For our Full Architectural Service, we charge our fees as a percentage of the Construction Costs. We find this is the best way of estimating the number of hours we will spend on a project. The percentage we charge is based on our standard fee scale that we are happy to provide to any client upon request. Please contact us for more details.

We bill the total fee in equal monthly instalments across the length of the project. This enables consistent expenditure for you as the client and regular cash flow for us.

We do offer fixed fees for specific items of work, such as feasibility studies and stand-alone planning applications. These are quoted on a project-by-project basis – please contact us to discuss specifics.

This is always a difficult question to answer because each project is unique. However, in general terms, most projects take between 12 and 24 months. To be clear, this timeframe begins from the moment you appoint us as architects and covers the whole length of the project. Roughly half the project will be the planning and detailed design phases (as outlined in our Full Architectural Service). The other half will be on-site construction. This process involves completing one stage of the project before moving onto the next and is the traditional way most architects work. This way of working gives you, as the client, the maximum control over quality and cost.

However, it is not for everyone. We do offer a bespoke service, which we call our Accelerated Programme. In this scenario, we work on all stages simultaneously i.e., designing and building as we go. The advantage for the client is time. We can significantly reduce the length of the project. However, this comes with less control of costs. Instead of a competitive tender with multiple contractors, it is a negotiated tender with a single contractor, and they are only pricing each package of work as it is designed. Although we will work with a budget, it is only an estimate, and due to the pace of the work we won’t have a comprehensive total of the final costs until very close to the end of the project. Additionally, because of this way of working, opportunities for value engineering — reducing the cost while not compromising on design — are limited and tough decisions occasionally have to be made. For example, if your preferred tile is out of stock when the time comes to order, you might have to pick another tile or accept a delay to the programme while you wait for new stock to arrive. It is not for everyone, but in cases where time is the most important factor, we can offer this service for an additional fee.

In any scenario, we will provide a programme at the start of us working together and will deliver updates as we go. If possible, we will always offer suggestions to speed up the works, depending on the specifics of your unique project.

Obviously, the quality of design work and price are important, but the other factor we encourage all potential clients to consider is: Do I like them? You should have a very close relationship with your architect throughout your project, and if you don’t get on with them this can make a very time-consuming and expensive process far less enjoyable.

On some projects, independent project management is useful. In most projects, especially domestic ones, you do not need one.

Please check out our page on project management and the services we offer, we find that is sufficient for nearly all our clients.

As part of our Full Architectural Service, we include many services that might be considered interior design. However, if you also want to work with an interior designer on your project, we are very happy to adjust. It is important for us to clearly establish the scope of services between O/R Studio and your interior designer to ensure that you, as the client, are not unintentionally paying two companies to produce the same information.

Please check out the interior design section of our Services Page for more information on what we can provide.

This is absolutely fine. While we do prefer to use contractors with whom we have an existing relationship, we are always happy to work with new people. Our advice would be to always ensure “your builder” still tenders competitively for the work. This will ensure you are getting the best value. We also advise that we take time to speak with a couple of architects they have previously worked with, to ensure they are comfortable carrying out their role within the traditional architect-contractor relationship.

Unfortunately not, and no architect should. We will always advise you on any risk items within a planning application and, although we have a good knowledge of what the planners will accept –and what they won’t – we are still occasionally surprised, for better or worse, by their decisions.