A Beginner’s Guide on How to Brief an Architect
Getting a new house built is an incredible journey – you get to see what your future home will be like! Most of us live throughout our adult lives in one house, hence it becomes critically important to get it right the very first time.
Briefing the architect in the right way, is probably the most important aspect of getting your new house built the way you want it and need it. If you are about to get on board an architect in Clapham, you should read this short guide on how to brief your architect:
1. Have a balance between precision and an open ended brief.
Most of the people make this mistake when briefing an architect – either they make the entire brief too precise, or they leave it too open ended.
You cannot make a brief too precise, because that cuts down on the space where an architect can imagine for you – which is why you have hired an experienced architect like Aura Homes. So, do not make your brief too sharp with measurements and preferences.
After all, you will not know whether something is working or not until you let yourself get exposed to the idea of it working. Second to that, do not leave it all on the architect. Yes, she is a professional and yes, you might have loved her earlier work. That said, you will be the one living in the house – not the architect. So, you have to ensure that you are able to give the architect a brief idea of what you are looking for – do you want something modern or something more classical? Are you ready to experiment with colours and designs or you want to keep everything more conventional? Answering some of these questions will help you get the most out of your architect’s abilities.
2. Let your architect know the most essential components you will need.
Now, when you are briefing your architect in Putney, you have to make sure the architect understands your requirements. For instance – do you need a larger than ordinary bathroom? Or are you used to having guests at your place, because of which you will need a more public area? Or, are there any hobbies like gardening or dancing or even painting, that you would like to have in your house?
This should act as a checklist of the most essential things you need in the house which are different from the quintessential plan of a house.
3. If you have any references in mind for the design – show them to the architect.
Many people are scared to bring a reference to the architect thinking the reference would taint her vision, or she might get offended as a professional – the truth is far from that! The briefing meeting is a way for your architect to understand what you are looking for and everything she does thereon will be to make sure you get what you want. Hence, if you have a readily available reference of what will work for you – it will only expedite the process for both of you.