When we founded Milton Architects in 2005, we had a simple aim: to establish a practice that would offer a fresh approach to architectural design with clients at the heart of the process. With the passion and support of an exceptional team of creative professionals, we’ve built an environment in which ideas flourish freely and where a culture of collaboration ensures that projects become so much more than the sum of their parts.
We believe that good architectural design transcends ephemeral perceptions of style and is essential for living well. At Milton, each project begins with the client’s vision; it’s our job to explore the initial brief, teasing out key ideas and aspirations so we develop a clear concept from the outset. We take the time to develop an in-depth understanding of the background and context to every new commission – it’s this meticulous approach that enables us to deliver imaginative and bespoke solutions.
Every client journey is different – so much depends on the scale and complexity of an individual project. But, while we offer a unique response to every brief, our approach remains the same: we first take the time to learn all we can about you and your goals before beginning our collaboration. Only by acquiring a deep understanding of your aims and aspirations – as well as your lifestyle priorities – can we deliver a design that’s the perfect fit.
We’ll outline the scope of your project and assess your brief against an initial budget before exploring it in more detail. It’s here where we’ll examine opportunities and identify any planning issues, as well as other challenges and constraints to produce a refined brief that’s grounded in reality.
We’ll sketch out a selection of ideas, based on your vision and our research, that will hopefully form the basis for further development. Our 3D modelling will help you visualise the concept more powerfully. We’ll also give you an indication of how these initial ideas stack up against your budget so you’ll be able to make an informed decision about how to proceed.
Your preferred option will be worked up into a formal design including computer-drawn plans, sections and elevations. We’ll carefully consider construction details and commission any necessary reports. When the final design has been agreed, we’ll submit a set of drawings and supporting documents for planning consent (and listed building approval, if required).
We then finalise the specification, consulting with engineers and specialists to ensure the technical design is buttoned down. The detailed drawings and information produced at this stage not only ensure compliance with building regulations but include everything necessary to enable builders to provide accurate construction costs.
The next step is to invite tenders based on our prepared technical design information and using the building contract that’s best suited to your project. Our detailed specification will mean that all the information needed to provide a properly costed tender is available. We’ll help you to draw up a list of suitable builders before inviting tenders and appraising them on your behalf.
We’ll oversee the construction stage from start to finish, scheduling site visits to inspect the works and providing regular updates on progress and performance. Not only will we ensure that any problems are resolved and snags fixed but we’ll also ensure that the quality and ambition of the architectural design is fully realised.
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