02-27-2015, 09:26 AM
Brief conversation with client before Designing a Building
General questions which can be conversed between a client and an Architect before starting any Design :
Who has drawn up the building programme? Is it exhaustive or has it to be supplemented by us or others? Has the client to agree again before the design work starts?
Has the new building to be related to existing and future buildings? Which local regulations have to be observed? Who is building inspector or district surveyor? Who is town planning officer?
What special literature is available on this type of building? What do we have in our files?
Where have similar buildings been built? Have we taken steps to view them?
Basic design factors such as
What are the surroundings like? Are landscaping and trees to be considered? What about climate, aspect, access, and prevailing wind?
What is the architecture of existing buildings? What materials were employed?
Do we have photographs of neighbourhood with viewpoints marked on plan? If not, have they been ordered?
What other factors have to be considered in our design?
What are the existing floor-to4loor heights and heights of buildings? What is the situation with regard to roads, building lines, future roads, trees (types and sizes)?
What future development has to be considered?
Is it desirable to plan an area layout?
Are there regulations or restrictions concerning elevational treatment in district?
What is known of attitude of town planning officer or committee towards architecture? Is it advisable to discuss ¡nitial sketches with town planning officer before proceeding?
In case of appeal, is anything known of the time taken and the ministry’s decision in similar cases in this district?
Ventilation: air conditioning? Type? Air change? In which rooms? Fume extraction? Smoke extraction?
Cooling plant? Water supply? Nominal diameter of supp’y pipe and pressure? Is pressure constant? Water price per cubic metre or water rate? Stand pipes required? Where and how many?
Drainage and sewerage? Existing? Connection points? Nominal bore of main sewer? Invert levels? Where does the sewage flow to? Soak pits? Possible, advisable, permitted? Septic tank or other sewage treatment necessary?
Nominal bore of the gas supply pipe? Pressure? Price per cubic metre? Reduction for large consumption? Special regulations concerning installation of pipes? Ventilation?
Electricity? A.C. or D.C.? Voltage? Connection point? Voltage drop limit? Price per kW? Off-peak? Price reduction for large consumption? Transformer? High-voltage transformer station? Own generator? Diesel, steam turbine, windmill?
Telephone? Where? ISTD? Telephone box? Where? Cable duct required? Intercom? Bells? Lights? Burglar alarm?
What type of lift? Maximum load? Speed? Motor at top or bottom?
Conveyor systems? Dimensions? Direction of operation?
Power consumption?
Waste chutes or sink destructor disposal units? Where? Size? For what type of refuse? Waste incineration?
What sort of subsoil ¡s common to this area?
Has the site been explored? Where have trial holes been sunk? What were the results?
What is load-bearing capacity of subsoil?
Average ground water level? High water level? Has the site been built on previously? Type of buildings? How many storeys? Was there a basement and, if so, how deep?
What type of foundation appears to be suitable?
What type of construction ¡s envisaged? Basement floor: Type? Applied load? Type of load? Floor finish? Insulation? Tanking? Ground floor: Type? Applied load? Type of load? Finishes?
Other floors: Type? Applied load? Type of load? Finishes? Roof: Structure? Loading? Type of loading? Roof cladding? Protective finishes and coatings? Gutters? Internal or external downpìpes?
What insulation materials are to be employed? Sound insulation: horizontal/vertical? Impact sound: horizontal/vertical? Heat insulation: horizontal/vertical?
Type of supports? Outer walls? Partitions?
Staircase structure? Applied load?
Windows: steel/timber/plastic/wood/aluminium? Type and weight of glass? Internal or external seating? Single, double or combination windows? Double glazing?
Doors: steel frames? Plywood? Steel? Lining? Fire grading? Furniture? With an automatic door closing device?
Type of heating: solid fuel/gas/electricity/oil? Fuel storage?
Domestic hot water: amount required and at what times? Where? Water softener required?
General questions which can be conversed between a client and an Architect before starting any Design :
Who has drawn up the building programme? Is it exhaustive or has it to be supplemented by us or others? Has the client to agree again before the design work starts?
Has the new building to be related to existing and future buildings? Which local regulations have to be observed? Who is building inspector or district surveyor? Who is town planning officer?
What special literature is available on this type of building? What do we have in our files?
Where have similar buildings been built? Have we taken steps to view them?
Basic design factors such as
What are the surroundings like? Are landscaping and trees to be considered? What about climate, aspect, access, and prevailing wind?
What is the architecture of existing buildings? What materials were employed?
Do we have photographs of neighbourhood with viewpoints marked on plan? If not, have they been ordered?
What other factors have to be considered in our design?
What are the existing floor-to4loor heights and heights of buildings? What is the situation with regard to roads, building lines, future roads, trees (types and sizes)?
What future development has to be considered?
Is it desirable to plan an area layout?
Are there regulations or restrictions concerning elevational treatment in district?
What is known of attitude of town planning officer or committee towards architecture? Is it advisable to discuss ¡nitial sketches with town planning officer before proceeding?
In case of appeal, is anything known of the time taken and the ministry’s decision in similar cases in this district?
Ventilation: air conditioning? Type? Air change? In which rooms? Fume extraction? Smoke extraction?
Cooling plant? Water supply? Nominal diameter of supp’y pipe and pressure? Is pressure constant? Water price per cubic metre or water rate? Stand pipes required? Where and how many?
Drainage and sewerage? Existing? Connection points? Nominal bore of main sewer? Invert levels? Where does the sewage flow to? Soak pits? Possible, advisable, permitted? Septic tank or other sewage treatment necessary?
Nominal bore of the gas supply pipe? Pressure? Price per cubic metre? Reduction for large consumption? Special regulations concerning installation of pipes? Ventilation?
Electricity? A.C. or D.C.? Voltage? Connection point? Voltage drop limit? Price per kW? Off-peak? Price reduction for large consumption? Transformer? High-voltage transformer station? Own generator? Diesel, steam turbine, windmill?
Telephone? Where? ISTD? Telephone box? Where? Cable duct required? Intercom? Bells? Lights? Burglar alarm?
What type of lift? Maximum load? Speed? Motor at top or bottom?
Conveyor systems? Dimensions? Direction of operation?
Power consumption?
Waste chutes or sink destructor disposal units? Where? Size? For what type of refuse? Waste incineration?
What sort of subsoil ¡s common to this area?
Has the site been explored? Where have trial holes been sunk? What were the results?
What is load-bearing capacity of subsoil?
Average ground water level? High water level? Has the site been built on previously? Type of buildings? How many storeys? Was there a basement and, if so, how deep?
What type of foundation appears to be suitable?
What type of construction ¡s envisaged? Basement floor: Type? Applied load? Type of load? Floor finish? Insulation? Tanking? Ground floor: Type? Applied load? Type of load? Finishes?
Other floors: Type? Applied load? Type of load? Finishes? Roof: Structure? Loading? Type of loading? Roof cladding? Protective finishes and coatings? Gutters? Internal or external downpìpes?
What insulation materials are to be employed? Sound insulation: horizontal/vertical? Impact sound: horizontal/vertical? Heat insulation: horizontal/vertical?
Type of supports? Outer walls? Partitions?
Staircase structure? Applied load?
Windows: steel/timber/plastic/wood/aluminium? Type and weight of glass? Internal or external seating? Single, double or combination windows? Double glazing?
Doors: steel frames? Plywood? Steel? Lining? Fire grading? Furniture? With an automatic door closing device?
Type of heating: solid fuel/gas/electricity/oil? Fuel storage?
Domestic hot water: amount required and at what times? Where? Water softener required?