The L+ Process
What do we specialise in?
Our overall philosophy is Biophilic Design which I the art of designing natural shapes, light, air, spaces and using views to link with the outside world. This creates a quite harmony in the mind and this is further enhanced by using noble materials, glass and landscaping to create a perfect balance in your space.
Commercial:
Warehouse developments, office new build and refurbishments, housing developments, education, public buildings, heritage sites, hotels, feasibility studies.
Residential:
New build to Passivahus standard, contemporary extensions and refurbishments, listed buildings, building of special interest (Mills, Windmills etc.)
L+ Architects is an established architectural practice within the south-west region of London, and we work in commercial and high-end residential design. Our vision is clean and apparently simple, yet to achieve this contemporary look we have to understand complex structural and engineering challenges to create a clean and functional space. We have the experience to value engineer and the vision to lead a complex group of consultants to achieve the finished result. Our work is refined and original, astute, and contemplated. Each design is bespoke and carefully crafted.
Our Principal Architect, Pablo Lambrechts, formed L+ Architects in 2018 with his wife Lindsey who is a Landscape Architect. Together they lead an agile, dynamic team who have a clear mission is to create beautiful spaces that blur distinctions between in and out, man-made and nature, using a variety of natural shapes and noble materials to create a vision of beauty.
When you choose us, you choose a partner in designing and delivering your commercial aspirations. You can rest assured that the quality of the space and the elegance of the design will maximise your investment and with our technical experience we will minimise potential risks.
The design process here at L+ Architects is fluid, and we enjoy the challenges that are set by our clients in delivering successful projects. We understand that allowing us to develop your project or development is asking you to place your trust in us, and our working methods. A shared ethos and design aesthetic will allow a successful project. This is a value-based approach, and we ask that you allow us creative freedom.
L+ Architects have developed a method of working which reflects the RIBA stages of work but is developed to suit the demands and aspirations of our clients.
Stage 0-1 | Circa 3-8 weeks
Here at L + Architects we combine the stages 0-1 together which allows us to understand your brief in more detail. This stage is a key part of the process which sets out your aspirations for the project. We spend time understanding you and your brief which inevitably will become more detailed and specific as options are explored and as we build-up information on the site, so that we have a clear picture of the constraints and intentions for the project. We start to home in on your brief which we then take away and carefully interpret in a magical alchemy, which we the present to you with some additional ideas and options.
We visit the site to perform an internal photographic survey, which start to inform future outcomes and provide opportunities and constraints. We will then instruct from an independent supplier for a topographical and measured building survey which form a basis from where we can work.
We are now on our way to creating a 3D site model and survey drawings of the existing buildings and site on application to planning from this process. We will explore this more in stage 2.
Stage 2 | Circa 4-10 weeks
Stage 2 is an exciting stage, where we collectively get to explore the potential of your new home development and commercial aspirations. L+ Architects explore concepts, sketches and computer models, and work with you to bring your vision into something resembling reality.
At this stage, you can expect to see a full set of scaled plans, hand sketches and 3D models which bring your dreams to life.
Additionally, at his stage we start to discuss future procurement methods which may affect the schedule of work, we may start to consult with other consultants in relation to structure, ecology, energy and so on to refine the brief and the building model. This stage covers a wide range of areas which define the brief. It’s very time-consuming and we ask for a lot of client input and in the background, we are working very hard to pull in the multiple strands needed to understand and make the project work: from liaising with a myriad of other consultants as lead to understanding the technical and engineering implications to building regulations to planning restrictions and opportunities to local interested parties that also may need information.
If required for more complex sites and listed buildings, we may also prepare a pre-planning submission to gauge the local authority’s receptiveness.
Stage 3 | Circa 4-10 weeks to submit to planning
Stage 3 is the final stage that L+ Architects follow in order to get to the planning application (or permitted development rights). At this stage the design matures into a more concrete outcome with the result being submission for planning approval.
At this work stage, the client has approved their chosen sketch designs and we can then develop the design in more detail. We finalise plan arrangements, materiality, and positioning on site. We liaise with consultants and produce information for a planning application – taking into account local policy, and additional reports that may be required. You can expect AutoCAD or BIM plans, by pdf format, sections and elevations, as well as a Design and Access Planning Report. We also produce Interior Design Concepts (these are only outlined to check the space) at this stage. We will produce a detailed 3D computer model and commission photo-realistic renders and physical models, if required.
We always recommend engaging the services of a cost consultant (Quantity Surveyor) at an early stage so that cost is in line with expectations, and we can design engineer, if needed.
For more complex or unusual applications, we will recommend the services of a planning consultant and either we or if needed they will act as your agent and submit to the local authority. The planners usually take a week to acknowledge the application as ‘validated’ and then planning approval can take a further 8-10 weeks.
Stage 4: Technical Design and tendering | Circa 12-24 weeks
Technical design is the information manual of how to construct your design and the materials and methods to construct it. The level of detail here is crucial as any omissions or errors will leave the client open to contractor interpretation which could potentially mean mistakes or the use of inferior materials, or not following the design intent to many ‘extra’ costs. It takes time as we are now working closely with the structural engineers and other consultants, and we cannot complete our stage until they have completed theirs.
L+ Architects’ work closely with the rest of the design team and with the client, to ensure that every detail of your project is considered and co-ordinated. We produce in detail technical packages and schedules, so that the project can be accurately tendered, costed and ultimately built. The method of procurement depends on the overall outcome, and previously at stage 2-3 we would have explored and represented your options.
Tender
Once technical is ready, we then prepare the tender package and schedules. We usually go to a maximum of three contractors who we use in a regular basis or who the client recommends, and we then carefully review the tendering returns which should then lead to a formal appointment.
Stage 5 : Contract Administration
From dream to reality. On the commencement of stage 5 the contractor will start on site, and we will be working alongside both parties to fairly administer the design administration and ensure that the intention of the design is correctly interpreted on site. This is where all our collective hard work and dreams on paper start to take shape in built form.
Depending on the procurement method our role may change. Firstly, we aid with mobilising the contractor to start on site. Additionally, whilst the work undertaken at Stage 4 aims to provide a complete solution from which the contractor can build, there will of course be submissions from specialists, suppliers, and sub-contractors that we need to check and co-ordinate. Design and construction are not linear processes and require intense management and coordination.
L+ Architects will be at hand to advise and answer queries from the contractor and work with them to resolve site issues which is called Request of Information (ROI )and we may spend many hours every day or week dealing with these queries and drawing as a routine part of the construction process.
A Contract Administrator (CA) will administer the building contract and certify any sums of money to be paid to the contractor in conjunction with the Cost Consultant.
Either we carry out this CA role, or the Cost Consultant can take this on.
