Viva Brighton Issue #80 October 2019

ADVERTORIAL
How to find your ideal architect
Talk through your ideas at RIBA Sussex’s Design Day
So you’ve decided you need to extend or
renovate your home. If you need planning
permission, you are likely to need an architect’s
services; and even the smallest project will
benefit from an architect’s professional advice.
Sarah Miller of the RIBA, who is coordinating
Hove Design Day for RIBA Sussex at
Cornerstone Community Centre on Saturday
19 October suggests:
MAKE A WISH LIST which focuses on what
you want to achieve and includes all your
requirements and any problems to be solved.
By all means, add swatches and inspirational
images – but also include your overall budget,
so that you have realistic conversations from
the start.
MEET MORE THAN ONE ARCHITECT to
talk about your project, so that you feel the fit
is right. The RIBA’s Find an Architect service
www.architecture.com/findanarchitect can
help you to create a shortlist; and Hove Design
Day is an excellent opportunity to meet with
individual local architects. Chemistry is really
important: you will know when you have
found ‘the one’.
CHOOSE THE PRACTICE that has experience
of your type of project and follow up
references. How effective were they in
managing their clients’ budgets?
AGREE ON WHAT YOUR ARCHITECT WILL
DO FOR YOU before work begins. Discuss
the scope and cost of architectural services
and the fee basis, and put your agreement
in writing. How much or how little you
commission from your architect is up to you:
their services range from coming up with an
initial design, to seeing a project through to
completion.
Hove Design Day is the no-obligation chance
to ask questions and bounce ideas. Each
participating architect will have a table, so
you’ll be able to sit and chat through ideas as
well as go through their work with them.
sarah.miller@riba.org
@RIBASouthEast