First, I visit the home. I discuss the goals with the end user & take pictures & measurements of the area of work. Next, I draw plans to make sure everything has enough space to fit comfortably. Finally, I construct a 3D model of the outside & overlay it onto a picture to give an idea of how it will look and to make sure the height will work as well. This existing home had box gutters which would’ve been expensive to have to tie into or modify. The rear view shows how the addition will miss the windows and also sits just below the existing box gutters.
The 3D view also helped identify the fact that the back door needed a rain diverter above it. I made a 3D model of that frame also because even something this simple can be difficult to figure the best way to build.
Thought takes time and if I can save the builder from having to think through detail later, then I save the owner money who is ultimately who I serve. Finally, the owners & I talked about the blank wall space above the rain diverter & thought a small window would be a nice addition and would have the added benefit of bringing light & ventilation into the closet while also creating a visual connection between the closet & the back yard.
This is just one small example of what the architectural design process can do. Begin with the end in mind. Without vision, the people perish. A clear vision is what drives us forward to achieve more than we ever thought possible before we had that vision. In summary, an architect can help you figure out your real scope of work before you commit to the much larger & less controllable expense of construction.
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