Category: Architectural Designer

Everyone has an idea of what their dream home extension would look like and one of the best ways to achieve the perfect aesthetic is to hire a professional architectural designer, such as BDS. With a keen eye for design and in-depth insight on how to bring your dream home to life, using a professional architectural design service is the best way to transform your home into something you can be proud of. The following tips can help you to find the perfect architectural designer to build your dream extension. Continue reading “How To Find An Architectural Designer To Build Your Dream Extension”

Deciding to add a home extension can be an exciting venture but it can be equally as nerve-wracking for many home owners. Although you won’t be moving house, you’ll be adding a permanent addition to your home that can affect its aesthetic appeal and your quality of life. While working with an architectural designer it is essential that you compile a list of questions so you are informed of what’s involved with the project. Some businesses, such as BDS, combine both architectural design and construction services under the same roof. By taking a holistic view of your extension you can be assured of accountability and reliable timescales at every stage. Continue reading “8 Questions To Ask An Architectural Designer About The Drawings & Plans For A New House Extension”

You can use an architectural building design service to conceptualise and create any building project imaginable. At BDS Architecture our speciality is residential home extensions, but we have also worked on barn conversions, new builds, loft conversions, refurbishments, alterations and much more. An experienced architectural designer will be able to create original technical drawings based on your specifications, with which you can approach a construction contractor to manage your build. At BDS we go the extra mile by offering construction and project management under the same quote, so we can take care of every detail from the first sketches to the last brick. Continue reading “What’s Involved With Architectural Building Design Services?”

Having an extension designed and built is a pretty major project and one which you should certainly give a lot of thought to when it comes to who is going to undertake the work for you. If you happen to live in Derby then there are various channels you can go down to find an architectural designer you’d be happy to award the work to. How do you find him or her in the first place though? Well, here’s what we reckon is the best way to go about it: Continue reading “5 Tips For Sourcing Architectural Designers In Derby”

Having an extension built onto your home can potentially be a complicated process. It takes a lot of planning after all, not just to ensure the materials, labour costs and fittings remain on budget, but also that it complies with building regulations. Continue reading “How To Simplify The Architectural Design Process”

Architectural design – and the house construction industry in particular – has been transformed in recent years through hand-drawn illustrations to 2 dimensional, CAD and now 3 dimensional rendering.

3D visualisation is the most impressive way of showing a client what the finished outcome of their project will look like from any angle, making it more difficult to miss any initial design flaws. It’s a high quality illustration technique and comes across as very professional. It also allows the client to quickly grasp what you’re trying to explain, since it’s right there in front of her or him. Continue reading “Benefits Of 3D Visualisation In Architectural Design”

Here at BDS Architecture we do our best to advise clients against changing their extension design half-way through the project. But it does happen. Sometimes it really is unavoidable, especially when it’s down to a sudden and unforeseen change in financial circumstances.

Continue reading “Changing Your Design Mid-Project: Reasons To Avoid This If Possible”

After they have decided they definitely want a home extension, the next thing a client usually asks is how much it will cost. The answer to that is, of course, how long is a piece of string?

That’s because the cost of an extension varies depending on how big it is (such as single or double storey), what type of materials you will be using, who you are getting to build it and how you plan to furnish it. Even such seemingly random issues such as what the soil in your garden is like can affect the price, because this will dictate the complexity of your foundation and therefore the cost.

Continue reading “Architectural Design Fees: What you Should Expect To Pay”

Very few people have the need to hire architectural services on a regular basis. On the contrary it’s probably something most homeowners will do once in a lifetime. So it’s important to research what kind of questions you’ll need to ask potential designers for your project. This is, after all, something that’s going to cost you thousands of pounds and – unless you’re planning to move home in the near future – you’ll be living with for at least a decade or more. So, were the tables turned and we were the client, this is what we would want to know here at BDS Architecture: Continue reading “7 Things To Consider When Hiring Architectural Services”

You may not have realised it – especially if you are new to the area – but The East Midlands is actually quite a hotbed of modern architectural design. Only last year (2016) a total of nine buildings in the East Midlands picked up top design awards. These included a beautiful curved architectural house built to keep in with its surroundings in the rural Peak District, a stunning indoor cycling arena and a university campus.

Here’s more detail on some of The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) regional design winners right here, as well as other stunning modern buildings in the area which you may well recognise:

Continue reading “6 Famous Modern Architectural Buildings In The East Midlands”

Hiring an architectural design services company or individual is a big undertaking. And, unless you’re a specialist in the subject or know someone who does this type of work, it’s also something that most people are unfamiliar with. This can make the choice a nerve-wracking one. But it needn’t be if you do your research beforehand (see some of our previous blog articles). To get you started down that path here are things you should definitely avoid: Continue reading “5 Things to Avoid When Considering Architectural Design Services”

When building a house, planning and budgeting are crucial but so too is the actual design of your new home, as well as how and with what you will build it. Then there is the matter of who is going to oversee the whole project – a professional project manager being essential if you plan on working full-time and so won’t be around while the house is being constructed.

Continue reading “Where To Start When Building A House – 3 Simple Steps You Can Follow”

The easiest thing to get wrong when embarking on a self-build house project is your budget. 

Far too often we hear stories about couples and individuals splashing out on more expensive fittings, upgrading roofing tiles or splashing out on fancier glazing, then finding they have run out of cash for the next stage and have to borrow more. Continue reading “How Much Would It Cost To Build My Own House?”

Thanks to the existence of Computer Aided Design (CAD) packages an increasing number of householders are becoming tempted to design their own home extension. However, even if they become experts with a particular CAD software package, there are a whole lot of other obstacles to overcome in terms of design layout, planning permissions and basic building regulations. And that’s just for starters. Continue reading “Can I Build Without An Architectural Drawing?”

Every architectural design practice has a different means of going about a project but in essence there is a strict timetable of phases that must be adhered to if a project is to run efficiently, on time and on budget.

This allows the client to be kept fully informed of all stages of the design in hand, giving them an element of control and a sense of inclusion over their own project. It also prevents the contractor being held back in their building schedule by having to explain particular works being carried out since the detail will be contained within the Works Programme. Continue reading “What Are The Different Architectural Design Phases?”

It’s fair to say that the majority of individuals or couples who finally decide to build their own home aren’t qualified architectural designers. They may have great ideas but when it comes to deciding whether or not they all stack up, getting an architect on board is essential to the overall success of the project.

So, just how do you decide which architect to choose? Well, here’s our tick list of some of the most important considerations when it comes to who will build your dream home for you. Continue reading “How To Choose A Self Build Architectural Designer For Your Dream Home”

If you’re looking to expand your living space in the new year, the architectural services we provide here at BDS Architecture are wide-ranging, covering not just the initial design of a building or renovation – whether residential or commercial – but also its physical build. Our architectural services also include help with budgeting, furnishing and carrying out project management duties. Continue reading “Our Architectural Services: What’s Included”

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as the famous line goes and never more so than when it comes to architecture. What some consider wonderful, others regard as downright ugly. Here are some of our favourites listed below. You, on the other hand, may not agree, but at least they’re pretty unique… Continue reading “4 Examples of Amazing Architecture Design”

Your home is, of course, important to you and let’s face it, that new extension you fancy isn’t going to be a snap decision. You’ll be ploughing quite a bit of savings into expanding your home so it’s important that you get an architectural designer who understands exactly what you’re looking for from the off.

But not only should he or she be a good listener, they should also come with a wealth of experience – and certainly be able to show you similar projects they’ve completed in the recent past. Continue reading “5 Questions To Ask An Architectural Designer In Derby”

Hiring an architectural designer for your Derby property isn’t something you’ll do every day. So it’s understandable that you might not be fully up to speed about how the process of getting an extension or other major refurbishment works.

As you’ll find out, it’s not simply a case of deciding on a design and budget then going ahead with the build. That’s because there are plenty of permissions which we must get on your behalf. In this article we’ll explain simply what you can expect to happen in terms of both planning and design.

Continue reading “Architectural Planning & Design: What’s Involved?”