From writing a detailed brief to hiring reputable companies, Miriam Fitzpatrick runs through her top tips on achieving good building design
Communicate with your team - A client and design team should be able to communicate with each other from the outset to ensure the project runs well and meets expectations.
Set a sound design brief - A brief must reflect institutional values and objectives and should be tested for feasibility.
Establish an appropriate budget - It’s important to have a cost plan that reflects expectations and is benchmarked against comparable briefs and expectations of quality.
Be innovative - A design team should have the innovative skills to push the boundaries while understanding the practical constraints involved.
Be realistic - Any schedule drawn up should include contingency plans, to allow for any set backs to the project.
Hire the best - If you hire a reputable company (whether it be in construction or design) you are effectively safe-guarding your project.
Be a good client - A responsible client must:
- Provide strong client leadership
- Give enough time at the right time
- Learn lessons from successful and unsuccessful projects
- Develop and communicate a clear brief
- Make a realistic financial commitment from the outset
- Adopt integrated processes
- Find the right people for the job
- Respond and contribute to the project in context
- Sign off all the key stages