Architectural design

An enquiry may concern a house, a residential building, a shop, an office, a restaurant or accommodation premises. For existing properties, the design starts with the conditions and elements that need to be understood or retained.

Room layout, circulation, accessibility, outdoor connections, materials and use are developed around the brief. Extensions and outdoor spaces should be identified from the start so the proposal explains the extent of the work.

The proposal identifies the stages covered and the deliverables for each:

• Brief and background information: objectives, use requirements, available documents and surveys to consider.
• Design study: spatial layout and drawings that allow the proposal to be discussed.
• Documents for the applicable procedure: architectural documentation for the intended submission, where included.
• Detailed architectural construction documentation: developed drawings, details and specifications agreed to guide the works.
• Architectural site support: clarification of the design and review of matters within the commissioned support service.

3D visualisations, bills of quantities, specialist engineering designs and other studies should be identified where required. The level of detail and delivery formats are defined in the proposal.

Information about the site or building, intended use and client priorities forms the basis of the work. The design should distinguish confirmed information, outstanding decisions and matters requiring further assessment.

Planning considerations and the applicable procedure are assessed for the intervention and property. The architectural proposal also needs coordination with the engineering disciplines involved so they work from compatible assumptions.

The design programme depends on the commissioned stages, available information and decisions required. Responses from external authorities are identified as separate dependencies.

1. Set the brief. Gather objectives, needs, an indicative construction budget and priorities.
2. Understand the site. Review documentation and identify the surveys and assessments required.
3. Explore and decide. Develop the proposal and record the choices made at each stage.
4. Detail and coordinate. Produce the commissioned documents and coordinate interfaces with the relevant disciplines.
5. Deliver and support. Organise the final documentation for the stage and provide the support included in the appointment.

Revisions and changes should be considered within the agreed scope. The scope, supplies and terms for construction should be identified, including when design and construction are covered by the same proposal.

Share the location, property type and intended use. Gather any available plans, surveys, photographs and previous application documents, and explain:

• Which spaces and functions you need to create or change.
• The approximate area and elements to retain.
• Priorities for use, materials and connections to outdoor spaces.
• The current stage and decisions already made.
• The indicative budget you want to consider for construction.
• Designers or other technical professionals already involved.
• Your preferred programme and required deliverables.

If some information is missing, identify the gaps. Preparing the enquiry helps distinguish the initial study from the development required to proceed to construction.

• Architecture: scope of services
• Planning applications and building regularisation
• Engineering and specialist design
• 3D modelling and visualisation
• Interior design

We welcome enquiries for Lisbon, Oeiras, Cascais, Sintra, Amadora, Odivelas and Loures. Availability is assessed for each location, type of work and project stage.