Choosing an Architect or Designer for your Self-Build Project

http://www.homebuildingshow.co.uk/en/choosing-an-architect-or-designer.aspx


Choosing an architect or designer to design your dream home can be a tough choice to make.

Here, self-build design expert Pete Tonks from Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine puts forward his arguments for using designers.

Transcript

Peter Tonks
There are a number of ways to go self build design. You have an architect you can choose. Im not a registered architect, but Im a house designer of 25 years.

Jason Orme
Id be interested to know how that works. People would call you an architect, but thats not actually strictly legally correct is it.

Peter Tonks
No Im not legally trained as an architect.

Jason Orme
Whats the difference?

Peter Tonks
There was a seven year training to be an architect, and at the time I was very busy with Potton and I chose career over training, but I am industry recognised now for what I do and got a good reputation working with some of the biggest names in the business, so we have a lot of interest because of our background and heritage within the industry, but I find that most clients will use a house designer or package designer as opposed to a registered architect because sometimes the cost may be prohibitive for a self build client.

Jason Orme
My view is certainly that the big name architects are generally incredibly expensive.

Peter Tonks
Without a doubt they are.

Jason Orme
And not always great at listening, which is the number one thing that self builders want. Theyre going to want to create their own design and then give it to the self builder after.

Peter Tonks
The self build design process is not geared up for an architect in all fairness. The managing of a self build client is quite a unique skill and it takes a number of years to get your head around that, because having known the industry and product and the way it works, I can marry all those things together. Purely from a background really, so it works fantastically for me so Im very happy with it, and the clients are very happy with it as well.

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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• archietcts
• designer
• self-build

[petetonks]

@zelemon1 thanks for your response..... i must be one of the most active self build designers in the country just by luck then??.... training isnt always better than real life experience and having been involved with the industry since 1984, as the video says, i am very happy with the work that we do and our clients most certainly are.

[zelemon1]

This is absolute rubbish, to suggest that somebody with no training can do a better job than someone who has spent 7 years prefecting it is crazy. For most people, their home is the most important investment they will make - your

architect will work with you to enhance the value of your property & achieve a cost effective solution. Most Archtiects provide great value these days, facts are unqualifed charge just as much as Architects yet they have a limited understadning of what they're doing!