Architecture design process is an extremely lengthy process with many external influences, regulations and other forces to consider. There is very little room for revision once a project starts its construction process and next to none once completed. As a result, having a set of architectural design phases helps organize its management, and coherently communicate its design intent. Following a set of design phases enables the production information to be efficient and transparent, and ultimately reduce as much risk as possible.
From architects to contractors and engineers, many teams of professionals work on the development of a building – the architectural design process helps these different parties to work together and smoothly.
The architecture design process commonly broken down into 7 phases
Phase 1, the Pre-design phase, is dedicated to understanding the project brief and clients needs, researching information that’s relevant to the project, and considering ideas. a, Identifying the project requirement, for example constraints on budget or limited time to complete. b, Research and collect information, to gather information that will support the development of the project. For example the client’s desires, scale, surrounding buildings, neighborhood, site conditions(site limitation and benefits), building codes, zoning laws.
Consequently, the architect will consider how to respond to these conditions. Now generate/analyse ideas and solutions. To several initial ideas. By creating the rough sketches to understand the client’s needs and requirements, and identify potential constraints and opportunities.
The output typically includes preliminary site plans, floor plans, elevations, and sometimes basic 3D models. It’s crucial for setting the project’s vision and serves as a platform for discussion and refinement before moving forward with more detailed planning and development.
By the end of this phase, The client and architect collaborate to review the project goals and desired outcome, and the architect produces multiple sketches for potential designs before settling on a final one. The client evaluates these, either by selecting one design to take forward or requesting further options to better meet their needs. These sketches may vary in scale, as each design utilizes the project site and available space differently. The scale of the project should be defined by the end of the phase. If a client seems to change their mind about their priorities, or if an architect does not respond well to the rejection of their ideas the process can be fraught.
However, when the client and architect are a good match and communicate effectively, this can be an invigorating creative adventure!
The client may be more actively involved in the day-to-day workings of this stage than any other design stage. In short, this process is a back-and-forth featuring a lot of negotiation.
The details of this process can be broken down as follows:
design concept and goals/site analysis/space planning/code review/exterior design/
Drawings include in this phase:
site plan/floor plan/building elevations/building systems including heating, ventilation, AC,electrical, plumbing.
Phase 2, develop design proposal and represent to the client through site plans, floor plans, and building elevations. Additionally, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumping,HVAC system.
Tips: have multiple meetings with the client to present different possibilities, where they discuss what ideas they find favorable. Occasionally, there is disagreement between the architect and the client over the design or specific feature of the building. Therefore, it is important to consider the client’s wishes as well as and be convincing when presenting ideas. After meeting with clients, considering the feedback. It is easier to make the changes in an earlier stage of the architectural design process.
Ultimately, the architect and client will meet until they both agree on a design direction for the next phase.
Phase 3 Design development, during this stage, the architect creates a more detailed plan of the design that he/she and the client agreed upon. This includes the placement of the doors and windows and adjusting the building form. At this stage a structural engineer is engaged to join the design team. The architect will present interior and exterior finishes to the client. In times of disagreement, you may have to compromise over these details with the client. Additionally, most of the materials will already have been chosen. Final minor changes are made to the building’s design.
Phase 4 Construction drawings and documents In this stage, the architect transitions from providing design services to producing working construction drawings for the development of the project. Usually, this is the longest step in the architectural design process, as architects must ensure their design is planned well for execution, as well as waiting for documents to be approved. An in-house construction contractor may join the development team at this stage.The building permit set is sent to the local permitting authority for approval. The process can take a while, so it’s crucial to complete and submit this first. The construction set contains all of the details and dimensions to communicate the design to the builder throughout the construction process.
Phase 5 Building permit phase Once the architect submits the building permit set, the city or county reviews it for structural integrity and following the local zoning laws and building codes. This is necessary to safeguard architects, builders, and property owners from possibly dangerous mistakes in construction. Additionally, the project’s construction cannot legally begin without securing the permits first. For small projects, the approval can take a couple days. However, larger projects or buildings in historic districts can take months for approval.
Phase 6 Bidding phase This step is only applicable to architecture firms that aren’t building the project themselves. In the bidding phase, architects must locate a construction company to build their design. It is easier to find a builder if your project already has its permits, as it’s ready to start construction. The architect’s role is to advise the client in selecting a contractor that offers the best qualifications and cost. During meetings, the builders go through construction documents and reviews materials and finish schedules. In some cases, the client already has a builder in mind. In the bid process, the architect researches local builders and their past projects. Afterwards, the architect invites contractors to compete for the project. Once the construction documents are sent over, contractors usually have around three weeks to develop a bid to present. The main factor that is considered when hiring a contractor is the cost, but quality and experience are also important. The construction company forms a contract with the client rather than the architect. Therefore, clients will want to make sure that an excellent builder is hired for the job.
Phase 7 administration phase In the final design process, the architect frequently visits the site to answer any of the builders’ questions and address possible issues, this is crucial to avoid delays . Depending on the scale of the project, the architect may visit the site every week or month. Moreover, the construction crew now has control over the development of the project. Depending on the project, this phase can take several years until the building’s construction is completed.
Design in electrical:
Using symbols to represent different components such as resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors etc. and lines to represent the connections between them.
resistor:a series of zigzag lines (ohms) capacitor: two parallel lines with a gap in between (farads) diode: a triangle pointing towards a line
References: https://www.archisoup.com/architecture-design-process https://www.archisoup.com/schematic-design
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