Custom Services - renga design

Choose the services you want to suit your needs

If you are building a new home or remodelling your existing home you may not have experience of an architectural project. You might not know exactly what services you need from your architect, how the process works or be aware of some of the skills your architect has to help you envisage your future space.

The aim of this article is to outline a typical design process and the options available to you for architectural services. The RIBA has a full plan of work available here. At Renga Design we use a simplified version:

Selecting the services that are right for you

After initial contact I will visit you at your home or on site to talk to you about what you are hoping to achieve. I love to discuss your ambitions for the build, how you see it impacting your life, the activities it needs to accommodate now and in the future. This discursive approach around needs and function is preferable to having a predetermined layout. Being open to design options will allow you to access more of the design skills of your architect and achieve best value in your build.

After the consultation I reflect on the needs of your project and will put together a document that includes a brief, the services I recommend and the cost for those services. This document becomes my appointment contract with you. Additional services, such as an extra visual or a 360° panoramic view, can be added at any point in the project.

Services available during Concept Design and Planning (RIBA Workstages 2 and 3)

Measured Survey

In order to draw up the existing building Renga Design can offer a basic surveying service. For more complicated builds, a professional surveyor should be appointed to carry out this task. For sites where there are significant changes in level or trees affected by the development a topographical survey will also need to be commissioned to accurately record levels.

The building survey can then be transposed into existing 2D plans. Once the plans are drawn up concept design can begin.

Digital Model

All projects will need a 2D set of plans there maybe one option explored at concept stage or several options depending on the brief and opportunities of the site. A digital model is central to the design process. Seeing the proposal in a simple 3D format results in rigorous design and helps to envisage your future spaces. The baseline model is part of Renga Design standard service package.

Renga Design is truly open to collaboration. We are happy to share the model file directly with you as the software used has a free version accessible online.

2D drawings set

In RIBA stage 3 a set of 2D drawings; plans, elevations and site information will be required to submit a planning application. These are simple black line drawings set out to scale with materials labelled.

The concept stage (Concept Design stage in RIBA Plan of work) is the most creative part of the process. By working with a chartered architect, you are purchasing impartial, creative thinking that will allow you to explore how to maximise the value of your project before construction starts.

Architects add value, whether from maximising light and space, adding functionality, or achieving the best return on your investment.

Illustrative External Visuals with Materials

This type of visual has the addition of texture, inhabitation and colour and is useful for selecting materials.

Coloured Cutaway Plan

Cutaway plans are easier to understand than 2D plans and are good for testing furniture layouts and shadow paths.

Internal Illustrative Visual

In a compact space the details of the internal configuration are key to making the space work effectively, efficiently and joyfully.

Rendered Visual

The image above uses a rendering engine to make the image more realistic. The way the light hits the materials make the image more believable. We can pride a basic rendered image but for full photorealism we would recommend the services of an architectural visualiser. For speculative developments and communication with stakeholders a set of photorealistic realistic images can form a powerful marketing tool.

360° Panoramic view

For an even better understanding of the space that you can view and navigate on your mobile 360° panoramic views are hard to be beaten. A link to a selection of these types fof views can be seen in the Renga Design 360° view playlist on Youtube.

Fly-throughs

Using the same baseline model with additional detail and processing there are a range of video outputs that are possible. These videos are great for sharing with friends, investors and stakeholders and can be customised to your specific needs.

Choose the services you want to suit your needs

Selecting the services that are right for you

Services available during Concept Design and Planning (RIBA Workstages 2 and 3)

Services available during Technical Design Stage (RIBA Workstages 4 and 5)