An architect is a professional who designs and plans buildings and other structures. Their responsibilities include:

1. Establishment of design principles for a project.

2. Collation and consideration of briefing information for its integration into a building design.

3. In-depth consideration of functionality and aesthetics.

4. Application of knowledge of town planning and building codes to projects.

5. Management of consultants required on the project.

6. Assist with builder selection.

7. Produce drawings and documentation suitable for construction.

8. Administer building contracts as an independent agent for fairness to both parties.

9. Assist with design intent and quality assurance during the construction phase.

Architects work on a wide range of projects including homes, commercial projects, apartment buildings, stadiums and the like and collaborate with clients, consultants, and construction teams.

Architects undergo extensive education and training, typically holding undergraduate and master degrees in the field of architecture. It’s typically a six-year fulltime course, followed by two years of professional practice before being able to become registered as an architect. They are registered through the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA) and are members of state boards such as the Board of Architects of Queensland or the NSW Architectural Registration Board.

Building designers, on the other hand, may have diverse backgrounds and qualifications. While some may have degrees in architecture, others might have diplomas or certificates in building design. They are not registered architects. The minimum requirements for a low or medium rise building design license are completion of a 1 year TAFE course followed by two years of work experience.

The key difference lies in the level of education, professional registration, and the scope of projects each professional is qualified to undertake. Architects often handle a broader range of projects and are recognised for their comprehensive understanding of architectural principles and regulations.

You might need an architect for several reasons:

1. An architect can interpret a range of information, including briefing and budget requirements and turn this information into a functional residential project you’ll love or a successful commercial venture.

2. An architect will guide you through the maze of town planning and building codes, builder selection and budget management in order to turn your dream into a reality.

3. Architects add real monetary value to projects. But don’t take our word for it, have a look at this study carried out by ArchiTeam and The University of Melbourne: www.architeam.net.au/static/uploads/files/rasp-final-report-wfknlfyqtpqy.pdf

“For every dollar that was spent on engaging an architect, the property gained $11.40 in capital appreciation.”

4. An architect is able to master plan your project. If you can’t afford it all at once, there will be a road map for you to carry out the work in the future.

5. An architect understands material properties and their limits, and will use that knowledge to make appropriate selections for your project.

6. An architect will make your life easier. It’s a long, complicated process. Leave the complexities to us. With the right architect, your stress and anxiety will be alleviated.

It’s a common misconception but couldn’t be further from the truth.

Yes, we sometimes are commissioned to work on larger budget projects, but the bulk of our work is for ordinary people (like mums and dads) looking to improve the way they live. And this is what we love doing.

We thrive on finding clever, budget-focused solutions to difficult problems.

Size doesn’t matter. We’ll assess your brief, and if we think we can make a meaningful impact to the way you live (and within your means), then we’ll take on your project.

FYI, the smallest project we’ve completed to date is a powder room to full bathroom conversion in an apartment for $25k.

Budget is the single most important factor in a project, and we take it extremely seriously.

Every architectural project is a prototype – a “one of a kind”. No client, brief, site, builder, and ideas are the same for any project. Because of this, it’s difficult to forecast the exact amount a project will cost. The design will never perfectly meet the budget. At any point during the design process, the project will always be under or over budget. Ask any experienced designer or builder.

This is why we’ve put a careful process in place to manage the construction budget.

At the start of the project, we’ll get a firm understanding of your detailed brief and will use our completed projects to inform square-metre rates for the project. If it’s an alterations and additions project, we’ll commence sketch planning with budget and area at the forefront of our thinking.

If it’s a new building, we’ll use our Area and Cost Spreadsheet to first work out the project size based on your budget and requirements. We’ll confirm the size, scope and anticipated cost with you before commencing sketch planning.

At the end of our Schematic Design (sketch planning) phase, we’ll have sketch plans for you that have addressed your brief and budget.

The bulk of our work is completed during Design and Documentation. We require at least two cost estimates be completed by a quantity surveyor (cost estimator). Depending on the method for contractor selection, a third cost estimate may be useful at the end of Design and Documentation.

These cost estimates are extremely important as they allow an experienced estimator to provide their opinion of cost independently. It also allows us to adjust the design and scope to meet the budget if required.

It’s a solid system. We’ve got plenty more to share on this topic, should you wish to reach out and discuss.

Typically, architects charge a percentage fee that’s tied to the cost of construction. This is by far the fairest method for all parties because it means that you’ll pay no more or no less than what’s required to complete the work to turn ideas into reality. This is the most common method used by architects worldwide.

A percentage fee allows the design process to be elastic to suit the nature of a bespoke project. For example, if the cost estimate comes in lower or higher than the budget, there doesn’t need to be a renegotiation of architectural fees. In the event this happens (and it always does), the discussion will be centred around whether the project scope is left unchanged, or if it is increased or decreased in order to realign with the budget.

Fixed (or lump sum) architectural fees ensure that one party will always lose out – either the client or the architect.

Our fees are in line with the industry. We like to think that the service we provide is far beyond industry standard.

Schematic Design: $3,300 including GST

Fouché Architects charge a flat fee of $3,300 including GST for the first phase of a typical residential project. During this initial phase, we’ll review the site, budget and brief in depth and will produce simple sketch floor plans that balance the constraints in order to meet your requirements.

This initial phase is obligation-free. Once we’re done, you can take the sketch plans elsewhere (eg. builder, drafter) knowing that you’ve started the project on the right foundations.

Design and Documentation: 9-16% of the cost of construction

Most of our clients tend to continue onto a full service. The bulk of the work happens after the Schematic Design phase. Literally thousands of decisions are made during the design and documentation phase in order to accurately convey the ideas, materials, selections and project requirements to the builder.

Get in contact with us and we’ll provide you with an accurate percentage fee that reflects the work required for your project.

Construction Period (Retainer Fee): from $3,300 including GST / month

Again, most of our clients choose to engage us during the construction period. The building site is where the drawings are turned into reality. It’s the most critical part of the project, and it’s where all that beautiful design work will either be built brilliantly, or not so brilliantly.

That’s where we come in. As part of our services during this phase, we’ll attend site regularly and will carefully guide the builder through the complexities of the design in order to achieve the vision you’ve fallen in love with.

We’ll also administer the building contract. Our expertise will help protect you against a range of common issues, but most importantly the issues of overpayment and under-delivery.

We provide fees for other project types on a case-by-case basis. Reach out to us to start the conversation around how we might be able to help you with your project.

Again, our fees for non-residential projects are competitive with what other architects are charging.

Yep. That’s why we’ve set up the first phase of the project as a detached component.

This first phase allows you to get to know us while we produce a great strategy for your project without having to commit to a full architectural service. This initial phase is obligation-free. Once we’re done, you can take the sketch plans elsewhere (eg. builder, drafter) knowing that you’ve started the project on the right foundations.

Most of our clients end up going on to a full service, but for peace of mind there’s an “out” if you need it.

As part of our full-service commission, we’ll obtain fees from consultants and will manage and coordinate their work for the entirety of the project.

At the start of the project we’ll provide you with a fee programme for anticipated consultant, statutory and architectural fees. We’ll update this monthly. This will paint a clear picture of the expected costs before construction.

Generally speaking, 6-12 months for a standard dwelling and 12-24 months for a large or complex dwelling.

It takes a lot of time to complete the design and documentation of an architecturally designed house. Typically between 500 and 1,500 hours.

Regarding other project types, it’s on a case-by-case basis.

We have a network of trusted builders that we can call on for your project.

Alternatively, if you’ve already got a builder in mind, we love adding good builders we haven’t worked with to our network.

Our residential projects tend to cost between $3,000 and $5,000 / m². Feel free to browse our projects, where you can find their square metre rates listed along with the year of completion. This will give you a broad understanding of what type of project you’ll get for a set rate.

It’s also worth mentioning that for a new project, inflation and construction market factors need to be taken into account.

Absolutely. If this is your first time building, there’s a good chance this is the biggest financial undertaking of your life. We understand this. We’ll be there to help make an otherwise complex and stressful process simple, logical and enjoyable.

We’ll go through an in-depth briefing process with you to discover what you like, want and need. If your brief is a little bigger than what your budget may allow you to do, we’ll help you to create a hierarchy of priorities.

Throughout the design process, we’ll clearly communicate our design decisions to you and will give you the opportunity to provide feedback before we move forward.

We like to think of our design process as a collaborative one - you’ll end up with a project you helped create.

No (but you can if you want to). We typically design the interiors for our projects. This includes cabinetry, lighting, wet areas, kitchens and other built interior elements. We’ll also take care of the fittings, fixtures and finishes selections.

We tend to stay away from interior decoration as our clients like to leave their own imprint on the project through soft furnishings, artwork and the like. But we can certainly help if required!

Initially, the quickest and easiest way for us to communicate ideas and simple layouts is through sketch.

Following this, we build a computer model of the project. We’ll take you on virtual tours at multiple points during the design process. By the end of our Design Development phase (before we start documenting the project for construction), you will see a virtual representation of the project that will closely represent the built work. You’ll get to see every nook and cranny in 3D.

You’ll also be provided with drawing sets that get more detailed as the process unfolds. You’ll also have the ability to comment on these drawing sets.

Get in touch with us via phone or email and tell us a bit about your project.

If we’re a good fit for you, we’ll visit your house or site and discuss the project in more detail with you.

Following this, we’ll provide you with a fee proposal and consultancy agreement which will also include a basic programme of works. Once you’ve engaged us, we’ll get cracking on turning your dreams into design.

This depends on our workload at the time of enquiry. We’re a small, motivated team focused on delivering high-quality design. We respect all of our clients equally and as such will dedicate the required time that each project needs.

We’ll give you a clear indication of timing in that first conversation we have with you.

Please call or email. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have about our offering or the design and construction process.