Building Designer Process for our new Home
The process of a Building Designer/Architect is new to us. We have always built with project builders but either used their designs or asked them to build ours. We thought we were proficient enough to know exactly what we wanted each time and gave them our designs. We were great at it, for a big easy standard home.
This time we feel for us to stay at the next house for a reasonable amount of time we need someone else’s expertise. We need someone who can think outside the box and expand and interpret our ideas but keep us from over doing it but help us out of the comfort zone at the same time.
We had a couple of false starts (with other designers) purely due to gut feelings and seeing the look or glint in the eye of the designer we were discussing our ideas with.
This time it feels right, this time there was a connection and an understanding and this time we are ready to negotiate our way through the can we can’t we maze.
We wanted a designer who was as excited about our crazy ideas as we were. This time we are not building to sell but building to enjoy for us for our lifestyle and for our growing needs.
Luckily we landed in the more than capable hands of Daniel Cassatai
All the designs you see on this page are his. They may not be your cup of tea but believe me its hard to find some one who does this contemporary style and do it well.
He focuses on Form Balance and Design.
So far we have spent 2 hours in total with him and he has asked all the questions he needs, has allowed us to rabbit on about our ideas and kept us realistic about what we want versus our budget.
A little like most we have Champagne taste on a beer budget. Not cheap beer possibly more a boutique style beer but still beer.
We are excited about finding ourselves going down this track and we can’t wait to see what he comes up with. Now its up to us to “let go” and ride the ride with confidence.
The next part of the process will be simply us waiting for the call that some rough sketches have been put together, a basic schematic layout of floor plan, site plan and possibly an elevation. Fingers crossed as it nearly Christmas and we all know this is a busy time in every industry.
…..oh and just so you know I have been told to consider a Building Designer or Architects credentials and testimonials. So here is what I found
Daniel has under his belt
2008- Finalist West Australian Home of the year amongst a sea of 7 other nominations and Winning 3
2010 – 4 Nominations and Won 2
Including Best New Talent
2011- Winner Multi Residential
I am more than happy with this amount of credit and I am sure he may be able to be nominated for Home of the Year in the category Champagne Home on Boutique Beer Budget.
I will keep you up to date along our journey.
Have you ever used a building designer or architect?
These pictures are amazing, his facades look great! I have never personally engaged a building designer nor an architect (two very different things) due a to beer budget. My husband has built homes by these professionals though and the details that architects consider make the houses far from ordinary. Can I suggest you get a builder on-board early on; like now? If the two work together, you will be less likely to pay for a design you cannot afford. Builders have a very acurate grasp on costs wereas architects and building designers, in general do not. Re-drawn plans often = more money and you haven’t turned the first sod. Good luck with your plans, x KL
JUst popped over and checked out Daniel’s website. WOW! He appears very experienced and creative. Looks like you’re in good hands! :-)
x KL
KL, your such a gem popping over and giving me all this inside info;-)
I really feel we are in good hands and yes I checked he does work in with about 5-6 builders and he designs purely on budget. We have told him what we want to achieve for our budget and he is happy to work in with his builders to try and achieve this. Thanks again KL.