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Working With Us

Collaborating with an architect on your home is a personal journey that can span many months or years. At Havi, we work closely with each client to deeply understand their unique needs and bring those to life in every project. Each house we design is a bespoke product of this tailored process.

We have a track record of successfully delivering complex and demanding projects, and excel at navigating intricate briefs, planning processes, and construction to the highest standards.

While our approach is flexible, we are often involved from the initial concept through to final completion for many of our projects.

Services

At Havi, we offer a full range of architectural services - from initial concept design, through the planning process, and all the way to occupation. We're flexible in our approach and able to provide standalone services like early-stage concept design or just planning assistance. However, most of our clients choose to work with us from start to finish, allowing us to add value at every stage of the design and build process.

By investing a great deal of care and attention into each project, we ensure that the vision you have for your home is seamlessly carried through to your finished house. The result is a truly unique space that reflects your personal style and needs.

The Process

We follow the eight stages of work that have been set by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). With many years of experience designing high quality homes, we have refined this framework to suit our residential projects. This streamlined, client-centric approach is carefully tailored to meet the unique needs of each of our valued clients, as detailed below.

00

Design Workshop

We get started by scheduling an initial site / house visit to discuss your project in depth. This will give us the opportunity to understand your needs and determine if we're the right fit to work together and if a construction project is the best means of achieving your requirements.

Prepare client requirements
Undertake a site appraisal
Review planning considerations and site history

Book a free design workshop

01

Brief and Preparation

Once you've appointed us, we'll schedule an interactive briefing workshop. This will give us the chance to thoroughly understand your project aspirations and any challenges you're facing.

Together, we'll then refine your project brief, ensuring we have a clear and comprehensive understanding. This will enable us to hit the ground running and begin the design process effectively. We'll also arrange for any relevant surveys to be conducted, and advise on any other consultants that may need to be brought in to support the project.

Our approach is friendly and professional throughout, as we work in close partnership to bring your vision to life.

Prepare the project brief, including project and sustainability outcomes, quality aspirations and spatial requirements
Undertake feasibility studies
Agree the project budget, scope and project programme
Source site information, including site and building surveys

02

Feasibility Study

This is an exciting stage where we'll dive into designing your dream home, both inside and out. First, we'll create a 3D model to explore the concept design, then present our ideas to you. Once we agree on a concept, we can view the design in virtual reality, and the work with a Quantity Surveyor, if appropriate, to produce a cost estimate for the entire project.

Prepare initial concept options and undertake design reviews
Explore designs in both two dimensions and 3D modelling
Obtain pre-application planning advice if required
Work with a quantity surveyor to produce a cost plan

03

Developed Design

When we've finalised your preferred design, the next step is to prepare, submit, and monitor the progress of your planning application / listed building consent application.

Review the design against Building Regulations
Prepare and submit the planning application or Listed Building documentation
Organise and coordinate other consultant surveys (ecology, arboriculture, drainage etc.)
Continue to review the cost plan

04

Technical Design

The technical design is the most intensive part of the process. During this stage, we work closely with you and other consultants (engineer etc.) to develop comprehensive building regulations packages, collaborate with other consultants, and prepare a detailed tender package for the construction phase.

Develop the architecture technical design in detail through drawings and 3D modelling
Prepare and integrate specialist subcontractor building systems information
Prepare a full tender set including drawings, schedules, specifications and supplier quotes.
Submit the Building Regulations application
Obtain tender prices from high quality builders

05

Construction

As Contract Administrator, we will closely monitor the construction progress and quality on your behalf throughout the entire project phase.

Administer the construction contract between the client and the builder if required
Monitor progress against the construction programme
Inspect construction quality and resolve site queries as required
Submit applications for planning conditions

06

Handover

After your project is complete, we'll stay in touch for a year to gather feedback on how you're using the new space and address any contractor-related defects that may arise.

Ensure all planning conditions have been discharged
Conclude the building contract between the client and the contractor
Review any defects that arise over the first 12 month period

07

Use

We take great pride in constructing our homes with exceptional skill and care, using the highest-quality materials, and are interested in receiving ongoing feedback to help understand how we might improve the performance of future buildings. This stage site concurrently with Stage 6.

Undertake post occupancy evaluation of building performance in use
Provide information for the Building Manual and Health and Safety File including, finishes, suppliers details, maintenance and care requirements and certificates.

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