Building a new custom home or remodel is an exciting time full of creative discovery and possibilities. It’s an investment in your future happiness, so it’s natural to feel the weight of every decision you make.
That’s one of the reasons why moving through a well-planned and documented architectural design process is so important. It keeps you and your design team organized and on the same page as your project moves from ideas and concepts to detailed drawings ready for construction.
Today we’re shining a light on the Schematic Design phase — what it is, when it takes place, who’s involved, and tips so you feel more comfortable with the process.
What Is Schematic Design?
The architectural design process is divided into 4 phases: Programming, Schematic Design, Design Development, and Construction Drawings. After the Programming phase is complete, Schematic Design begins.
(Learn more about the first phase of architectural design in our Programming blog post.)
During Schematic Design, your architect begins to give shape to your vision. It’s an exciting time as your ideas evolve into drawings!
The project team takes your program, budget, site conditions, and preferred architectural style to create an initial sketched design for your review and feedback. This is the first time your architect puts pen to paper to translate your program. These rough sketches lay out the program on the home site and address the schedule and construction budget requirements.
It’s realistic to expect multiple iterations to get the design to a point that meets your expectations. Schematic Design is a collaborative process and a safe space to voice your questions, excitement, and changes. Your input into this phase is vital as you get the first glimpses of how your home will take shape. Because your home’s concept is in this early stage and fluid, this is the time to voice your likes and dislikes and to make any big changes before more detailed drawings are created.
How Long Does Schematic Design Take?
Duration: 6 to 10 weeks
This is the phase where your architectural team does much of the creative heavy lifting. It takes time on the architect’s side to synthesize all the information collected during Programming to create initial sketches. On your side, expect to take time to review the initial design so it reflects your project goals, functional requirements, and architectural style preferences.
What Do Schematic Design Drawings Look Like?
Drawings in Schematic Design start out as rough sketches to convey design intent. As you move through Schematic Design, the drawings will become more defined, with room for revision during the Design Development phase.
When working with your architect, you may receive hand sketches or computer-generated sketches — your contract, project team, and your project’s details will result in a sketch type that best communicates the architect’s design intent.
These drawings are also usually sufficient to initiate any neighborhood review process, if your project requires approvals.
How Can Homeowners Make Schematic Design Successful?
If you’re wondering when your feedback is most critical in the design process, this is the phase. What’s decided here lays the groundwork for your home’s design and the details that follow. At KGA, we’ll ask you to do the following during Schematic Design:
Take Time with the Design
Build in the time to sit with the architect’s schematic design so it reflects your vision. Rushing into a decision increases the likelihood of your not being totally satisfied with the design.
Make the big changes now instead of waiting until later and incurring additional fees (which are often expensive) to change a previously approved design direction.
Communicate and Make Timely Decisions
Help your architect establish a clear decision-making process for the project. If you need more time to review the design, let your architect know so they can plan accordingly.
Ghosting your architect will result in project delays, so keeping an open line of communication is important. For example, at KGA, if we don’t hear from you for an extended time, we must revise our project flows, and those adjustments will impact your project’s timeline.
Explore the Possibilities
Have fun with this part of the design process as you see your new home take shape! Keep your program and priorities in mind when evaluating the sketches. Be willing to entertain new ideas while being realistic about your current lifestyle and how you want it to change in your new home.
Understand the Budget May Change Things
Construction costs are in a constant state of flux. The cost of building a custom home depends on a variety of factors. Be willing to reconcile the square footage of the design you prefer with your budget, if necessary.
Your architect can provide estimated construction costs based on what they’re seeing in the field, but hiring a builder early in the process is the best way to get more detailed cost estimates during this phase.
When Is Schematic Design Complete?
Schematic design is complete when everyone agrees on the project’s design fundamentals and direction. At KGA, we require phase sign-off approval from our clients before moving from Schematic Design into Design Development, to ensure everyone is on the same page.
When evaluating Schematic Design drawings for approval, think big-picture project features (details come later during Design Development):
- Overall floor plan layout
- Size
- Exterior style
- Site location (for larger properties or steep sites that affect the design direction like a walk-out basement)
Schematic Design phase sign-off may include documentation of items to be explored during the next phase, Design Development. Your project team can advise you on what items belong in Schematic Design vs. Design Development.
Tips For Success in Schematic Design
While these activities aren’t required, we recommend them to our clients to prevent unwelcome surprises and costly changes later in the project.
Hire Your Builder
Choose the design/build method and hire your builder now. By getting them involved early in the design process, you can request hard costs for big-ticket items like the site work, foundation, framing, and siding. A temperature check on hard costs now can help avoid an expensive redesign later.
Hire Your Interior Designer
If you plan to use an interior designer, hire them during Schematic Design. Their recommendations often require minor floor plan adjustments that are best addressed before Design Development begins.
Final Thoughts on Schematic Design
Schematic Design is an exciting and rewarding part of the custom home design process. It’s the first time you see your mood board, inspiration photos, and ideas come together in a cohesive home design.
Knowing what to expect and how to communicate with your architect during this phase sets your project up for success for the remainder of architectural design.
Have questions about Schematic Design or the architectural design process for custom homes? We’d love to hear from you. Fill out the form below to get in touch for a complimentary consultation.
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