ABSTRACT
The practice has been operational for five years, focusing on the design of low/zero-carbon buildings and has a reputation for high-quality individual houses. Projects are generally obtained through a mixture of word-of-mouth recommendation, the practice’s website, social media and local profile. The main problems are that there is no real definition of the project, the budget may be unrealistic and the project timeline seems unachievable. The commission allows for three meetings with the client, the first to agree a brief, the second to discuss options and the third to present a preferred option. The practice has a choice that depends on how much they want the work. The practice carries out a reality check that is based on the hours spent on similar studies. By being specific in the proposal about the deliverables, the unknowns are reduced and the architect remains in control of the resources.
