Architectural concept designs allow the client to avoid abortive costs by choosing a design direction from multiple iterations of the brief
Architectural Concept Design
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
A feasibility study is needed to determine whether a brief that is given to us by the client or the solution to a brief is physically possible. Ideally feasibility studies should be carried out as early in the development process as possible and sometime this occurs even before the client has purchased the site.
It’s a very high-level process where we look at what the client wants, and whether it’s possible to achieve it having analysed all the potential risks, limitations, and opportunities, before they expend too much money on other consultants, designs, planning applications and technical designs. A design or project might not be feasible for a number of reasons; budget constraints, planning or building regulation restrictions or other site constraints such as trees, ecology, or ground conditions – there are many number of things that could affect a site or a design solution. Building or converting buildings will often have an impact on various stakeholders and will need the permission of various bodies. Interested parties might include neighbouring private properties, the Highways Industry, conservation and heritage interests and utilities providers.
Feasibility studies can also be helpful with pre-application advice. We can produce more formal drawings and other documents to enable our clients to get feedback from the local authority on what designs they might support, if an application was made.
An often overlooked advantage of a feasibility study is that is can be a cost-effective risk assessment of a proposed project and helps avoid expensive or dangerous issues – important for both private clients and commercial projects with investors that need to be reassured about revenue return. For developers a feasibility study can give potential purchasers an accurate assessment of what can be achieved.
Once the feasibility study is complete, we can advise the client on whether they can, or should, proceed with any given design solution. It should be mentioned that as well as identifying restrictions feasibility studies can also present opportunities and at this stage we can discuss any changes to the design.
Please do get in touch to tell us about your project, in theory it’s never too early to complete a feasibility study to ensure that your project will be a financial and physical success.
CONCEPT DESIGNS
When clients come to Pier Architecture, they will have a vision of what their completed project will look like, how it will make them feel, and what their visitors will experience. Concept designs help us to ensure that we have captured all that is in the client’s vision ‘on paper’ so that we can be sure that we are on the right track when proceeding with the rest of the design process.
This stage of the design process is not especially detailed, our concept designs are an efficient way of assessing multiple ideas, iterations and possibilities within any given brief.
All our concept designs will take into account the practical elements of the site and what the building will be used for as well as the needs of its users and visitors but each will offer something different so that the client can choose which direction suits their vision the best. Private clients will want designs that suit their lifestyles, choices and values, their unique brand – it’s not so different from designing for established commercial brands like Land Rover Jaguar or Aston Martin. Choosing and using different materials, design principals (grid, centralised, or linear) or physical characteristics for the building such as shape and form, light and shadow will have a huge impact on the design and so this is the time to explore all the options available. By producing many iterations clients can pick the bits they like from each design concept – rather than going too far down the line with a single design option and then deciding they don’t like it.
Concept drawings therefore are a way to limit or avoid abortive costs. They save time and money in the long run as a well thought out and approved concept will inform every stage of the process and any future design or material decisions.
CONCLUSION
