Luxury home design architecture is a dynamic process for the development of residential house plans for construction. It requires the vetting and commissioning of a general contractor, architect and structural engineer to collaborate in bringing to life their clients dream. The selection of the design team, the actual design process and preparing for construction of a luxury home is the end goal of architectural design process.
The architectural luxury home design process is an exciting journey for the client, but can be challenging if the owner doesn’t surround themselves with trusted and talented professionals. Issues like over designing for the construction budget and not being capable of how of reading house plans can cause a great deal of misunderstanding and added cost.
This article will provide some insights to the process of luxury home architectural design. From selecting the members of your design team to preparing your wish and needs list, the owners role in the design process is essential in achieving the desired results of home design.
Select a General Contractor
Selecting an experienced general contractor early in the design process is key to avoiding process missteps, required major redesigns and increased cost. A seasoned general contractor should be properly vetted and become a trusted adviser through the design process and construction.
During design the general contractor provides invaluable insights for tasks such as selecting a building lot, cost effective construction solutions and constructability issues. Through collaboration with the architect the general contractor can bridge a vital gap that exist in the traditional home design process. Architects are schooled and trained to understand design and construction standards for acceptable best practices. They frequently lack the direct construction cost experience and relevant real world onsite construction knowledge.
As a general rule, architects do not have a good knowledge base for construction cost on various architectural features. They generally understand that the price of a special feature is more expensive than an more common design feature, but often feel it is not important to know the cost. Their priorities are commonly form, function and the aesthetic value. A seasoned general contractor can compliment the strengths of an architect through collaboration by providing positive and constructive feedback during design.
Select an Architect
It is balancing the artistic interruption of the homes function with an inspiring form that measures the brilliance of an architect. Selecting an architect takes the same amount of effort and due diligence as hiring your general contractor. Studying an architect’s work is the first key step in creating a short list of qualified candidates. You should be able to make a connection with an architect’s portfolio. Much like artwork, architectural design should speak to you on many levels. Once you have created a short list of talented architects it’s time to determine the working relationship fit.
When it comes to recognizing a good working relationship with an architect, it is not always immediately clear that one architect is a better fit than another. The owner must ask open ended questions that allow for a spirited conversation. You want an architect that will take issue with you if you ask them to produce a feature that could be problematic. You want an architect that understands the lifestyle you have shared and will stay focused on delivering that vision.
In addition an architect should be able to collaborate with other design team members in a professional working manner. Can they take constructive suggestions and interact within a team setting without wearing their emotions on their sleeve. Architects are artist at their very core and it is this trait that makes them creative in their field. Balancing this artist drive with practical application of good design principles serves the clients best interest.
Selecting a Home Building Lot
Many owners will purchase a building lot before they hire a design team. This is due to the length of time it takes to find that special home site. If a home sight is not selected when the owner begins assembling a design team, these members can contribute to the due diligence process of purchasing the property.
A general contractor can assist the owner with understanding the required site development cost like bring the lot to grade or tree removal and drainage structures. They can also be useful in planning the placement of the driveway, building pad, determining the route for the required utilities. In Houston it is essential to understand the proposed finish floor elevation due to the potential flooding issues. The general contractor can guide the owner through the methods to avoid this.
The architect and the builder can also assist in advising the owner in the architectural home design selection. Many Houston home developments have restrictive covenants called deed restrictions. Deed restrictions establish the general standards for items such as set back lines, maximum heights of the house and the minimum home size allowed to be constructed. Understanding and implementing these conditions early can avoid loss of time and money during design.
Choose a Architectural Design
Choosing an architectural design and floor plan is a very personal choose that can be influenced by many things. The primary driver is the owners vision of their future home. How many members are in the family and how do they intend to use the space? Understanding what the owners lifestyle is critical to planning a functional floor plan that will serve their needs.
Other influences that define the architectural home elevation design are the other surrounding homes and the relevant deed restrictions. Many of the community deed restrictions require that the house plans are submitted to the Architectural Review Committee for approval as a condition of receiving a building permit. The ARC for each community vary dramatically in their restrictions. So it is important to clearly understand when purchasing a building lot that the deed restrictions do not limit or conflict with your intended design.
Develop a Wish and Needs List
In order for the owners to effectively use a design team they need to do their homework in preparing to provide the design team with some direction. This consist of identifying items that you will require in your house plans. These items are things like ceiling heights, room sizes, living space needs, number of bedrooms and bathrooms ect…
In addition to the general floor plan requirements the owner should collect photo images of products, architectural features and color schemes. This is the time to list the many wants that you have always desired. You can use the design team to qualify or disqualify the feasibility of your wants during the design process.
Luxury home design architecture requires the owners to be diligent early in the process of creating home plans. It is essential that the owner hire trusted and competent professionals to assist them in a collaborative effort to design home blue prints luxury for construction. The owner aligning their interest with their design team will lead to a successful home construction project.
