What does home design actually start with? This is not a single drawing or a quick visualization, but a process that takes place in stages - from the first sketches to documents ready for construction. Understanding these steps allows you to better prepare for working with an architect and avoid misunderstandings along the way. The design stages are the successive phases of work on the design of the house - from the general vision to the precise technical solutions. Their number and detail may vary depending on the investment, but the scheme usually looks similar.
The first step is the conceptual design. This is the answer to your needs and possibilities of the plot. The architect analyzes the location, MPZP records or decisions on building conditions, terrain, access to the road and utilities. Based on this, the first vision is formed - the layout of the premises, the mass of the building, the layout on the plot. This is the moment when you can ask questions, make comments, change your mind. The concept is not binding, but provides the foundation for further design.
Once the concept is accepted, it is time for a construction project. It is a document required by the office to obtain a building permit or to apply for it. It contains a land development project, technical description, architectural drawings and other annexes required by regulations. Everything must comply with the Building Law, technical and construction regulations and local conditions. For many investors, this is a “paper” stage, but the legality of the entire investment depends on its quality.
The third stage (optional, but very helpful) is the executive design. This is the development of a construction project with technical details: installation diagrams, structures, sections, lists of materials. Thanks to him, the performer knows exactly what and how to build. For you, this is a hedge - you have more influence on performance standards, you can compare the offers of teams and you avoid situations like “it was not fixed”. Imagine: the investor orders a project, signs a contract only for the concept and construction project. Construction is underway, but the contractor does not have information on how to make the detail of the connection of the roof with the facade. The effect? Execution error, corrections, additional costs. Meanwhile, an executive project could provide this information and prevent the problem.
Often the question arises: Do I need to have all the stages of a house project? The answer is: not always. For a simple investment (for example, a one-story house up to 70 m²), two stages are sufficient - concept and construction project, but with more complex buildings or when you want precise execution, the executive design is a reasonable decision.
