Note 4. No obligation.
At Silvan we aim to make architecture accessible by providing a transparent guide to the way we work, and by offering options for our first contact with you with low commitment.
We have developed a clear process for new enquiries which we hope makes getting a project off the ground much easier, with no obligation to continue.
I’m shopping around and have had a quick look at your website. Where can I find out more?
Download our project handbook. This has information on our process, fees and what to expect at each stage, as well as key information on the services we provide and other things you need to know about.
Ok, I’d like to talk to you about a project. What’s my first port of call?
We encourage all new clients to enquire through our website. This ensures that when we talk to you, we have everything we need to have a conversation and can jump straight over the obvious questions (such as asking for your email address).
It’s also a sneaky time saver from our point of view as all your information is pushed into our project management platform. Find out about our privacy policy here, and how we use your information.
New project enquiry page
Go to the quick New Project Enquiry page on our website and you will be asked to tick a couple of boxes to see if your project is something we can immediately advise on. These are our main values and allow us to ensure we’re fundamentally the right fit for you.
If we need more information, or we might not be quite right, you’ll get directed to our new project form. Please fill it in and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can with a more personal response.
If your project fits you can dive straight in, and you’ll be directed to a page asking how you’d like to be in touch. You have the choice of our new project form or booking straight in for a discover call or initial consultation.
Which consultation should I choose?
We offer two options, and it’s never a problem to do both.
1. Discovery call
30 mins | £
Introductory telephone or video call, or meeting at our studio.
This one is all about us.
It is at no charge and is for you to suss us out to see if we are the right designers for you. The relationship between client and designer is key to a great (and enjoyable) project, and we understand working on your home can be intimate.
We will not be able to offer much specific advice as we won’t have seen your house or site in person, but we can discuss high level issues such as your general budget, how the process will apply to you, and how we would work with you.
You’ll take away:
If you want to work with an architect, and if we’re the right ones.
Initial thoughts on your project and budget.
How the process will work, and if there’s any issues we need to consider.
What the next steps might look like.
2. Initial consultation
1 hour + travel | £
This is a low commitment paid consultation to explore your project before you decide whether to move forward.
You will gain an initial understanding of:
Us and how we work.
The limitations and opportunities of your project.
Realistic timescales.
Your requirements and ideas (the brief).
Planning risk and processes.
High level feedback on your project budget.
Other consultants required.
Managing risk - working with (or without) an architect for the different work stages.
Our initial thoughts if they are obvious during the limited consultation time. Unfortunately, extensive initial ideas take more time. Even Kirsty Alsop has people behind the scenes to research before she delivers them on screen.
For just the investment of a couple of hours of our time you will move from:
A rough idea of what you want and maybe a little idea of what it costs.
to
Greater clarity of your brief, budget, process, programme and cost.
From our point of view, the initial consultation also gives us with a greater understanding of you and your project, which allows us to provide a personalised fee quote.
-£
There is no obligation, but if you decide to move forward with us the initial consultation fee is deducted from our first invoice, so it is essentially free of charge.
What happens next?
You’ll receive a confirmation email, plus a link to our new project questionnaire. This gives us all the information we need to do a bit of research before meeting you.
We’ll spend a little bit of time looking at estate agents’ listings and past planning applications (for your address and in the locality). If we can find existing floor plans and photographs, we’ll start to have a think about ideas. We also look at Google maps and street view.
If you are unable to complete the questionnaire before the initial consultation, we won’t be able to undertake this process and might need to reschedule so that we can fit it in before meeting with you.
What happens after my initial consultation?
We will prepare a fee quote and project agreement for you. For smaller projects this will be our set fee for your budget, plus any additional services you need. If you are happy to go ahead, we send it over for an e-signature, and commence work.
If you’re not happy with a quote provided, we can remove, adapt and flex areas of services. It is a nimble process thanks to our size and expertise.
Who will work on my project?
We’re tiny. And we’re experienced. Unlike some we carry out all our architectural services in house as much as possible and prefer not to outsource. We like to keep everything part of our design process. This includes:
All drawing work
Building control drawings, notes, and specifications
3D visuals, both sketchy and photorealistic
Heat loss and overglazed extension calculations
Passive House design
We usually act as your ‘lead consultant’ and manage your design process, bringing in others when required. We have a network of local consultants we draw on to provide services outside of architecture, such as measured surveys, structural engineering, interior design, garden design, ecology and quantity surveying.
We enjoy meeting all sorts of people, and discussing exciting ideas. We are always happy to talk things through with you with no obligation at all to continue. Sometimes the best conclusion is that you don’t want to start a project, or it’s not the right time right now. That’s fine and we’re always happy to help.