APPROACH
At ERRAND Studio, we work on projects of all scales, typologies and budgets, but most importantly we value those which can bring joy; through the developmental journey shared with our clients; the excitement of finding a creative solution bringing about a new interaction; the rediscovery of something forgotten.
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A project is always at its most successful when the process is one of true collaboration. We work closely with our clients to examine the opportunities behind every project, always striving to deliver original, thoughtful responses to the brief. We interrogate our projects from start to finish through sketching, drawing, physical and digital model making, exploring form, materiality and context with our clients.
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To date we have been fortunate to work on truly unique projects in settings including open countryside, conservation areas, areas of outstanding natural beauty, sites of specific scientific interest, scheduled ancient monuments and listed buildings. Challenging sites such as these ask exacting questions that benefit from our intuitive, design-orientated approach to ensure a fitting outcome.
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SECTORS
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We are passionate about Architecture in all of its forms, and have experience working on projects in Private Residential, Developer Residential, Rural Diversification, Education, The Arts, Hospitality and Commercial sectors. We have worked on domestic projects only a few m2 in size to large scale residential and commercial masterplanning projects.
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If you have a project of any kind that you would like to discuss with us, then please feel free to get in touch!
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THE PROCESS
We approach each project in its own right, and can discuss the extent of involvement to best suit the task(s) at hand with you at the outset of any commission.
The RIBA Plan of Work provides a useful means of ordering a project, whether approaching from a novice or experienced client perspective. Work can be commissioned on a stage by stage basis, or grouped to suit works to a particular stage – for example, developing a scheme design for the submission of a planning application.
To give an outline of typical works that may be covered along the way:
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ERRAND Studio: Hereford architects working across herefordshire, gloucestershire, monmouthshire and beyond. Design led architecture, in a contemporary vernacular style.
STAGE 0/1
Preparation and Brief
This is a key part of any project, and often where discussions with your architect can be most valuable. Depending on the scale of project, this stage allows for some initial discussion and interrogation of the project scope. This can take the form of a sketch design or more detailed feasibility study as a means of steering the project in the right direction.
The outcome of these discussions can assist in highlighting an optimal design approach, the likely need for statutory approvals, whether specialist consultant input is likely to be necessary, along with potential risks to the project outcome.
STAGE 2
Concept Design
Once an agreed brief has been established, we can then work with you to begin outlining concept proposals. Often this stage will involve the presentation and evaluation of varied concept ideas, whittling down to a preferred design approach.
Depending on the complexity of the project or sensitivity of the site, concept designs can be used to form a pre-application submission to the Local Authority to receive initial feedback upon the likely acceptability of proposals.
STAGE 3
Spatial Co-Ordination
Having established a scheme design in principle, this next stage focuses upon developing the concept into a more tangible, workable outcome. Dependant upon the scale of project, this might involve the initial co-ordination with external parties, such as Structural Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Environmental Consultants, Specialist Planning Advice to ensure the proposals remain viable.
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Once designs and strategies are in place, design proposals are prepared ready to be submitted for planning/ statutory approvals as required by the project.
STAGE 4
Technical Design
Once approvals have been received, we can develop a set of technical drawings, schedule of works/ specification that can be used to price the project at tender, or take the project directly to construction when working with a developer client.
Typically a project will involve an element of competitive tendering by taking the project to the open market with invited Contractors submitting priced returns based upon the detailed construction information package.
STAGE 5
Construction
If appointed to do so, we can administer the contract between you as client and the appointed contractor whilst the works are on site.
Our role in this capacity usually covers regular site inspections, liaison with the contractor and various suppliers, responding to site queries, instruction of additional work and variations to the build programme, keeping track of costs, valuing the works and certification of payments due to the builder.
STAGE 6
Handover / Close Out
The exciting part! Now the project is ready for inhabitation and ready for handover. An inspection will assess the readiness to deem works complete, with a valuation and certificate issued.
There is usually a defects period agreed within the contract that can be utilised to cover any outstanding works and emerging defects post handover. At the end of the defects period, ourselves and the contractor will carry out a final inspection where any identified faults can be highlighted and put right prior to the release of retention monies.
STAGE 7
In Use
This stage can be used in an aftercare capacity or to monitor the building performance in use, post occupancy. On simpler projects this might be a simple ongoing liaison between client and architect to assess whether the building has lived up to expectations, or utilised more stringently to monitor energy performance, production output etc in larger commercial settings