Services

We offer a full range of architectural services across a broad base of construction sectors. As the lead consultant in most projects we will direct the design team and map out the design and environmental strategies to deliver the best solution for your brief and budget.

Design expertise and experience in master planning and feasibility studies is backed with an in depth knowledge of the Planning and Building Standards systems.  This delivers imaginative, technically robust and environmentally aware architectural solutions that respond to your requirements. Guidance through the procurement of your building project will assist in short listing and appointing suitable building contractors, ensuring the competence and quality of work, managing costs and obtaining the necessary completion certification from the Local Authority.

In addition to this we can also offer high quality 3D visualisations to assist in your understanding of the design and its presentation to planning officers along with Design statements justifying potential developments in terms of planning policy and precedent.

We also provide Principal Designer services for projects on developments were Arka is providing architectural consultancy. As a client you have certain obligations to ensure that your project is carried out in a safe manner. The download below summarises your duties as a domestic client in this regard. Commercial clients should discuss their requirements with us.

Fees

Fees can be calculated in a number of different ways depending on the type and complexity of the project. To establish the appropriate fee type and level we would recommend that we meet with you for an initial consultation where we can assess the building or site and your design requirements. From this meeting we would produce a fee reflecting the scope of work being commissioned. The most common fee types used by the practice are listed opposite. Council fees for planning and building warrant applications can be downloaded below.

Fixed Lump sum: a fixed fee based on an assessment of a well-defined project usually quoted for domestic work. This would be broken down in a clear and structured manner and invoiced at key milestones through the design and procurement process.

Percentage: a fee based on an agreed percentage of the build cost figure, estimated at the start and fixed by the final account at the end of the project. This type of fee is used when the scope of the project is more difficult to define at the outset.

Hourly rates: a suitable fee if the scope of work or level of our involvement is undetermined at the outset. Hourly rates are also used to quantify additional works requested during our appointment.

Fees are generally invoiced on completion of each agreed work stage through the course of the project.

You should bear in mind that additional fees may be required for other consultants depending on what information or investigations are required for your project. We can help you with this, we deal with structural, environmental, civil and geotechnical engineers. We can obtain quotes from them for the specialist services you require. Remember that the Council also charges for submitting planning and building warrant applications so these costs should also be factored into your budget.

You can calculate Council application fees by following these links:

Planning fees Warrant fees

Appointment

Appointments for architectural services on commercial projects are based on the widely used Scottish Conditions of Appointment of an Architect SCA/2018. Architectural services for private, domestic clients are based on the Small Project Version of the standard appointment document: ASP/2018. Fees are generally agreed in a letter format with reference to the appropriate appointment document.

We also offer Principal Designer services which are required to cover the Health and Safety co-ordination of larger projects. This would generally be covered by a separate appointment and can be discussed with you in more detail should you require this service.

As a domestic client your Health & Safety liabilities are explained in the downloadable document below.

Procurement

Commercial projects have many different types of procurement route, which would be discussed on a project by project basis with the client.

Domestic projects however follow a more similar route and timeframe. The outline of this can be followed through the sequence of stages shown here. Alternatively the general timeline for a domestic project is available to download below.