Selecting an Architect in Earlsfield | 6 Key Considerations

Choosing an architect is not easy. Most architects serving the Earlsfield area claim to do the same things, with similar fee structures.

At the end of the day, the service you receive, and the level of inventive design and expertise your chosen architect provides, is down to the people involved with your project – the architects and designers that make all the difference.

Choose the right architect for your Earlsfield extension or refurbishment, and they’ll creatively maximise the available space, coming up with inventive ideas you hadn’t thought of, and will suggest practical details you may have overlooked.

Choose the wrong architect, and your project could be a big disappointment, with impractical designs, and money wasted on features that waste space, are not energy efficient, or simply don’t add value.

And the stress-free handling of the entire project is another big consideration.  Most London Borough of Wandsworth planning applications take several weeks or even months to process, and then when the building works commence, you want to be able to continue your everyday life with minimal disruption.

A good architect will manage the project proactively on your behalf, leaving you free to focus on your life, knowing that your extension is in good hands.

 

Here are 6 key considerations when choosing an Architect in Earlsfield:

1) Earlsfield Architect Fee Structures

Most architects in Wandsworth charge a fee based on the percentage of the project value.  Whilst this is common practice, at AURA Architecture we believe the only fair way to charge is with fixed, transparent fees.

If an architect’s fees are based on a percentage of the project value, it incentivises them to think up the most expensive (and often impractical) features to add into the project, taking the focus away from what is best for you, the client.

With fixed fees, we are free to focus on creating your dream home, with every detail considered carefully in line with what is best for you, instead of focusing on increasing the costs of the project to maximise our fees.

AURA Architecture also advise the overall costs of our services as early as possible in the journey.  This way you are not faced with the prospect of escalating costs or abandoned projects.

We charge a flat fee of £75 per hour to clients in Earlsfield, and offer an ultra-comprehensive Home Design Consultation for just £200.00.  The Home Design Consultation allows you to meet our head architect, scope out the whole project, and assess all the main details and considerations, before you commit to anything further.

The images above show a kitchen extension in Earlsfield – click here to view the full project case study.

 

Or for more Earlsfield home improvement ideas, see our main projects page.

2) Does your architect have an in-depth knowledge of local planning permissions in Earlsfield and Wandsworth?

Whilst a good architect can achieve amazing results within the scope of permitted development (meaning you don’t need planning permission at all); for larger extension projects, you will need an architect who is skilled at working with the London Borough of Wandsworth planning team.

Check that your architect is competent with:

  • Official Planning Application Drawings (inc. Sections, Plans, and Elevations)
  • Retrospective Planning for Earlsfield
  • Building Regulation Drawings for Building Control for Earlsfield

Quick link to the Wandsworth Planning Portal (Wandsworth covers most of Earlsfield): https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/planning

For more information on whether your project will require planning permission, or not, enquire online or else view our helpful planning permission blog post.

See also our Wandsworth Architect page, to learn about our services covering the wider area around Earlsfield.

3) Using Natural Light to improve your wellbeing and create happy and airy living spaces

One of the most common improvements our clients would like from their home extension is way more natural light in the main living areas. “My kitchen is so gloomy” or “I have to have the lights turned on in my lounge even when it’s sunny outside” are common complaints that architects can solve with a great extension design.

A good architect will not only find inventive ways of allowing plenty of natural light into the depths of your home, but will do so in a sustainable manner.  A lot of heat can be lost unless the right materials are used, and you also want a low-maintenance design, with aspects such the right pitch to minimise leaf and moss build up, taken care of.

4) Best Kitchen Design Architects in Earlsfield

Many home owners regard the kitchen as the most important aspect of their extension or refurbishment.

After all, with the increasingly trend towards open plan dining kitchens that blend seamlessly into living areas, the kitchen is where you’ll spend a lot of your time.

Kick start your day with morning coffee & breakfast in an airy, state of the art kitchen; and entertain in style with a practical layout that allows guests to socialise while you cook, without getting in your way.

5) Comprehensive design process, including virtual-reality 3D video tours

3D visualisation prior to the commencement of your Earlsworth home improvement is a huge time saver in the long run.

Rather than try to make last minute amends in the closing stages of the project, you can instead get a feel for your new dream home prior to any work commencing.

See our 3D visual blog post for an example of our design process in action.

AURA Architecture’s team includes talented home designers alongside our qualified architects, and then we utilise the very best technology to bring your project to life, and get your detailed feedback before the first tradesmen arrive.

6) RIBA Architects in Earlsfield

Whilst complex and difficult for the average home owner to understand, the Riba Stages are a great framework to ensure a thorough and methodical approach to any project, so any good architect follows these.

AURA Architecture follow the RIBA stages, but have broken these down in a more laymans approach for you.  We’ve created a 10-step Home Design Guide to help home owners understand our process, click here to learn more and download the guide.

Residential Architecture Projects In Earlsfield

Straithville: Beautiful Kitchen extension, loft conversion and full house refurbishment (Earlsfield, 2020)

MORE DETAILS

Franche: Stunning Victorian Home (Earlsfield, South West London)

MORE DETAILS
VIEW ALL PROJECTS

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