Architects Near Me

How do I Know if an Architect is Qualified?

Under the 2007 Building Control Act, an architect is a protected title, meaning only registered architects may use it. The title gives assurance that the individual is competent with the education, training, and real-world experience required to practice as an architect in Ireland.

Always check with the national architects’ registry to ensure that you are dealing with a qualified expert. Anyone using the title who is not on this register is committing a criminal offence.

Why do I Need an Architect?

Once you have decided to improve your home, deciding whether or not to make use of an architect is the crucial first step. This decision will have an enormous impact on the cost and quality of the final work. Going with an architect will give you peace of mind knowing your home is in the safe hands of an expert. The decision to go with an architect could save you money by avoiding costly mistakes.

A registered architect will also help navigate you through the complexities of the building council. They’ll help to ensure your project, whether new build, renovation, or extension, fulfils all the necessary safety and legal requirements.

What are the Most Common Services Provided by Architects on YourPro?

Architects do much more than design and draw up building plans. Enlisting the services of an architect will help you maximise your project’s potential. It’ll also ensure that it is realised according to your vision. They’ll help you determine what exactly you’re looking for and set up a brief. They’ll also help you visualise the final design and understand how the building will function once completed. Your architect will also run you through the regulatory and construction processes.

You will benefit from enlisting architectural services in the form of advice on cost-effective alternatives and how to keep a project both on budget and on time. They’ll give you advice on standard building practices, what you might want to consider for your project, and what’s best to avoid.

With years of experience behind them, they’ll also be familiar with the reputable builders and contractors in your area. Even if you decide to make only partial use of their services, they will still be able to put you in touch with reliable contractors. They can also provide you with a list of the best suppliers for your project’s specific needs.

Their expert advice will also extend to practical and feasible options, building regulation compliance, document submission, and planning permission, all of which can have costly implications if done wrong. They will also have Professional Indemnity Insurance to protect you should anything go awry.

Other common architectural services include:

Condition surveys
Incorporating and ensuring environmentally sustainable practices
Advising on expenditure expectations and outlines
Concept design
Survey drawings
Drawing up documentation, construction drawings, specifications, and schedules
Drawing up building contracts
Issuing and assessing tenders, contractors, and subcontractors
Site management
Managing of consultants and service coordination
Site inspection
Project and construction management
Quality control
Dispute resolution
Interior design

You don’t need to make use of an architect for the entire process from conception to completion, but an architect can provide you with any of the services above. In addition, he or she can provide drawings and specifications for:

Structural design
Water supply, plumbing, drainage, sanitary, and sewage design
Electrical plans and lighting design
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning design (HVAC)
Elevators, escalators, and other mechanical systems
Fire detection, safety, and security systems

Do Architectural Projects Require Special Permits?

Whether or not a specific project will require special permits depends on both the nature of the project and on its location. Renovations or restorations of historical or heritage properties will always require special permits. So will projects with particular site access needs such as temporary road closures or traffic rerouting. Prospective builds in places of outstanding beauty, or projects that will require rezoning, will also need special permission.

As a general rule, non-inhabitable, free-standing buildings such as garden sheds won’t need any planning permission up to 25 square metres. The same holds true for extensions to existing structures up to 40 square metres as long as they haven’t been extended before. However, building regulations do change. It is important to always check with your local planning regulations office before breaking ground or even ordering those imported marble slabs you’ve had your eye on.

Prior to starting, a commencement notice will be required. This document informs the Building Control Authority that work or material change will be undertaken that is subject to building regulations. A commencement notice must be sent out between 14 and 28 days before the start of any construction. Most architectural projects will also need a Fire Safety certificate. Without these documents, you will be unable to take out insurance or mortgages against the property or even legally inhabit it.

What do Architects’ Services Cost?

Depending on how much of the work they are responsible for or entrusted to oversee and the complexity of the project, an architect’s fees tend to be around 15% of the building costs on average. This figure also depends on the renown of the architect or firm you decide to go with, their years of experience, and the demand on their time. Some firms might work on a time charge basis instead or charge a lump sum figure, especially when only asked to draw up plans and elevations.

The RIAI provides a guideline for the average building cost in 2019 for single and two-story new builds as between €2,000 and €2,500 per square metre. This was based on traditional construction methods and a reasonable level of finishes and fixtures. Alternative construction methods and higher-level finishes and fixtures will likely see that figure rise to between €2,800 and €3,500 per square metre. Extensions and renovations ran between €1,900 to €3,400. Bear in mind that the availability of contractors and trades will also have an impact on building costs.

What Does the Architectural Process Entail From Start to Finish?

All building projects can be broken down into roughly eight steps. Here’s what you can expect:

Brief development
Initial or concept design
Detailed design and client’s approval
Planning permission application
Working drawings, specifications, and tender documents
Contractor and consultant appointments
Construction
Project completion

What are the Areas that YourPro Architects Service?

YourPro services are available in all of Dublin’s neighbourhoods, from the outskirts to the city centre. Regardless of your location, YourPro will help you narrow down the search for an architect to those matching your project requirements, budget, and address.