It is indeed sometimes difficult, particularly when a client has not worked with an architect before, to know what questions to ask, to get the right results.

In our experience working with clients, planning a home renovation in London with an architect involves several key stages:

(1) Defining your project vision - consider why you want to start the project, what quality, cost and time goals you would like to set. Also, consider you and your family’s lifestyle, and design inspirations.

(2) Establishing a budget - we have yet to find a client that work to no budget. It is paramount that a budget is established. If you find this difficult, at Polysmiths we have a project budget calculator that can help you establish that as a guide, based on per sqm renovation cost, and current market comparable.

(3) Finding the right architect - this is a really tricky one. Find an architect that is trustworthy, award-winning, dedicated to their client, and has a good sense of humour to see through long project period with you. In short, pick Polysmiths.

(4) Navigating planning and other statutory constraints - design does not happen in a vacuum, it is influenced by your vision, and by the context the project site is in. Each site contains its own unique requirements that will provide key logic to the design, so it can contribute positively to its users and their neighbours.

(5) Managing cost and time - We believe our value for our client is in the balance of quality, cost and time that is baked into our design and delivery process. Polysmiths has tools to support our clients financial and time decision making, in order to achieve a balance as close to the project vision.

(6) Managing people - Client, Engineers, Planners, Contractors, Suppliers, they are all people. Polysmiths sees the ultimate task of the architect to be a good manager of people

Architectural services for a new build home in London typically include a comprehensive range of services from initial client briefing, initial concept design, planning application, to detailed technical drawing information, and construction site inspections.

Polysmiths works closely with the RIBA work stages, giving Clients clarity on what to expect from the architect on each stage of the project.

At Polysmiths, we are skilled in providing architectural design and delivery services for residential, retail, hospitality, and art sectors.

Furthermore, Polysmiths is also capable of providing interior design, bespoke furniture and fixture industrial design and delivery, as well as landscape design including planting scheme, soft and hard landscaping.

We understand it is a daunting task choosing an architect.

Other than choosing an architect based on what they have done before (each project carries different circumstances and are hard to replicate) we think it is also worth considering the people, and the energy they bring.

Polysmiths is an international practice, energetic, dedicated and working directly with our Client. Most importantly, we make the process fun (at least we try to)

The cost of hiring an architect depends on the scope of service the architect is required to undertake. In London, the cost of hiring an architect for a house renovation can range from 5%-15% of the total construction budget. For a smaller renovation, where the architect is focused on initial design and planning application, the fees might be closer to the lower end of that range. For larger, more complex renovations, or projects involving full service from conception to completion, the fees could be closer to 10% to 15%.