Method
As architects, we create designs and then supervise their implementation. This requires a professional organization and a thorough working method. On this page we explain this working method, which revolves around our core values of professionalism, creativity and results.
We work with a core team of permanent employees, supported by a flexible shell of employees and advisors. This allows us to tailor our team to each project. All our employees know our working methods, quality requirements and formats, which means we can respond quickly.
We work for a variety of clients, from private individuals to professional developers, from corporations to contractors. Our experience gives us insight into the interests and ambitions of these parties. Our contribution is aimed at an open dialogue with our clients, where we want to be complementary in the advisory team in order to make a difference.
Plan of approach
We start every assignment by drawing up an action plan for our client. This sets out the framework and preconditions of the assignment, as well as the planning, the budget, the method of budget monitoring, the composition of the team and a BIM implementation plan. Project risks are identified with the corresponding control measures. The responsibilities of the various parties as well as the responsibilities and obligations of the client are described. The action plan is discussed with the client and then established. In this way we relieve our client of worries while still keeping them closely involved.
A regular project starts with a thorough Program of Requirements and an inventory of the preconditions of the development location. If this is not available, we can draw up or refine a Program of Requirements based on interviews. We can make a location analysis including the spatial-legal frameworks.
Testing feasibility
If it is not completely clear in advance under which conditions a project has the greatest chance of success, it is possible to start with a feasibility study that investigates which preconditions lead to the highest yield. We have a lot of experience with such feasibility studies.
In a competition, a tender or a multiple tender, it is all about arriving at the right composition of the team of advisors on time, finding the right speed and the right division of work. The available request documents must be examined quickly to arrive at the correct question.
It is then wise to divide the project into phases, so that the complex process of plan development becomes manageable and the client is able to have an overview at regular intervals to make the right decisions.
It is pleasant for everyone when the process is divided into clear phases, such as the Preliminary Design, the Final Design, the Technical Design and the Execution-Ready Design.
Improvisation ability
There are always surprises in a project, pleasant and less pleasant. We do not shy away from this and feel challenged to come up with creative solutions.
A good example of this is a demolition-new construction assignment for a healthcare complex. It turned out that no temporary housing was possible in the phase between demolition and new construction. We have therefore designed the new building in such a way that it can be built next to the existing building and gives the location sufficient future value. This way, the current housing can continue until the new building is ready.
Another example is a housing project for which the tender was disappointing. In consultation with our client, we simplified the design, in which the most important qualities were retained and the plan remained acceptable to Welstand. A different method of tendering – with more secondary contractors instead of a main contractor – appears to allow the building to be completed within budget.
BIM
BIM offers an excellent tool for bringing together information from different advisors so that the client can find the right balance between the aspects of quality, costs, sustainability and planning. The advantage is that the client can see at any time in the design process the consequences of certain choices.
Our added value is that we can use BIM throughout the entire design process to model spatially, to visualize, to draw together with the consultants in one digital environment, to test variants for spatial quality, to determine quantities. This method is fast and very informative. The BIM model is interchangeable in *.ifc form and suitable for clash control. We further develop the model in the tender file and code the model so that the contractor and calculator can extract their quantities and characteristics and continue with it. The most important thing about BIM is that we can provide insight into life cycle cost analyzes and the total cost of ownership.
Our conditions
We work according to DNR 2011 as standard.
