The most exciting moment of a build is when the structure goes up — but whether that moment happens smoothly and lawfully is decided back in the design and permitting phase.
Why does everything start here?
A permitting process begun without a solid foundation, in a rush, can extend a project by months. A well-structured design process, precisely because of that, does not slow the build down — it speeds up the whole thing.
The consultation phase
The first step is always mapping out the client's needs: family size, lifestyle, the plot's characteristics and the budget. This phase sets the foundation for the entire design — a well-thought-out floor plan will not need expensive changes later on.
The official permitting procedure
- Preparing the design documentation in line with current legal requirements.
- Coordinating the trade-specific plans — structural, mechanical, energy — with one another.
- Submission to the authorities and administration, which we handle in full on our clients' behalf.
Coordinating the trade-specific plans is a critical point: if it only comes to light during construction that the mechanical routing clashes with the structural design, that is always more expensive and slower than clarifying it at the drawing board.
How long does this actually take?
The time required varies from project to project, since the pace of the official administration and the consultations with the relevant authorities depends on many factors. What we do control, however, is the thoroughness of our own work — documentation submitted complete the first time around significantly reduces the chance of unnecessary extra rounds.
Design as a shared creative process
For us, design is not a technical formality — it is the phase where what kind of home will actually come into being is truly decided. That is why we pay special attention to it at the start of every project, whether the technology is CLT or traditional.
