Value of an Architect
Fraher & Findlay
Fraher & Findlay
By Lizzie
July 2019
July 2019
Refurbishment Project
The Christmas House
The Christmas House
How does using an architectural led service add value to my project and experience?
The answer to this really boils down to understanding what an Architect does and the benefit to you as a client.
We bring 'impartial and creative thinking' to projects, both large and small, adding value for our Clients.
'Value' can be captured as a number of different benefits:
We bring 'impartial and creative thinking' to projects, both large and small, adding value for our Clients.
'Value' can be captured as a number of different benefits:
One of the most common questions we get asked is...
What does an Architect do?
We want to give an insight of everything one
has to go through to become An Architect, just to give
you an understanding of why we do what we do.
Our training...
Architectural training in the UK consists of 2 degrees
(one undergraduate, one postgraduate) with at least 2 years of working in a practice leafed in between.
1) The first degree is the RIBA Part 1.
2) The second degree is RIBA Part 2.
Once the degrees and experience are completed there
is a final set of year long legal exams to pass; which is
the RIBA Part 3. Only once stages 1-3 are achieved one can apply to the Architects Registration Board to be called an Architect.
What does an Architect do?
We want to give an insight of everything one
has to go through to become An Architect, just to give
you an understanding of why we do what we do.
Our training...
Architectural training in the UK consists of 2 degrees
(one undergraduate, one postgraduate) with at least 2 years of working in a practice leafed in between.
1) The first degree is the RIBA Part 1.
2) The second degree is RIBA Part 2.
Once the degrees and experience are completed there
is a final set of year long legal exams to pass; which is
the RIBA Part 3. Only once stages 1-3 are achieved one can apply to the Architects Registration Board to be called an Architect.
University...
During the university years you are taught how to:
- 'think architecturally', identify problems, understand
their components and to be able to re-conceptualise problems as opportunities.
- develop the ability to 'synthesise' a number of ideas
into a rich outcome.
- master and test design methods
- understand materials and their properties
- use principle construction methods and processes
as well as understand the fundamentals of a structure
- interpret the thinking behind design concepts
- review theories against current practice methods
- communicate through sketches, models and oral presentations
- understand the cultural and geographical responses to architecture
- be conscious of the broader social, economic and
climate impact of building.
All of the above are tested through design projects, completed as a group and then more often individually.
During the university years you are taught how to:
- 'think architecturally', identify problems, understand
their components and to be able to re-conceptualise problems as opportunities.
- develop the ability to 'synthesise' a number of ideas
into a rich outcome.
- master and test design methods
- understand materials and their properties
- use principle construction methods and processes
as well as understand the fundamentals of a structure
- interpret the thinking behind design concepts
- review theories against current practice methods
- communicate through sketches, models and oral presentations
- understand the cultural and geographical responses to architecture
- be conscious of the broader social, economic and
climate impact of building.
All of the above are tested through design projects, completed as a group and then more often individually.
The Courtyard House
Loft Room
Loft Room
Studying architecture is more than learning how a traditional house goes together, it's discovering and developing a series of skills and tools which enable you to engage - critically, creatively and practically - with these new, exciting, and important issues as they arise.
http://portico.space/why-study-architecture
http://portico.space/why-study-architecture
In Practice ...
In practice you are given a lightning bolt of experience that helps to shape the above skills in to every day projects, including but not limited to:
- Creative and concept design proposals
- Planning negotiations
- Project management and programme governance
- Developing design proposals with a larger consultant design team while working with Structural Engineers-
MEP Consultants, Quantity Surveyors, Party Wall Consultants, Access Consultants, Building
Control Consultants… the list goes on!
- Design reviews in response to project constraints,
value engineering etc.
- Design and specification of the most suitable building products to fit the brief requirements.
In practice you are given a lightning bolt of experience that helps to shape the above skills in to every day projects, including but not limited to:
- Creative and concept design proposals
- Planning negotiations
- Project management and programme governance
- Developing design proposals with a larger consultant design team while working with Structural Engineers-
MEP Consultants, Quantity Surveyors, Party Wall Consultants, Access Consultants, Building
Control Consultants… the list goes on!
- Design reviews in response to project constraints,
value engineering etc.
- Design and specification of the most suitable building products to fit the brief requirements.
- Detailed construction design
- Tender negotiations and governance
- Contract administration of building contracts
- Liaise with statutory authorities.
- Coordinating all consultants design work
- Coordinating the hand over of a project and
governance of the operations and maintenance manual for the project.
Phew!
With all that training and responsibility, it is understandable why we protect the term Architect. Anyone who calls themselves an Architectural Designer or Architectural Technician (whilst they are very competent) will not have the level of design training of an Architect. Therefore we strongly believe that this expertise adds value to projects that Architects are involved with.
What should I get when working with an Architect?
Fraher & Findlay...
At Fraher & Findlay our Architects are supported by in house Project Managers and Construction Managers. With our architectural training we continue to develop our design team internally through 'Beyond' sessions where we review and evolve our approach to all aspects of our work. Some examples of recent 'Beyond Sessions' to help us create a valuable service for our clients as well as our team are:
1) Personality Types: How to identify personality types within the design team and Client to understand best practice for communication tools and presentation techniques, to continuously improve our performance and our information.
2) Tech and Architecture Workshop: Identifying pathways to research and develop tech in house as part of our Fraher & Findlay Labs programme to help us run our projects as efficiently as possible.
At Fraher & Findlay our Architects are supported by in house Project Managers and Construction Managers. With our architectural training we continue to develop our design team internally through 'Beyond' sessions where we review and evolve our approach to all aspects of our work. Some examples of recent 'Beyond Sessions' to help us create a valuable service for our clients as well as our team are:
1) Personality Types: How to identify personality types within the design team and Client to understand best practice for communication tools and presentation techniques, to continuously improve our performance and our information.
2) Tech and Architecture Workshop: Identifying pathways to research and develop tech in house as part of our Fraher & Findlay Labs programme to help us run our projects as efficiently as possible.
3) Mental well being in design & construction: Techniques for dealing with stressful situations, tackling problems effectively and looking after yourself.
In short...you are in safe hands! We hope that this chapter helps shed a little light on what it means to be an Architect and the types of projects that we are best placed to help you with.
In short...you are in safe hands! We hope that this chapter helps shed a little light on what it means to be an Architect and the types of projects that we are best placed to help you with.
If you are interested in speaking to us about our Architect Led Design and Build Service please contact us in the studio on
020 8291 6947 or hello@fraherandfindlay.com.
Download PDF
Journal - Value of an Architect - Fraher & Findlay.
020 8291 6947 or hello@fraherandfindlay.com.
Download PDF
Journal - Value of an Architect - Fraher & Findlay.