Intelligent Design

Intelligent Design was started in 2008 and is headed up by myself, Aaron Humphreys. I have over 25 year’s experience in the architectural and structural drafting fields. I am a qualified Architectural Draughtsman, having studied for my New Zealand Certificate in Architectural Draughting in Wellington in 1995-96.

After graduating I went straight to work for an Architectural design company in Lower Hutt, where I learnt valuable skills in the draughting and design areas, knowledge of building standards, liaison with Councils and mastering the Archicad 3D CAD drawing program.

After three and a half years I wanted to diversify my drawing skills, so I gained employment with an Engineering firm learning Structural and Civil Engineering Draughting and the Autocad CAD program along the way. Although the practical side of design and draughting was highly valuable, I missed the client contact and the opportunities to express my creative flair that I had had in the Architectural industry.

After a further three and a half years in the Engineering field I returned to Architecture once more. Some four years later (February 2008) I decided it was time to branch out and start my own Architectural practice – and thus ‘Intelligent Design’ was born!

We now have four people in the office. I am a proud Professional member of Architectural Designers New Zealand (ADNZ), a national body of Architectural Designers offering professional support and some peace of mind to our clients and accountability.

I hold a Design 2 license under the Licensed Building Practioner (LBP) scheme, the new Government initiated program to raise the quality of the built environment.

Wellington Architecture
More than 20 years experience in the industry has given me a range of skills from designing quality new homes to small house renovations and house additions such as decks, garages, one-room house additions, and designing kitchen and bathroom remodelling house plans. We work carefully on designing functional and practical solutions, yet endeavour to not lose any of the architectural flair where possible. We can assist with site selection, writing a brief, and approximate costings if required. We will start with initial scheme design, work in close consultation with the client and ultimately develop detailed working house plans for construction.
No Architecture Job Too Small

Depending on workload and timing, we take on jobs of any size. Whilst we may not have photos on our website, we regularly do small house renovations, internal and external house renovations and alterations, kitchens, bathrooms and decks. Please do not hesitate to contact us if this is you!
Council Consents

We generally take care of obtaining the consents required by Council. This includes Resource Consent and Building Consent applications. Any queries or issues the Council may have are then directed back to us and we can deal with them in a timely and professional manner. We have found that clients prefer not to have to wade through the legalities and paperwork which is often required.
Project Administration and Observation

We can assist in your project administration and site observation as required. This includes organising project tenders with contractors recommended by us or those of your choosing. We can monitor progress, undertake on-site supervision and generally ensure that the work complies with the consented documents to ensure a quality final result.
Tailored Service

We can assist in any project you bring to me. It may simply be developing your own design through to construction and consent drawings or it may be a full design and administration process. We pride ourselves on our quality of design and documentation as well as meeting the brief.
Certificate of Acceptances

This has become a valuable service for those people selling their houses or prospective purchasers. A Certificate of Acceptance (COA) is required when work that required a Building Consent did not get one, so this is the only avenue open to homeowners afterwards. Unconsented works on a house can be a big turnoff for purchasers as there is no records with the Council, insurance becomes an issue, and solicitors advise their clients not to proceed with the purchase. By drawing house plans, preparing a report and providing Council with a building inspection, we have been able to help a number of clients with successful house sales when they looked about to fall through.
Owner supplied Information

There are times when it is necessary to provide the Council with an updated plan of what has been built and is existing on-site. This would only be necessary when a Building Consent was not obtained, and a COA (see above) is not possible. Or it may be that you just want a correct and accurate set of house plans.

Initial Consultation
We will meet with you to introduce myself, and discuss your project and the services we can offer you.

Typically this is done at the site of the proposed work if it is a house alteration or a house renovation, or at my office if we are dealing with a new house. Either way, this first consultation is free.

At this stage, we will try to fully understand the extent of the work involved with the project. We will take down as many details as we can to establish the level of architectural service you require and calculate/estimate (choose one) my fees for carrying out those services. We will send you a professionally-written quote outlining the different stages involved and the associated fees for each stage.

We will take down as many details as we can to establish the level of Architectural service you require and our fees to carry out those services. We will send you a professionally written quote outlining the different stages involved and the associated fees for each stage.

The Brief
The brief is basically what you want to achieve out of the whole building process. Not only does this cover what you want in your project, but also deals with timeframes you may have in mind, your budget and how the building is going to function. It is important to try and establish as many or all of these things before a design is underway. Taking this brief, we can then formulate solutions to your requirements. If you are unsure of any of these aspects then we can assist you in preparing this. Using the example of a house, some of the things you need to decide are:

• Practical Requirements – e.g. numbers of bedrooms, bathrooms, living spaces, single or double-storey, etc.
• Design Preferences – What style of architectural design do you like? It is often a good idea to bring photos or pictures from magazines that illustrate what you like and pass this onto me at this stage so I have a clear idea of your expectations.
• Timeframes and programming of design, Council consent and construction.
• Your budget – how much are you wanting to spend on your project?
• What degree of involvement do you want from me? Just the design and documentation? Do you want help with finding a builder and running the project once it gets to theconstruction stage?

Scheme Design
Having established the exact brief, we can now commence preparation of an initial scheme design based on not just your requirements but what the site and/or the existing building has to offer. We will establish any parameters that we must work within by investigating Council records. We will begin to incorporate your requirements and ideas, taking into consideration factors such as site boundaries, views, orientation, town-planning requirements, and any other relevant items.

A Land Surveyor may have to be commissioned to accurately locate boundaries, relative heights, and any other features on the site which may have a bearing as to where the design might be headed. We can engage these services on your behalf and arrange for them to contact you and provide a quote for their work.

Based on the above information, we will come up with a scheme design. This is really just to get something down on paper that we can talk through and find out if we are headed in the right direction. Your opinions and feedback are crucial here so we can incorporate them into the design. Typically this stage will consist of an existing (if appropriate) and proposed floor plan, an elevation or two, and a couple of 3d views to explain the design and help give you a good understanding of what the finished proposal will look like.

This leads to the Developed Design stage.

Developed Design
In this stage, the scheme design will be altered to incorporate your changes and ideas until we arrive at a final design that you are happy with. This will cover not just the floor plan layouts, but the elevations, wall and roof claddings. At this stage, we may also do a quick 3D model with my computer software (Archicad) which provides a fly-around to view the house from any side and any angle. This is helpful if there are any possible unresolved issues or elements that need exploring further. If you are wanting a more comprehensive 3D model worked up to show friends or family then we are happy to do this at an extra cost.

These drawings will contain sufficient detail to finalise the design and gain your written approval (sign off) before moving into working drawings and documentation for pricing and consent purposes. You could possibly use these drawings to get an estimate of costings from a builder, however, be warned that until the detailed drawings are finished, their estimate may be quite different from the final quote.

At this stage, you may wish to talk to a Landscape Designer, Interior Designer or Colour Consultant. Their input at this relatively early stage can be invaluable and may have to be incorporated into the design. We can engage these services on your behalf and arrange for them to contact you and provide a quote for their work.

Resource Consent
It is very common to have to apply for a Resource Consent for work you wish to undertake. Putting it simply, Councils put in place certain rules and guidelines to protect neighbours and the environment by way of their District Plan. While we try to work within those rules, if the design is outside these parameters, a Resource Consent will have to be applied for. We will advise you if this is required for your project. If you choose to proceed with a Resource Consent application then the plans prepared at the Developed Design stage will be used for this purpose. We will guide you through this process to make it as simple as possible.

We have experience in preparing and lodging Resource Consent applications to Council and where possible we will do this ‘in-house’. An Assessment of Environmental Effects report is prepared in accordance with the RMA (Resource Management Act). We will also liaise with Council during this process on your behalf. If however, the consent is more specialised then a Town Planner may have to be engaged to prepare, lodge and negotiate with Council. If this is required then we will obtain a written quote from the Town Planner for this service.

Working Drawings
The Working Drawing stage includes the preparation of fully documented and detailed drawings and specifications for the purpose of applying for Building Consent. These drawings can also be used to gain accurate costings for construction.

This stage really covers how we want the building to be constructed, and demonstrates compliance with the Building Code as per Council requirements. It's really the 'nuts and bolts' of the process.

Depending on the scope of the project additional consultants may be required for this stage. These may include:

• Structural Engineer
• HVAC Engineer
• Fire Engineer
• Acoustic Engineer
• Geotechnical Engineer

Building Consent Application
We will take care of the Building Consent process for you, including filling in application forms, preparing precise documentation to lodge and the actual lodgement process. Specifications will have to be prepared and any manufacturer’s literature and Producer Statements must be provided. We will liaise with the different Council departments and provide them with all the documentation they require including any additional information arising as a result of the application. Any and all queries will come to me as the applicant and we will promptly address any concerns or provide any additional information they require. My fee will cover any extra information the Council may ask for within the standard check sheet they provide.

Extra Drawings
The working drawings required by Council to issue a Building Consent do not include some of the more specific detailed drawings that may be desired (but not required) such as:

• Lighting and electrical layout plans
• Kitchen and bathroom joinery
• Interior joinery
• Display and storage units
• Landscaping, courtyards, paths and decks in some instances
• Water features, ponds, swimming pools, spas etc
• Finishes schedule

We can provide these drawings as an extra service to the normal service provided. They are not required to successfully build a house, but can greatly enhance the appeal and detail if they are included.

Tendering
The tender process involves the preparation of contract documentation, calling of selected tenderers, answering queries from tenderers, receiving tenders, analysing and comparing the received tenders, querying allowances, and recommending the main contractor for you to engage based on what we can see is the best deal in terms of experience, reputation and cost.

These Builders can be ones you request to be involved, or we are happy to refer you on to a couple of Builders we frequently work closely with.

On-Site Assistance
We can oversee the construction of your project, ensuring that it is run according to the terms of the building consent granted and that the standard of workmanship meets both your and our expectations of quality.

It is quite common during construction for a builder to require advice or input to make sure the construction meets the expectations of the client and/or the designer. There may be some additional detailing work to sort through that was not required for the Building Consent documentation.

We can act as a middle man between the client and the builder, ensuring the smooth running of the construction process. A happy builder is more likely to do a better job for his clients. And there is nothing more frustrating to a builder to have clients who change their minds (they will likely bill you for it), or clients who commit themselves to run the building project but realising they don’t have enough time to do it justice, or don’t have the skills and/or experience to do it properly.

How much do you charge?

This is probably the most common question we get asked and one that is very difficult to answer without knowing in detail what you are hoping to achieve and what you are expecting from me. We need to know the total scope of a project as well as the extent of my involvement prior to being able to provide you with a fee proposal.

Once we have met with you and have an accurate gauge on what you are wanting, and the scope of work involved then we will provide a fixed fee which is broken down into stages (scheme design, developed design, resource consent, working drawings, etc). This will all be outlined in a quote we will send to you shortly after the first meeting.

The complexity of the building, or parts of the building, may have considerable impact on the value of fees charged as some components may require more intensive detailing work than others. Small projects often require the same amount of detail and documentation as larger buildings and this is reflected in a higher fee percentage for lower value work.

Where do I start?

First up is the requirement for a brief. This should be as comprehensive as possible. It needs to detail your wants, needs, and requirements. It could include size, budget, photos or cut-outs of appealing products or buildings, functions and lifestyle, etc. Really it’s anything you can give me to show me what you like and dislike, that will facilitate the design process as much as possible. Sometimes the brief may be a bit up-in-the-air in some areas, but these things will quickly sort themselves out after the first couple of design meetings. We can help you with the development of this as there may be things you are unclear about or need a professional opinion on.

How much for an initial consultation?

There is no charge for an initial consultation whether in my office or in the Wellington/Lower Hutt/Upper Hutt area. Appointments must be during normal weekday working hours in most situations.

I already know what I want, can you just draw up the plans?

Yes. We are generally happy to work with either your own design or the design of another professional as long as any copyright issues are resolved in writing. After our initial meeting we will reserve the right to decide not to follow through if we can see any potential problems with the design that cannot be resolved between you and ourselves. All we ask is that you allow me to make any improvements or suggestions that we see as beneficial to the project, relating to aesthetics, costs or problem areas we discover.

How long does it all take?

As the saying goes ‘good things take time!' It really comes down to how large the project is and what consents are required from Council. A Building Consent takes around 20 working days (approximately one month) processing time through Council and if a Resource Consent is required also, another month may be necessary. The design work required comes down to our work load at that time, other professionals availability and timing, and how quickly you as the client can make decisions. Generally speaking for a small project that only requires a Building Consent allow approximately two to three months from engagement to being able to ‘break ground’ on site. If a Resource Consent is required allow an additional two months. For very large jobs this process can extend over six months or more.