Choosing the Right Architect for Your Home

1. Choosing the Right Architect for Your Home Building your dream home is an exciting project to embark on. The plethora of decisions to make could either be a blessing or a curse – design, style, furnishings, budget, functionality etc. – these just a few things you have to consider when designing your home. The good news is that a good architect will guide you through the entire process and make it more manageable and enjoyable for you. However, deciding on your architect does not come easy. Out of the many design firms who can help you with your home architecture Singapore, how do you know which is the right one for you? Narrowing Down Build a list of potential architects from contacts, referrals and word-of-mouth reviews. Make sure that they are certified and have access to a variety of professional and technical resources to help you to the best of their ability Consultation and Chemistry TOPOS Architects Pte Ltd 531 UPPER CROSS STREET, #03 – 29, SINGAPORE 050531 TEL: +65 6736 0804 FAX: +65 6532 1889 singapore@toposdesign.com http://www.toposarchitect.com/

2. Just like entering any long-term relationship or partnership, chemistry is key. You will be working closely with this person for an extended period of time so make sure that you are comfortable with the architect of your choice. Ask plenty of questions to clear your doubts – who will be the main in-charge handling the job? What is the design philosophy and methodology of the firm? Are they able to build a purposefully-designed house tailored just for you? Do not avoid the hard question and leave no stone unturned when it comes to money – talk in detail about budget and fees. The two most important factors that your decision boils down to will ultimately be the budget and your emotional response (how comfortable you are with the architect handling the project). For a truly collaborative process, straddle the fine line between these two aspects and take your time to do the adequate research and ask the right questions. For some leading architects Singapore, they might boast superior resources, portfolio and reviews, but will their architects have the time to meet you throughout the design process? A firm may be able to provide you with the best architecture design Singapore, but at what cost? For a good end-product and an enjoyable process in between, focus on communication, especially early on in the process, to create a strong and healthy working dynamic between you and your architect, and establish the terms of the contract at the outset. This will reduce stress and hopefully eradicate any miscommunications that may hinder the experience of designing your home. TOPOS Architects Pte Ltd 531 UPPER CROSS STREET, #03 – 29, SINGAPORE 050531 TEL: +65 6736 0804 FAX: +65 6532 1889 singapore@toposdesign.com http://www.toposarchitect.com/