Stages of Architectural Design

Many people are curious about the design phase in making an architectural plan for a building. They wonder if the building step for a hotel, retail shop, warehouse, residential building, or commercial building is the same. According to Errol Kwong, architectural design has five stages. This will be discussed in the article for you to better understand the phases. Errol Kwong is a builder with an excellent building visionary for the past 12 years. His works are known to be beautiful while adhering strictly to safety standards. He has done both private and public projects.

Architectural Design Stages

• Predesign
• Schematic design
• Developing design
• Drawing construction sketches
• Constructing the project

Predesign

Predesign is the first step an architect will take. And that is to have a meeting with the client who owns the project. At the meeting, the architect and the client will discuss the goals and vision they have for the project. “This includes functionality, purpose, features, and scope,” says Errol Kwong, a Melbourne architect. Having a goal will let the architect know what the owner wants and work towards it.

What happens

• The architect will consult with the client.
• Survey the documents and conditions that already exist.
• Take pictures of the construction site.
• Measurements
• Put together drawings that already exist.
• Get together base drawings whose levels are high.
• Costing (of the entire construction process).
• Make a probable statement
• Program the space needed and utilize it.
• Code review
• And finally, the decision of the owner to continue with the construction when he’s satisfied with the design is the last step.

Schematic Design

The second step is designing the schematic plan of the building. This involves doing several rough sketches to show the simple design concept. Additionally, the architect will complete the local regulations and compliance research during this period. This is very important for this architectural stage.

Steps to take to complete this architectural phase

• The architect will submit all floor plans of the building together with plumbing materials and normal openings.
• Make elevations for the building with the exterior part of the building. They do the finishing touches to complete the process.
• Build cross-sections
• Build the normal wall sections.
• Get approval from the owner to start the next building stage.

Developing the Design

This stage is the finalising phase where the design will be finalised. In addition, items to be used for building the project will also be noted down. The item specifications are the locations of doors and windows, building materials, and other building information. These specifications must be done properly before going to the next stage. Failure to do so means that the architect has to review the design development.

To complete this step, an architect must:

• Start by proposing a foundation for the design opening of the floor plans and list the plumbing materials needed.
• Get the total dimensions of the project.
• Calculate the structural dimension of the grid and the interior wall.
• Propose basis design openings and finishing touches for the exterior elevations.
• Make extra sections for the building.
• Under all conditions, create a wall section and get the necessary details.
• Find out the extra details you need to develop a design product basis.

Construction Drawings

Once an architect reaches this phase, he already has the final design. Then he can begin to prepare the technical specifications needed to bid, get permit applications, and construct. This is when the architect will apply for the permit. When the design satisfies all the building regulations, then the building will get a permit. Otherwise, the permit application will be rejected. He would also create the building blueprints and notes.

What happens here:

• Fully annotate floor plans
• Get the overall dimension
• Identify windows, doors, walls, and rooms.
• Do a detailed plan and section indicators
• Make detailed and general notes
• Fully annotate exterior elevations and annotate all details.
• Get all build sections needed for the building.
• Make notes, details, and structural plans.
• Note down plumbing details, notes, and plans.
• Create HVAC notes, details, plans, and schedules.
• Make electrical lighting plans, details, notes, and schedules.

Construction

This is the last design stage. When a design is at the construction phase, the builder will start building according to the design made. And if there is a need to alter anything, the owner and the architect can have further discussions. This is very important because it will prevent any problems if the owner doesn’t agree with the changes. And this marks the end of the building plan. When this is done, the owner can start using the building. Australian architect Errol Kwong admonished owners to quickly communicate with their architects if they are not satisfied with anything. This will prevent arguments from erupting. Besides, if the owner didn’t speak on time, it might be too late to do it.

Conclusion

Architect Errol Kwong hopes that owners would find good architects to help them make good designs. He also wishes that the architects they employ will be someone who advocates for the environment. This is because the environment is full of impurities that have affected the climate, causing global warming. Therefore, use architects that use green building materials so that at the end of the day, it will be environmentally-friendly.