The 3 Key Stages of an Architectural Project
From the client brief to schematic design and the permit application: the three key stages every architectural project goes through.
There have always been people who imagine their own home or room on an architectural project or a floor plan and dream of living there. Even if you cannot do it yourself, you can work with an architect to turn your ideas and needs into a real project. Understanding the stages of an architectural project helps a lot here. Before bringing an architectural project to life, many issues may come up; in this article we focus on the ones that matter most and that you should review.
Architectural design is a discipline focused on creating living spaces that meet needs and demands, using specific tools and, above all, creativity. So despite the common belief that architecture is purely a technical task, the aim is to combine technology and aesthetics.
When you commission an architectural project, you can have the necessary calculations and 3D projects prepared for both interior and exterior work, so you get a cost estimate in advance.
All it takes is an initial meeting with an experienced architectural office.
Stage 1: Client Needs in an Architectural Project
To meet your own design ideas and needs, the first step is to agree with an experienced architect. After that, you can get started by giving your architect the information about your requirements and any nuances you want in the design. If you have architectural detail examples you like, showing them and explaining what you want will make your architect’s job much easier. Remember, the more clearly you express what you want, the sooner clear results appear.
Once you agree on architectural project fees, your architect gets to work. They analyze current legal restrictions and city planning rules and check whether your ideas can be realized within those rules. After confirming this, they calculate a fee proposal based on the planning work for the project, put everything in writing and present it as a written contract. You accept the contract and move on to the second stage.
At this stage, you can also learn how costly your project will be during design through the architectural project fees.
Stage 2: Preliminary Architectural Drawings
The architectural drawing stage is a development stage: the architect, with your input if you wish and keeping your needs in mind from the very first stage, develops a basic, more or less schematic first design. It is usually delivered as a schematic design made up of floor plans and levels, often with different options. Because the schematic design includes arrangements that are not yet final, it gives you a rough draft so you can see the project.
During the architectural drawing stage, models and/or basic 3D simulations of the options can be prepared for presentation, so you can understand them better if you are not used to reading plans. Ideally, to move to the next stage you choose one of the options as the “final design”, although changes can still be made later. This stage is important for changes to the architectural project. You can request any changes you want here before the design is finalized.
Work continues on the schematic design until the project is finalized, and then moves on to preparing the final project.
Stage 3: Building Permit Application with the Final Project
At this stage, the architect applies to the municipality, the occupancy office or the relevant authorities with the latest, legally prepared version of the project. The application is made together with any missing items or requested documents.
During the preparation of architectural projects, the site plans, floor plans, elevations, details and any other required documents are completed for the application.
If everything goes well, the permit is issued within a period that depends on each municipality, and the project moves on to the next stage.
Since all of this happens within certain time frames, you should give the architectural office the time it needs, or even more.
After this, important parts must be resolved between the architectural project firm and the construction company, such as preparing the reinforced concrete project and working out the detailed structural, plumbing and electrical projects.
It pays to do the cost calculation before the project starts and to discuss all the details. 3D design also plays an important role at this stage.
We hope to work with you on your 3D projects. See you in our other articles on architectural projects.
