIX and environmental design requirements and Standards all have their own conditions and restrictions which need to be considered.

A site analysis will be completed that will collate all the information collected from the site visit, the survey and the research. This will present findings on access, circulation, topography, materials, views, prevailing winds, sun movement, overshadowing, climate conditions, surrounding building context, site and local land use, local environment effects, existing vegetation, electrical lines, surrounding roads.

All of this research and the findings will be compiled in a Project Review Report that will summarise the limitations on building on your site, regulations that affect your property, the planning application process and any issues that will impact on your home design.

CONSULTANTS NEEDED FOR STAGE ONE

• Surveyor
  
• A Geotechnical Engineer may be required to assess the soil type and conditions. Not all projects need a Geotechnical Engineer.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR STAGE ONE

You will need to supply any existing property information that you have, such as existing site and building plans and surveys, land information, consultant reports, building reports etc.
You will need to obtain a sewer and water diagram from the water authority in your area.
You will need to engage the Surveyor and in for some sites you will also need to contract a Geotechnical Engineer – your architect or designer will help you with these.

The second part of Stage One is creating the Design Brief, which you can read about in the next entry.

Director at Archetype Building Design Studios
B. ARCHITECTURE, B.A. (Architecture), UTS.
Master of Dispute Resolution (Faculty of Law, UTS)
Member of the Australian Mediators Association

If you have any questions about the Architectural Design Process or would like to work with us on your new home, please contact us here: