Thinking of buying or building?
You want a new home?
Or you want to renovate your existing home?
Our Design Consultation puts architectural advice at your fingertips.
Let's start at the beginning.
If it's a renovation: WHAT problem are you looking to solve. WHY do you want to renovate, or build? What's not working for you NOW, and what's the best way to solve it.
If you're building new: WHY did you choose THIS site? WHAT is the very best fit for you and this site? HOW can we make the very best of what the site and our architecture makes possible.
In short, what's the best diagnosis for your situation. That's what we do in our Design Consultation: Diagnosis, and Analysis. And some solutions.
Because if you're going to all the effort of building a home for yourself and your family, you don't want a one-size-fits-all home from a house-builder or a magazine — you want a house that fits you and your personality like a glove. And for many years to come.
That's what we do here at Organon Architecture.
If you want a flower out of the system instead of a weed, then you
should contact us to book a Design Consultation.
Book your Design Consultation today
As Bruce Goff used to say, we aim do what you would do if you were a good architect. It all starts with our Design Consultation, where we get to know you (and you get to know us!) and we both start to see how to solve your problem by integrating your architecture with your site.
Q: What's a Design Consultation?
A: Our no-risk Design Consultation gives you architectural expertise for a limited time at a reasonable price, with no strings attached. Think of a design consultation as a house call: we visit your home, if appropriate; discuss and sketch possibilities; and answer basic questions about costs and construction alternatives for your new home, or for your proposed home improvements.
Together we can explore placement of a new home or extension, making the most of light and sun and views, masking of neighbours and sculpting of awkward spaces or facades, correcting balance and composition, and adding visual interest. We can even recommend how to avoid some common mistakes.
After the consultation, a letter will document the results and conclusions of the design consultation. The design consultation is a “stand-alone” service. You are not required to retain us for the duration of your particular project. Our letter can form the basis of a briefing letter for whomever you wish.
Q: Is it affordable?
A typical Design Consultation takes two to three hours and costs $800 (inc. GST) as a stand-alone service -- and that includes our follow-up briefing letter and recommendations.· Site Plan or Survey. This document, prepared by a Surveyor, locates your site or your existing house relative to property lines, driveway, and servitudes. (Don't worry if you don't have this yet; if necessary we can organise this with our surveyor for you after the Consultation.)
· Photographs of the Site or Exterior. Take photos of the front, sides and rear of your site or home, and of any major features inside or views round about. With a digital camera, you can easily take fifty to a hundred photos quite easily and then put them on a memory stick or upload to Dropbox. Some clients even send us drone videos! More is always better.
· Subdivision restrictions (if applicable). Many subdivisions have restrictive covenants limiting what can be done on your site or with your existing home. These covenants may limit your materials, establish setbacks and require approval of any plans. Look in your purchase documents for these. If you aren’t sure if your subdivision has such restrictions, check with your real estate agent or solicitor.
· Floor Plans & LIM. A copy of your existing home’s plans is essential for renovation. Most council offices have copies of plans of existing local houses—and if you have recently purchased, you will have a Land Information Memorandum (LIM) offering essential site information from council’s records. (Again, don't worry if you don't have this yet; if necessary we can organise this with our surveyor for you after the Consultation.)
· Contour Plan. For all new house projects and renovations, you will need to supply a site level survey. You may need to employ a surveyor for this. Ask us for a recommendation if you are at all uncertain.
· Your ‘Clip’ File. No two homeowners prefer the same materials, colours, fixtures or appliances. To help us learn your preferences, tear out pages from magazines, add ideas to Pinterest or Houzz, or collect materials and brochures illustrating the ‘feel’ you want. Place a note on each, noting the items that caught your eye, and why.
We generally hold our Design Consultation meetings here in our office in Newmarket, Auckland, before organising to visit your site.
But we can also come to you. Travel time within Greater Auckland is free. For locations outside this area, travel charges to visit site(s) can be negotiated in advance (or can sometimes be integrated into a road trip in his MG!). Contact Peter for further details.
Q: I've booked in for our Design Consultation -- what do we do while we wait?
- Architectural Mini-Tutorial: 'Capturing a View Alive'
- ARCHITECTURAL MINI-TUTORIAL: It's all in the plan
- Architectural Mini-Tutorial: Breaking the box, part 1
- Architectural Mini-Tutorial: Ceiling Decks
- Architectural Mini-Tutorial: The New Zealand House
- Architectural Mini-Tutorial: The Sociable Kitchen
- Architectural Mini-Tutorial: Organising our visual field
- Architectural Mini-Tutorial: Radiant Heat
- Architecture: Making ‘a home for man.’ Part 2: What is a man?
- Architectural Mini-Tutorial: More about windows
- Architectural Mini-Tutorial: Using tricks to deliver meaning
- Quote of the Day: "I finally got why architects spend as long as doctors getting an education"
- What is the ideal relationship of architect to client?
- But don't all designers need to compromise?
- Architectural Mini-Tutorial: Tips for your home office
- ARCHITECTURAL MINI-TUTORIAL: Soft Geometry
- Five architectural "must-haves"
- "Nature Near"
